By Hong Kyubin Reporter = NC Dinos left-handed ace Koo Chang-mo has taken the first step toward returning to the mound.
“I’m going to start playing catch at a distance of 20 meters,” NC manager Kang Myung-hyun told reporters at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on Monday, adding, “After this weekend, we’ll decide whether to put him in a step-by-step pitching program (ITP) or give him some more time.”
In general, the ITP involves starting with shadow pitching and gradually increasing the distance of the catch ball to 60 meters, followed by half-pitching, batting, bullpen and live pitching.
Koo was removed from the first-team roster in May due to accumulated shoulder and elbow fatigue, and on June 2 in his comeback game against the visiting LG Twins, he threw five pitches before feeling the strain and voluntarily left the game.
He was diagnosed with a left pronator teres (between the elbow and wrist) muscle injury in a hospital examination, and a later reexamination revealed a fatigue fracture in his left arm.
“If I’m fit, it would be good for both my team and the national team to pitch one or two games before the Hangzhou Asian Games (in September),” Kang said, adding that it’s hard to say when he will return.토토사이트
Seo Ho-cheol, the main infielder who tore a ligament in his pinky finger, will make his first appearance in two weeks at third base and batting sixth.
Seo was batting .301 with two home runs and 30 RBIs in 77 games before the injury.