NC Dinos pitcher Chang-mo Koo, 26, threw his first live pitch since suffering a forearm injury.

Koo threw 30 pitches in a live pitching drill on Wednesday morning at Masan Stadium, home of the NC Futures (second team). He pitched two sets of 15 pitches each. His fastball (17) reached up to 140 kilometers per hour. In addition to his fastball, he also checked out his forkball (6), slider (5), and curveball (2).

In June, Koo was diagnosed with a micro-injury to his left forearm flexor. His condition worsened with a fatigue fracture of the ulna of his left arm at a follow-up examination in late June. After months of rehabilitation, he said after the live pitch, “I stepped on the mound for the first time in a long time. I didn’t have any problems with my arm, and it felt good. I was able to work on my changeup and set-up. My velocity is improving, and I’m confident that my pitching will improve as I play.”

“I don’t think we need to put much emphasis on the fastball right now,” NC manager Kang Myung-ho said of Koo on the 13th against the Changwon KT Wiz, “I talked to him after he finished pitching (live pitching) and he said, ‘I feel good (after throwing)’. We’ll see how he feels after tomorrow, but I’m worried that we’re rushing him, but he’s not feeling too much discomfort. He was very motivated and said, ‘I’m fine,'” he said.

Now it’s time for action. Koo is scheduled to pitch against the Masan Armed Forces Athletic Corps (Sangsang) in the Futures League on the 16th. “We plan to have him pitch about one inning in the game, and we’ll have him throw no more than 30 pitches,” Kang said. “If he doesn’t have any major discomfort or abnormalities after throwing, we’ll have him join the first team roster the following week and start in the bullpen.”메이저사이트

Both the NC and the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games team are eagerly awaiting his return. He will join the team when it convenes on March 23. “I want to do everything I can in the position I’m given, and I want to prepare well to the end so that I can repay the team for my long absence. I will play healthy and confident baseball so that I don’t disappoint those who have been waiting for me,” he said.