Last September, professional baseball player Choi Ji-kwang of the Samsung Lions underwent ligament reconstruction surgery on his right elbow, and he is taking steps toward a return.
Choi Ji-kwang is currently in the shadow pitching phase. On the 5th, Choi, who was met at Gyeongsan Bolt Park, said, "The training staff has put a lot of effort into my rehabilitation process, so it is going smoothly. Although there is some pain, I think positively as it is part of the recovery process."
Having undergone rehabilitation at the Okinawa Futures Camp in Japan, he said, "Since I'll need to start throwing the ball this month, I focused on strengthening the surgical area. The pain has mostly subsided." Choi Ji-kwang noted his upcoming schedule, saying he plans to start catch ball around the 17th or 18th.
He also sought advice from rehabilitation coach Jung Min-tae, who has experience with elbow ligament surgery, as well as Oh Seung-hwan and Lee Seung-hyun (No. 20). He said, "They told me that I would likely experience pain at times during the rehabilitation process and advised me to manage it well, which was very helpful."
During the second camp in Okinawa, Japan, he offered advice to Kim Moo-sin (formerly known as Kim Yun-soo), who had also undergone ligament reconstruction surgery after experiencing elbow pain. He said, "We talked about a lot of things. Moo-sin has a strong mentality, so I believe he will overcome this well."
Due to the rehabilitation process following surgery, his mindset heading into the season will be different from previous years. Choi Ji-kwang said, "It definitely feels different. If there's leisure, there's leisure, but when I see my teammates doing catch ball, something wells up inside me. I have a strong urge to throw the ball quickly. Each time, the coaches and training staff help me manage it well."
He relieves the regret of not being able to step on the mound by playing mobile baseball games, indicating that he is, indeed, a true baseball player.
"I will work hard on my rehabilitation while supporting my teammates’ victories in the evening as a fan. I will prepare well to return in perfect condition. I ask fans to cheer for our players so they can do their best." Those were Choi Ji-kwang's words.
Meanwhile, after graduating from Busan High School, Choi Ji-kwang was selected by Samsung in the second round of the 2017 draft. Until last year, he appeared in a total of 248 first-team games, recording 16 wins, 16 losses, 2 saves, and 47 holds. His earned run average is 4.70. He achieved double-digit holds for three consecutive years starting in 2019, and recorded 3 wins, 2 losses, and 7 holds with an earned run average of 2.23 in 35 games last year.
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