LG pitcher Ham Deok-joo’s return to the first team continues to be delayed. He is scheduled to undergo a checkup for elbow inflammation. The future return schedule will be determined according to the results of the examination.
LG’s bullpen resources Ko Woo-seok and Jung Woo-young will be called up when the national team is convened for the Hangzhou Asian Games on the 23rd. If Ham Deok-joo’s return is delayed, the anxiety factor at LG’s back door will increase.
I was going to return after 10 days, but I had elbow inflammation.
After the Changwon NC game on the 14th was canceled due to rain, Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop said, “I think Deokju will inspect on Tuesday메이저놀이터(19th) and make a decision. “I want to know how the inflammation is, and if the condition improves, I would like to be promoted to the first team around the 23rd when the Asian Games national team is convened, but I need to get tested and see what the inflammation is like,” he said.
He continued, “(The timing of his return) was expected to be then, and he should come by then, but the condition of his elbow is the most important, so we have to wait and see the results.”
Ham Deok-ju was excluded from the first team entry on August 29th. It was not because he had any special injuries, but as a preventive measure. At the time, Coach Yeom said, “It was not because of injury. Perhaps because he threw a lot of innings, he feels like his recovery is slow. He explained, “It hasn’t been good recently, so I took it out for precautionary rest.”
However, while preparing to return after a short break, my elbow was in bad condition. On the 5th, Coach Yeom said, “I played catch after resting for five days, but my elbow was a little uncomfortable. He said he would do it.” The original schedule to return after 10 days has been postponed. Depending on the results of the examination, it may be further delayed until after selection to the national team.
LG’s Ham Deok-ju was replaced after complaining of discomfort during the NC game on June 4. / OSEN DB
ERA 1.62, No. 1 among reliever pitchers who pitched more than 30 games
Ham Deok-ju has pitched in 57 games this season, recording 4 wins, 4 saves, 16 holds, and an ERA of 1.62. Tied for 6th place in the hold category. He is the only KBO League bullpen pitcher who has appeared in more than 30 games this season with an earned run average in the 1-point range. The success rate of successive runners is 22.2% (6 out of 27).
Deok-Joo Ham pitched 55⅔ innings this year. Compared to the last two years, he has overstretched himself by throwing so many innings. This is the largest number of innings in five years since 67 innings in 2018.
Ham Deok-ju, who was traded from Doosan to LG just before the start of the 2021 season, played only 16 games and 21 innings due to an elbow injury in the 2021 season. After the season, he had surgery to remove bone fragments in his elbow.
In 2022, he pitched 12⅔ innings in 13 games and went down to the second team in early May to prepare for the starting lineup, but took 4 months off due to a minor injury. In mid-September, he appeared in the Futures League, but failed to return to the first team and finished the season in the second team.
He was in good health this year and played a key role in the bullpen until the end of August, but it became difficult due to fatigue.
Will bullpen anxiety increase?
Coach Yeom Gyeong-yeop developed four players, Ham Deok-ju, Baek Seung-hyeon, Yoo Young-chan, and Park Myung-geun, into a new winning team at spring camp. At the beginning of the season, he made up for the absence of injuries and poor performance of Go Woo-seok, Jung Woo-young, and Lee Jeong-yong well. Coach Yeom also said that if it weren’t for the four new bullpen members, he “would be in fourth place right now.” Even the local starters performed poorly at the beginning of the season, so their contribution to the team was significant.
If Go Woo-seok and Jung Woo-young participate in the Asian Games, they will have to block the back door with a group finishing system. Coach Yeom said, “While Go Woo-seok is away, no one person will finish the game, but four people will throw depending on the game situation.”
Yoo Young-chan and Park Myung-geun have been performing poorly recently. If Ham Deok-joo’s return is delayed, the instability factor for LG’s bullpen, which will be missing Go Woo-seok and Jung Woo-young, may increase.