There is a time to wait to see if short-term foreign recruitment has actually failed due to injury...

Mar 13, 2025

SSG Landers' team held spring camp training at Kochinda Stadium in Okinawa, Japan, on the 24th. White is playing catch. Okinawa (Japan) = Reporter's book@sportschosun.com/2025.02.24/

"I don't think it's easy to recruit a foreign pitcher in reality."

SSG Landers are currently waiting for foreign pitcher Mitch White, who is out of power due to an injury. White returned home early due to hamstring pain at the end of the second spring camp in Okinawa, Japan, and was diagnosed with damage to the right hamstring (grade 1 to 2).

White is currently preparing for his return with enthusiasm. All of them are continuing to train except for the exercise that uses the lower body to the extent that they sit and throw a ball.

The key is the results of the re-examination. At the time of initial examination, it was announced that the exact timing of return would be determined through re-examination after two weeks. White is scheduled to undergo a re-examination on the 14th. Fortunately, the player's condition improved quickly. It is said that the pain has also decreased a lot.

An exhibition game between SSG Landers and Hanwha Eagles at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 10th. SSG White is watching the game. Incheon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.03.10/

Coach Lee Sung-yong, who met with reporters ahead of the exhibition game against the Kiwoom Heroes on the 13th, said "It is much better than I thought." I met him the day before yesterday (11th), and he said it was okay, and he kept throwing the ball inside."

SSG has even considered recruiting foreign players to replace injuries. This is to prepare for an emergency. The injury replacement rule, which was officially introduced last year, is a system that allows short-term foreign players to be used if foreign players are diagnosed for more than six weeks. SSG used Japanese pitcher Keisho Shirakawa who played in the Japanese independent league when Roenis Elias was injured last year.

Until White returned home midway through a hamstring injury, there were many concerns that the injury replacement system should be used.

SSG Landers' team held spring camp training at Kochinda Stadium in Okinawa, Japan, on the 24th. White is stepping up in the ground. Okinawa (Japan) = Reporter's book@sportschosun.com/2025.02.24/

In reality, however, it does not seem easy. White's injury is better than expected, and if he tries to recruit a short-term alternative foreign player, the time required in the process is not easy. It takes time to issue visas and adapt to the environment, and some players have a hard time because they don't even have a passport.

Manager Lee Soo-yong said, `It is ambiguous to use foreign players. It's (at least) 6 weeks, and then there are a lot of friends who don't even have a passport and it's (difficult) to prepare. If I can't use white, I thought it's right to wait a little bit"If the results of the examination come out well, I'm more or less ready, and my goal is to push the timing of my return as much as possible."

Now, for SSG, it is best to hope that White will shake off his injury as soon as possible and return to the mound earlier.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.