Kim Gwang-hyun (33, St. Louis Cardinals, photo) digested the bullpen pitching for the first time after back pain.
St. Louis coach Mike Silt said in an interview on the morning of the 19th (Korean time), “Kim Kwang-hyun threw the ball in the bullpen yesterday.” Kim Gwang-hyun, the second year of the American Professional Baseball Major League (MLB), was scheduled to start in a demonstration game against the Cincinnati Reds on the 14th, but did not rise to the mound due to back stiffness. It is known that Kim Gwang-hyun complained of symptoms in bullpen pitching on the 11th.
However, the injuries were minor. On the 16th, Gwang-Hyun Kim trained for a catch ball at a distance of about 27 meters, and on the 18th, he threw the ball from the bullpen. Director Silt explained, “After two days, Kim Gwang-hyun will raise the sense of real life by throwing the ball or playing a simulation game with a batter standing up two days later.” In this year’s demonstration game, Gwang-Hyun Kim made 8 runs (7 ERA) with 2 starts, all 3 innings, and an average ERA of 21.00. But manager Silt doesn’t care. “Kim Gwang-hyun’s training is progressing smoothly,” said Silt. “The catcher who received Kim Gwang-hyun’s bullpen pitched’reported that the movement of the tip of the ball and his body are in good shape.” MLB.com said, “Kim Gwang-hyun’s bullpen pitching was done in an atmosphere that was much more enthusiastic than expected by Silt and coaches,” and said, “It’s encouraging for St. Louis.”
Choi Ji-man, 30, of the Tampa Bay Race is missing from the demonstration game due to knee pain. Only Choi is scheduled to undergo a knee reexamination on the 22nd as early as the 25th at the latest. MLB.com picked only Choi as the first baseman this year, but chose the knee re-examination result as a variable. The media predicted that if the knee condition is okay, it will be included in the entry for the opening game (April 2), and there is a possibility that the other side will be on the list of injured (IL). The Tampa Bay Times, a local newspaper, predicted that only Choi would be on the IL and not be used in the opening game.
Reporter Jeong Se-young [email protected]