KT Wiz’s young gun So-Jun Sohn (22), who dedicated himself to the country wearing the Taegeuk mark at the World Baseball Classic (WBC), receives an elbow strain. For KT Wiz, who is currently at the bottom, it can’t be anything but lightning.
A KT official said on the 11th, “As a result of a detailed examination of Joon Sohn at the hospital, he was diagnosed with a torn right MCL (medial collateral ligament).” A KT official said, “After undergoing one more examination, he will schedule a surgery.”
From the point of view of KT Wiz, who has a busy road to go, it is bound to be bad news. Joon Sohn joined KT Wiz as the first nomination in 2020. And as soon as he made his professional debut, he rose to prominence. He pitched in 26 games in the 2020 season and recorded a 13-6 record with a 3.86 earned run average. He proudly won the Rookie of the Year title.
After taking 7 wins and 7 losses with an ERA of 4.16 in 24 games in the 2021 season, he had a career high season with 13 wins and 6 losses with an ERA of 3.05 in 27 games in the 2022 season. In his last season, he also threw 171⅓ innings, the most of his career.
In the end, based on this great success, he was also honored to board the WBC national team. However, this season, So Joon Sohn showed difficulty from the beginning of the season. On April 2, he started against LG and collapsed with 10 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout and 9 runs (9 earned) in 2⅓ innings. His injuries caught up with him. He was placed on the injured list on the 4th of last month after being diagnosed with a right forearm sprain.
After that, after resting and rehabilitating, he returned to the first team through the SSG match on May 3rd. His pitching wasn’t bad. In 5 innings, he did his part with 5 hits (1 home run), 1 walk, 1 strikeout (1 run).
However, in the end, he broke his elbow. The previous day (10th), he started against Suwon NC, but showed a 3⅔ innings, 7 hits, 1 walk, 2 balls that fit his body, 2 strikeouts and 4 runs (4 earned). At that time, he threw his first pitch against NC batter Park Geon-woo in the middle of the 4th inning, but complained of elbow pain. In the end, he came down the mound without spraying any more balls.
According to the club, KT coach Lee Kang-cheol said, “They say that Hyung-Jun Soh’s elbow ligaments are torn. He needs surgery,” ahead of the home game against the NC Dinos at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 11th.
If Joon Sohn gets on the operating table, he will undergo elbow ligament joint surgery (Tommy John surgery). If you have elbow ligament splice surgery, you usually need at least a year of rehabilitation. Participation in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, which will be held in September, has become virtually impossible. ‘Korean Major Leaguer’ Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto) also underwent Tommy John surgery due to an elbow ligament injury in June of last year. When the year-long rehabilitation is over, it is expected that it will be possible to return in July.
KT Wiz continues to groan due to injuries and departures of players this season. Pil Seung-jo such as Ju Kwon and Kim Min-soo, outfielders Bae Jeong-dae and Kim Min-hyeok, and infielders Hwang Jae-gyun and Park Byeong-ho suffered big and small injuries and left the line. They are holding on with their gums, but in the last 16 matches, they are sluggish with 1 win, 1 draw and 14 losses. As of the 10th, they are at the bottom of the league with 8 wins, 2 draws and 19 losses. The team’s ERA is also 5.09, the highest among the 10 clubs.
Director Lee Kang-chul should also be seen as unable to be completely free from the aftereffects of the WBC. This is because he directed KT Wiz during the US spring camp, and while leading the national team midway through, he was unable to go all-in with his team. In the midst of this, it seems that the story of the aftermath of the WBC will continue to come out as So Joon Sohn leaves.
Injuries to national team pitchers who have already competed in the WBC are continuing. Previously, Doosan native ace Gwak Bin came down the mound after complaining of back pain while pitching against Jamsil LG on the 7th. Kwak Bin also played while suffering from back pain, but was unable to avoid injury in the end. Kwak Bin was excluded from the first team entry after being diagnosed with a back sprain the next day.먹튀검증
Here, LG is missing “Closer” Woo-seok Ko due to an injury. Ko Woo-seok, who complained of shoulder pain during a practice match right before the WBC tournament, was diagnosed with inflammation of the supraspinatus muscle in his right shoulder. He returned to the first team stage on the 18th of last month without participating in exhibition matches, but was canceled from the first team entry on May 1. His performance this season was 1 win, 1 loss, 2 saves, and an ERA of 6.35. NC closer Lee Yong-chan was also listed on the injured list from April 30 to May 9 due to deterioration in physical condition due to increased fatigue.
The players who were selected for the WBC team this time improved their physical condition faster than in previous years. If everything was prepared in time for the opening of the regular season, this time, he started preparing early for the first leg of the WBC tournament. It seems that some players are experiencing aftereffects in a situation where their usual routine is bound to be broken.