Focus is on the left-hander fireballer of Korea National University who returned next year, even if KIA is in a hurry, he is saving it
Jul 18, 2025
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KIA Tigers' Lee Eui-ri is finally back. Lee Eui-ri was registered in the first division entry on the 17th along with outfielder Na Sung-bum, infielder Kim Sun-bin, and pitcher Kim Do-hyun and Lee Ho-min.
Lee Eui-ri underwent Tommy John surgery in June last year and devoted himself to rehabilitation for about a year. He recorded a maximum speed of 151km from his first game in the Futures League last month, raising expectations for the return of the national left-hander fireballer. Lee Eui-ri made his body steadily with the goal of shooting a maximum speed of 155km in his return match.
Lee Eui-ri is scheduled to start against the Gwangju NC Dinos on the 19th. As the game was canceled due to heavy rain on the 17th, the pitching schedule was delayed by one day. If it is canceled due to rain in Gyeonggi Province on the 18th, Lee Eui-ri will prepare to take the mound against Gwangju NC on the 20th. As of the morning of the 18th, the weather in Gwangju is clear without rain, but there is another rain forecast after 4 p.m., making it difficult to guarantee the start of the game.
KIA manager Lee Bum-ho welcomed Lee Eui-ri's return. This is because there is a big hole in the current starting rotation. Foreign pitcher Adam Oler is scheduled to return in early August due to elbow inflammation, while left-hander Yoon Young-chul is forced to leave the team due to elbow flexor injury. Lee Eui-ri joined the first team just in time, easing one big concern.
However, Lee Eui-ri is currently in a difficult situation to throw the ball excessively. The number of pitches he pitched for the first time was set at 60. The number of pitches will gradually increase, but he has set his direction to slowly adapt to the first-team mound without ordering him to take the mound twice a week as much as possible.
Kia, ranked fourth, is currently in a situation where it cannot be reassured of the semifinals. It's not time to relax, but it doesn't make sense to use the team too much to make it a problem for the player's life just because the team is in a hurry.
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Then "I think I need to take a break for once. I'm going to set the date at the timing of Oler's return so that his loyalty can rest. It's better for the team to throw loyalty next year. It will be on the first team this year, but it is most important to focus all the focus on next year. I'm not going to overdo it."
KIA will try to adjust its starting rotation in the second half depending on whether it cancels rain or not. If the game is not canceled due to rain on the 18th, James Nail, Yi Ui-ri, Yang Hyun-jong, Kim Do-hyun and Kim Geon-guk will take the mound in the order of the game, and if the game is canceled on the 18th, the rotation will be returned in the order of Nail, Yi Ui-ri, Kim Do-hyun, Yang Hyun-jong and Kim Geon-guk.
Lee Eui-ri graduated from Gwangju Jeil High School and joined KIA as the first designated player in 2021 and has been a left-hander ace. Until last year, he had 26 wins and 22 losses, 393 ⅔ innings, 424 strikeouts, and a 3.89 ERA in 80 games. He has a ball control anxiety problem, which is the fate of a fast-paced pitcher, but as the number of strikeouts suggests, he also has excellent ability to strike out. That's how good the ball is.
Will Lee Eui-ri be able to show the dignity of the fireballer even after returning from injury. KT Wiz coach Lee Kang-chul said, `If Tommy John surgery goes well, the arrest may be faster than before.'
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
