Doosan Bears left-handed pitcher Choi Seung-yong (23) is expected to return to the first team on July 20th.
Infielder Lee Yoo-chan (25) is trying out for the outfield.
“Seung-yong Choi will return to the first team around July 20,” Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop said ahead of the team’s home game against the NC Dinos in Seoul’s Jamsil Stadium on July 20. “He’s currently pitching half pitches and gradually increasing his pitch count.”
Choi, who went 3-6 with one save and a 3.97 ERA in 31 games last year while splitting time between starting and relieving, was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his elbow earlier this year and began rehabilitation.
“The most important thing is to prevent his injury from recurring,” Lee said. “We want to put him on the first team after he recovers completely. He is rehabilitating smoothly, so we can expect to see him in July.”
Manager Lee Seung-yeop, who dropped Choi from the first-team roster on Oct. 18 to give homegrown ace Kwak Bin a rest, will start Choi against the Daegu Samsung Lions on Oct. 21.
Choi’s removal from the first team roster was also to give him a break.
After the rest, Choi Jun-ho will take the mound again.
Doosan plans to use Raul Alcantara, Brandon Waddell, two foreign players and Choi Jun-ho, Kim Dong-joo and Choi Won-joon in the starting lineup until Kwak Bin returns.
There are also changes in the outfield.
Lee Yoo-chan, whose primary position is infielder, made substitute appearances in the middle infield against the Gochuk Kiwoom Heroes on the 16th and Jamsil NC on the 19th.
While Lee has shown off his hitting ability with a .304 batting average (21-for-69), he hasn’t gotten much playing time because Doosan’s infield is solid with Yang Seok-hwan at first base, Kang Seung-ho at second base, Park Jun-young at shortstop, and Heo Kyung-min at third base.
Lee said, “I’m trying to use him in the outfield to increase his versatility. He knows that he needs to play the outfield to get playing time,” said Lee. “He has been training in the outfield every chance he gets since the beginning of the season. When the score is close late in the game, we will use him in the outfield to gain practical experience.” 사설토토