Koo Ja-wook returns from injury! "A miracle created by the training staff → I will focus solely on winning"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Samsung Lions "Captain" Koo Ja-wook (33) is set to take the field from the first game of the playoffs after recovering from injury. Having finely tuned his hitting feel through practices such as intra-squad games, he aims for victory from the very first game of the postseason.

Ahead of the first playoff game scheduled to be held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 26th, Koo Ja-wook met with reporters on site and shared his thoughts on his return, stating, "First of all, it is good that I am able to play in the game."

This season, Koo Ja-wook appeared in 114 regular-season games, recording a batting average of .371 (156 hits in 420 at-bats), 15 home runs, 102 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 1.039. With these overwhelming statistics, he secured the batting championship title and served as the undeniable core of Samsung's lineup.

However, an unexpected injury held him back at the end of the season. On September 30, during a game against the Daegu Hanwha Eagles, Koo Ja-wook hit a long ball in the bottom of the first inning and felt pain in his left thigh while sliding into second base. A detailed examination revealed a 0.5 to 1 cm injury to the tendon at the origin of the long head of the biceps femoris in his left hamstring, effectively ruling out his return for the remainder of the regular season early on.

Initially, considering the injured area and the progression of the recovery, it was expected that a significant amount of time would be required before his return. However, showing a remarkable speed of recovery, he has finally returned to the lineup. Koo Ja-wook expressed deep gratitude to the staff, saying, "It seems I am able to play in the game because the training staff created a miracle."

Behind his early return was the player's earnest effort. Koo Ja-wook explained directly, "I tried to eat as much as possible, and I thought about and researched what would be good for tendon and ligament recovery," adding, "I ate a lot of foods I usually don't eat, such as protein and meat, without discrimination." During this time, Koo Ja-wook also consistently hit singles in the team's intra-squad games, seamlessly elevating his live hitting feel.

Regarding his current physical condition, he maintained a cold yet seasoned perspective. When asked whether normal base running is possible, he stated, "I am not at 100% of my condition like during the season," but added, "Base running plays are not done by speed alone. Instant judgment is important, so I will pay attention to and focus on that aspect."

He smiled at a reporter's joking remark relaying Manager Park Jin-man's comment that "you can hit a home run and then run slowly," but his resolve toward postseason victory was firm. Regarding the fact that he has been designated as the top priority for focused defense by KIA, their playoff opponent, along with Kim Do-young, he said, "It would be good if I play well, but right now, no matter who plays well, the team winning is absolutely the first priority," emphasizing, "I think putting aside all personal desires and finding a way to win somehow to lead the team to victory is what the postseason is about."

Finally, when asked about his ability to handle defensive duties, Koo Ja-wook was reserved in his words but reaffirmed his determination to "do my best in my position to contribute to the team's victory." On this day, Koo Ja-wook was named in the starting lineup as the third batter and designated hitter.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original