“I want to do my best to help the team.”
KT Wiz pitcher Eom Sang-baek’s last appearance in the 2023 KBO League regular season was against the Suwon KIA Tigers on August 22. Injuries caught up with me.
At the time, a KT official said, “As a result of MRI and X-ray analysis, he was diagnosed with a microfracture of the 8th rib. This situation requires rest. His condition will be monitored and a re-examination will be scheduled at a later date. “He is expected to take approximately four weeks to return.
I underwent several examinations, but there were no abnormal findings. There was pain, but I just took painkillers and endured it. Then, the night before he was diagnosed with a fracture, he was so sick that he couldn’t sleep, so he got a checkup right away. At that time, he was diagnosed with a fracture and decided to sit out the season.
Eom Sang-baek’s record this season is 7 wins, 6 losses, and an average ERA of 3.63 in 20 games. In particular, his departure was even more disappointing because he was continuing a good trend in the second half of the season with 4 wins, 0 losses, and an average ERA of 3.29 in 6 games.
Eom Sang-baek, whom we met at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 18th, said, “I took medicine and continued to get MRIs, but nothing was found at first. He held back and threw because the team was on a winning streak. In fact, he lived off his painkillers. “He went and ate after every inning.”
He continued, “I have never broken a bone like this before. When it broke this time, there was really nothing I could do. “It was difficult for him to lie down, and life itself was difficult,” he added.
When Eom Sang-baek left due to injury, it was a time when KT was on the rise and climbing up the rankings. His departure, which led the KT starting lineup along with Wes Benjamin, William Cuevas, and Go Young-pyo, was bound to be a huge disappointment for KT coach Lee Kang-cheol.
Eom Sang-baek said, “I felt very sorry for the team. He should have felt relieved when the regular season ended, but he didn’t. “Maybe it was because I didn’t finish until the end, but I felt like it wasn’t over and like I didn’t do anything,” he said. “I have to do well in the fall baseball season.” “I hope it helps the team,” he said with a smile.
Eom Sang-baek performed live pitching on the 18th. He threw 30 pitches. He tested various pitches, including fastballs, sliders, and changeups, and his highest velocity reached 142km. He felt no pain after throwing.
Coach Lee Kang-cheol said, “Maybe because he rested a lot, the ball had strength. Above all,메이저놀이터 I’m glad it doesn’t hurt. “It would be a big help if we could just raise the number of pitches to about 60 before the playoffs,” he said.
His colleagues also gave a thumbs up to Eom Sang Baek’s helmet. Park Byeong-ho said, “Eom Sang-baek was Eom Sang-baek. He said, “The ball is good, and I think he will be a big hidden card in fall baseball,” and Anthony Alford said, “I’ve never played against him since we’re on the same team, but I felt his changeup was really good.”
Eom Sang-baek said, “I’m in good physical condition. “He is doing all the exercises normally,” he said. “It’s been a while since I threw, but I didn’t feel awkward.” He tried to throw strikes, and he didn’t throw the breaking ball as well as I thought he would, but he got in the zone, so I think it’s okay. However, it feels like he didn’t use all his strength because he was sick and threw, but I think he’ll be okay as time goes by.”
Last year’s fall baseball left a mark with an ERA of 4.50 in two games. In the 2021 Korean Series, he was included in the entry, but did not play a single game.
Eom Sang-baek said, “I couldn’t play a single game during the 2021 Korean Series. “I wanted to go out even when the score difference was high, but I don’t think I was in an important position at that time,” he said. “When I played fall baseball last year, I felt it was very different from the regular season. “I think I’ll be less nervous this year because I had a good experience last year,” he said with a smile.