The Korean professional baseball KIA Tigers' starting rotation is making normal progress in its return. It is slow but heading in the right direction.
Lee Eui-ri conducted live pitching at Hampyeong Challengers Field on the 15th, successfully completing the final stage of his return ahead of actual games. Lee threw a total of 45 pitches, testing his senses while executing all available pitches including curve, slider, and changeup. The velocity was not measured separately.
Lee Eui-ri underwent ligament reconstruction surgery on his left elbow in June last year, entering a long rehabilitation process. In mid-May, he boosted expectations for his return by throwing fastballs at 146 km/h from the bullpen. However, an elbow inflammation was discovered during a final check at the end of May, forcing him to stop the rehabilitation process for about two weeks. Afterward, he raised his senses again with live pitching and prepared for his return in an actual game against NC in the Futures League on the 14th.
However, after discussion, the team decided to conduct one more live pitching instead of Lee Eui-ri's appearance in the Futures League. The team stated, "His physical condition is not bad. This is just a precautionary measure to check once more," emphasizing that they will proceed cautiously with Lee Eui-ri's rehabilitation process.
And on this day, no particular abnormalities were found during the live pitching, indicating that a return to actual games may be accelerated in the future. The team explained, "Lee Eui-ri's future schedule will be determined after discussions with the coaching staff."
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