Finally, 'KBO League's Best Ace' Ahn Woo-jin is coming back. "It's faster than expected."

*This content was translated by AI.

KBO League's best ace Ahn Woo-jin (27, Kiwoom Heroes) is expected to take the mound sooner than expected.

Regarding Ahn Woo-jin's condition on the 12th, ahead of the opening game of the KBO League exhibition game, Kiwoom coach Seol Jong-jin said, "We have raised the pitching intensity to about 80%, and fortunately, we received a report that there is no pain."

Coach Seol then said, "We plan to closely watch the pitching process first and then make a schedule for the mound. At this time, there are no confirmed plans for a specific return date or timing, he added.

Coach Seol continued, "We are checking Ahn Woo-jin's physical condition in the training part and checking it meticulously. If it is the current trend, I think we will be able to see him return sooner than expected, he said. "However, the weather and the possibility of recurrence are variables. If you get pain while pitching in the middle, it can be delayed by a week to 10 days. At this stage, it is difficult to rush to say when we will throw it," he said.

Ahn Woo-jin was scheduled to join the team on September 17 last year after lifting the call-up of social service personnel. However, after taking the mound in the Blue and White game of the Futures team in August a month earlier, he suffered a shoulder injury and underwent surgery during additional training.

Since then, Ahn Woo-jin has been focusing on rehabilitation throughout the winter and gradually improving his physical condition. The Kiwoom club has promised to provide systematic rehabilitation programs such as customized medical support and allocation of dedicated trainers to Ahn Woo-jin, who has been a franchise star and ace pitcher.

If Ahn Woo-jin's rehabilitation goes smoothly as coach Seol said, he will be able to see his pitching in the first half of the year.

Ahead of his departure from camp in January, Ahn Woo-jin said, "It's hard to tell you the exact timing of his return, but I'm thinking within the first half. I also want to return quickly and help the team," he said. At that time, the Kiwoom club considered Ahn Woo-jin's return from late May to early June. When will Ahn Woo-jin take the mound this season and throw the ball in good health. Not only Kiwoom fans but also Korean baseball fans are paying attention.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.