Samsung Lions pitcher Lee Min-ho, who was expected to be the “next Sun Dong-ryeol” at Busan High School, is making steady progress in his rehabilitation. He hasn’t taken the mound yet, but the best news is that he feels no pain when he throws the ball.
When we met at Gyeongsan Ballpark on the 19th, Lee said, “My physical condition continues to improve. When I went to the spring camp in Okinawa, Japan, the weather was good, and the training part is going smoothly because I paid a lot of attention to it. I think it will get better as the temperature rises.”
“I focused on building my body by doing weight training throughout the camp, and the club took care of me to build my body well in a warm place, so I returned to Korea with the main team on March 7, 토토사이트 later than the Futures team (who returned on February 26),” he said.
He describes rehabilitation as a lonely battle with himself. It’s a lonely and boring routine.
Lee Min-ho is grateful for the warm advice of his rehabilitation coach, Jung Hyun-wook. “He says a lot of positive things to encourage not only me but also the rehabilitation group players. Whenever I feel impatient or unmotivated, he calms me down. I also receive a lot of help from him not only in psychological aspects but also in technical aspects such as pitching balance,” he said.
Samsung has transformed the Gyeongsan Ballpark’s outdated indoor training field and weight room, as well as the team’s amenities, including locker rooms and housing. “I came to Gyeongsan Ballpark for the first time after returning home, and it was really nice. The facilities at the Futures Ballpark are probably the best among the 10 clubs. We will do our best to perform well in such a good facility,” said Lee.
Lee is currently going through a step-by-step pitching program. His body is in such good shape that he can throw a catch up to 60 meters without feeling any pain. “I’m most happy that I don’t feel any pain. I think my physical condition will get better as the temperature rises,” he said.
Among his teammates, he is closest to Choi Chung-yeon, the first-round pick.
“I’ve known Chung-yeon since spring training in Okinawa, Japan, and we’ve gotten to know each other,” Lee said, “She’s younger than me, but she has a lot to learn. She’s usually playful, but when it comes to baseball, she’s more serious and hardworking than anyone else.”
When will we see Lee Min-ho on the mound for the first team? “It was a long rehabilitation period, so I was often impatient, thinking about when I wanted to go or when I would go. Now that I’m not really hurting and I’ve established my balance, I’ll take it one step at a time,” he said, 파워볼실시간 emphasizing the importance of returning in perfect condition.
“Over the course of the season, the strength of the existing pitchers will diminish. I want to play a role in filling the gap when something is lacking, and to do that, I need to be well prepared,” he added.
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Lee made his professional debut in 2013 and has a 33-24 record with 31 saves and 28 shutouts in 337 games in the first team. He recorded double-digit saves in 2013 and 2018, his first year in the first team, and set a personal best with nine wins in 2016.
He underwent right elbow ligament reconstruction surgery in October 2019 and served his military obligation as a social service worker. Lee returned to the team in 2021, but was forced to rehabilitate his right shoulder.
She hasn’t taken a first-team mound since 2019. He made six appearances for the Futures in 2022, going 1-3 with a 4.76 ERA, and then went 2-1 with one save in 12 Futures League games last year. His ERA was 7.59.
After being informed by NC that he would not be re-signed, Lee signed with Samsung for an annual salary of 45 million won ($45,000) after a tryout.