Unlucky injuries, shoulder surgery, and Ahn Woo-jin, who can't throw a one-year suspension ball, joined the first team entry in a surprise move. Why?
Sep 18, 2025
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Kiwoom Heroes announced on the 18th that they will register Ahn Woo-jin in the first-team entry ahead of the match against the Doosan Bears in Jamsil.
Ahn Woo-jin will be with the team in the dugout for seven games from the match against Doosan to the final home game against SSG Landers on the 30th.
It's an unconventional decision.
Ahn Woo-jin was scheduled to join the team after fulfilling his mandatory military service as a social service and being lifted from the call-up on the 17th. However, ahead of his return to the team last month, he was shocked by the fact that he fell and injured his right shoulder throwing the ball while being hit by a puncture during the 2nd division's own training process. a major injury that requires immediate surgery. He accepted the opinion that he should focus only on treatment and rehabilitation until at least the first half of next year. That's how Ahn Woo-jin got on the operating table.
The worst for both Ahn Woo-jin and Kiwoom. Ahn Woo-jin was planning to return at the end of this season to boost his sense of practice, play as the team's ace next year, and spur his application for posting to advance to the U.S. Major League. However, the plan was disrupted as it actually flew through the whole season.
Kiwoom also finished rebuilding in disgrace for the third consecutive year, and tried to fly with Ahn Woo-jin next year, but the plan came to nothing.
Meanwhile, Ahn Woo-jin recently asked the club to wrap up the season with the team. The club also accepted it. It's an expanded entry period anyway, and Kiwoom didn't fill up five people and operate it even after the expanded entry was held in September, so there was no damage to other players.
The club also has no choice but to listen to the player unless it is an unreasonable request because the player was injured during its own training process. This is because we are in a situation where we have to comfort ourselves no matter what.
From Ahn Woo-jin's point of view, along with the meaning of spending time with colleagues, this registration can have the effect of filling the number of registration days that are insufficient. Ahn Woo-jin is expected to be able to apply for posting ahead of the 2029 season at the earliest, and it remains to be seen whether the registration will accelerate that time. There are 145 days that are recognized as completing a season, but Ahn Woo-jin had a season registered for only 139 days. When combined with the number of registration days this time, one season will be fully filled.
Ahn Woo-jin said, `As the team is in a difficult time, we have been preparing as much as we can to return. The rehabilitation after elbow surgery two years ago was also smooth, so expectations were high for his physical condition. I'm sorry I got injured again during training, but I'm happy to finish the season with the squad and it will be a great boost"I would like to thank the club for deciding to register the entry and my fellow players for welcoming me warmly. Above all, I'm excited to meet my fans in person at Gocheok Dome. I will try to be helpful to the team for the rest of the season."
Meanwhile, the club asked KBO in advance whether Ahn Woo-jin could register as an expanded entry, and was confirmed that there was no problem with the regulations.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
