"Because you're No. 1 in KBO"…KIA left-hander ace Ryu Hyun-jin and Kim Kwang-hyun admitted 'fast rehabilitation' and clenched their teeth
"Because you're No. 1 in KBO"…KIA left-hander ace Ryu Hyun-jin and Kim Kwang-hyun admitted 'fast rehabilitation' and clenched their teeth
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Lee Eui-ri (23) of the KIA Tigers is considered one of the next left-handed aces who will lead the Korean baseball league. Lee has been attracting attention from veteran coaches ever since he joined Kia in 2021 after graduating from Gwangju Jeil High School.
When he led the Doosan Bears in 2021, Lotte Giants manager Kim Tae-hyung said, "I liked the ball. Even so, I talked with manager Lee Kang-chul (kt Wiz) and said, "He's a good pitcher. He wasn't like a high school student," expecting his growth.
Senior seniors Kim Kwang-hyun (37, SSG Landers) and Ryu Hyun-jin (38, Hanwha Eagles) left unfortunate voices as Lee Eui-ri is a leading candidate to succeed the left-handed ace of the national team. Kim Kwang-hyun recently appeared on a YouTube channel of Yoon Seok-min (39, retired), who was a right-handed ace of KIA, and was asked about the next left-handed ace for the national team, saying, "I don't really have a left hand. I don't think Lee is enough yet," and Ryu Hyun-jin, who also appeared with him, agreed with Kim Kwang-hyun.안전놀이터
The reason why Kim Kwang-hyun and Ryu Hyun-jin left bitter comments, not bitter ones, is that Korean baseball has repeatedly failed on the international stage. The growth of juniors is so slow that Kim Kwang-hyun and Ryu Hyun-jin, who are facing difficulties, still have the title of KBO's representative left-handed ace. He left the above words in hopes that Lee Eui-ri, a strong successor, would get out of the shadow of his seniors quickly.
Lee Eui-ri replied, "To be honest, (Ryu Hyun-jin, Kim Kwang-hyun) is the No. 1 player in the KBO. So it will be a little hard to keep up with him yet. Still, if you work hard, people will get better. Won't it be possible someday?" and vowed to rebound this year.
Lee Eui-ri has been a left-handed ace since his debut in 2021, joining the KIA starting rotation. In the first full-time year of starting in 2022, he recorded 29 games, 10 wins, 10 losses, 154 innings, 161 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.86 and in 2023, he also recorded 28 games, 11 wins, 7 losses, 131 ⅔ innings, 156 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.96, growing step by step as KIA left-handed ace to succeed veteran Yang Hyun-jong (37).
Lee Eui-ri was called to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC), and the 2023 Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) and put on the national flag. He has been given the opportunity to consistently stand on the international stage, but Lee has yet to show any results that can be expected as the next left-handed ace.
Last year, when he encountered an injury reef, he bought time to cool down his head. Lee Eui-ri tried to finish the season by treating elbow pain, but decided to take the mound after fully recovering from Tommy John surgery from a long-term perspective. Lee Eui-ri underwent surgery in June last year, and has never been sick and is proceeding with the rehabilitation program smoothly.
KIA manager Lee Bum-ho took Lee to the first Irvine spring camp in the U.S., judging that Lee is an important player to win the title for the second consecutive year, although he will not be able to return to the team until around June this year. The coach team has been able to prepare more thoroughly for the season by watching Lee closely. Lee is said to be in his best condition so that he has no symptoms even after pitching in the bullpen at Irvine.
Currently, Kia has four starting pitchers, including James Nail and Adam Oler, as well as Yang Hyeon-jong and Yoon Young-chul. Hwang Dong-ha, Kim Do-hyun, and rookie Kim Tae-hyung will compete for the fifth starting pitcher until the opening of the season. Lee expects that by June when Lee returns, there will be a time when veteran Yang Hyeon-jong or the fifth starting pitcher will have to take a break. If Lee returns healthy, the starting lineup will be solid enough to expect six starting pitchers.
This year marks the fifth year of Lee's professional career. Now is the time to completely break away from promising players and establish himself as the mainstay of the team. Will Lee be able to sing the revival of the next left-hander ace by throwing 155 km/h fastballs as he wishes in this year's return match.