Choi Ji-kwang, who stood up after surgery, has a smooth return plan! "I'm going to go to fall baseball no matter what, I want to take the mound." → Park Jin-man said, "I'll be the fastest to return to the rehabilitation team."

*This content was translated by AI.

Samsung Lions' "bulpen pitcher" Choi Ji-kwang (28), who spent all of the 2025 season in rehabilitation, is preparing to return to the mound in good health. He has already finished pitching in the third bullpen and is progressing according to his return plan.

According to the Samsung club, Choi Ji-kwang checked his condition by throwing a total of 25 pitches in the bullpen on the 3rd. Choi Ji-kwang, who underwent elbow ligament joint surgery during the 2024 season, has devoted himself to rehabilitation throughout the 2025 season and is set to return to action in the 2026 season. Choi Ji-kwang, who is gradually increasing his pitching intensity, accelerated his recovery of his sense of play through this pitching.

Choi Ji-kwang expressed his honest feelings, saying, "At first, I was used to pitching flat, but when I tried to stand on the mound again, it was a little difficult to adapt." However, he soon expressed confidence, saying, "Now I think I'm perfectly adapted to the height of the mound."

He also said that the step-by-step build-up is going according to plan. Choi Ji-kwang said, "Next turn, we will hold official pitching, not half pitching," adding, "We will prepare well and throw the right ball from the start of the Okinawa practice game."

Ahead of this season, Choi Ji-kwang's eyes are on the "team," not his own record. He cited "lower body balance" as a point to complement the rest of the camp. "As we still have time, we will definitely supplement the balance, especially the lower body, and prepare to throw a better ball on the mound."

Choi Ji-kwang then said, "My goal this year is not to get hurt more than my individual performance and not to cause trouble to the team," adding, "I want to enter autumn baseball unconditionally and take the mound even once more."

Coach Park Jin-man (50) also said ahead of his departure from the spring camp at Incheon International Airport in January, "The advantage is that the pitchers who underwent surgery return one by one. Of course, the key is how much the players can regain their preoperative skills. Among the rehabilitation teams, Choi Ji-kwang is likely to return the fastest. I also received a report that I was in very good physical condition. After Choi Ji-kwang, I think he will return in the order of Kim Moo-shin and Lee Jae-hee."

Choi Ji-kwang had the best performance in the last season. In 35 games in the 2024 season, he recorded a record of 3 wins, 2 losses and 7 holds with a 2.23 ERA. He has not been able to play a real game after the match against SSG Landers on September 14, 2024, but if he returns, he will be a great addition to the bullpen depth.

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*This content was translated by AI.