He also changed his jersey number, starting anew from 48, up from 28. He revealed, "I chose number 48 because it is the jersey number used by Jacob deGrom (pitcher for the Texas Rangers) whom I admire."

Kim Mu-shin, whose best weapon is a fastball clocking in at 156 km/h, showcased perfect pitching with a 0.00 earned run average in 2 holds during the playoffs against the LG Twins last year. He was expected to be a key player in the winning group this season but encountered an unexpected injury setback.

최고 156km의 빠른 공이 주무기인 김무신은 지난해 LG 트윈스와의 플레이오프에서 2홀드 평균자책점 0.00의 완벽투를 뽐냈다. 올 시즌 필승조의 한 축을 맡을 예정이었던 김무신은 예상치 못한 부상 악재를 만났다.

Kim Mu-shin felt elbow pain during the second camp in Okinawa, Japan, and received a detailed examination at a local hospital on the 12th of last month, which revealed damage to the right elbow flexor muscles, leading to his early return on the 13th. After undergoing detailed re-evaluations at four hospitals in Seoul and Daegu, it was determined that in addition to the flexor damage, there was significant damage to the inner ligament of the elbow, making surgery inevitable. Ultimately, he underwent elbow ligament reconstruction surgery at Sejong Sports Orthopedic Hospital on the 18th.

Kim Mu-shin, who met with reporters at Gyeongsan Ballpark on the 5th, said, "I feel really regretful. I prepared really hard..." He couldn’t finish his sentence. When the diagnosis of needing surgery came, what was he feeling? He noted, "I somewhat anticipated it when I came to Korea. I thought it would be best to have the surgery as soon as possible, but fortunately (the surgery date) was set immediately."

Unfortunately, Kim Mu-shin will have to sit out the entire season. He mentioned, "Because I have been in pain, there was discomfort when throwing the ball. There were many challenging aspects while pitching. I need to throw as I want, but that doesn't come out well. After the surgery, I feel like I have pressed the reset button. I think I can play baseball without pain now, so in some respects, I see that as fortunate."

He added, "In a way, I feel fortunate that I got injured during camp. If I work hard on rehabilitation this season, I can return by March next year. I just have to rest this season, but if I get hurt while playing in the summer, it will carry over to next year, so I am looking at it positively."

After having his stitches removed on the 4th, he joined the rehabilitation squad on the 5th and is working on regaining the range of motion in his elbow. Kim Mu-shin said, "I have been asking (Choi) Ji-gwang, who underwent elbow surgery last year, and colleagues from the military team who have experience with elbow surgery about rehabilitation methods, etc."

During the rehabilitation period, Kim Mu-shin plans to cheer for his teammates from the standpoint of a fan. He stated, "I hope the reserve pitchers and rookie pitchers perform well and gain a lot of recognition this season. I also need to continue to make a name for myself, but there’s nothing I can do. Since I can’t help it, I plan to cheer for my teammates hard, and if they pitch well, I’ll also reach out to congratulate them."

Rehabilitation is a long and tedious battle with oneself. Mental management is just as important. Various hobbies, such as reading, can be helpful for mind control.

Kim Mu-shin said, "Even if it’s boring, I have to work hard on the rehabilitation training so that I can return healthy next year, so I only think about doing my best. No matter how much I try to control my mind, there are times when the long rehabilitation period becomes difficult. I think it’s best to do my utmost in each situation. I will return as a stronger version of myself."

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