KIA Tigers manager Kim Jong-kook breathed a sigh of relief after learning that left-handed ace Lee Yi-ri had a simple inflammation. Although the diagnosis was that he should be able to throw the ball straight away without needing an injection, Kim decided to give Lee Yi-ri a break, skipping one turn.
KIA designated outfielder Oh Sun-woo for assignment on Aug. 23 after removing Lee from the first team roster.
Lee complained of shoulder discomfort during his start against Suwon KT on Aug. 22 and was taken out of the game before the end of the fifth inning. “Lee was replaced after pitching in the fourth inning because he felt discomfort in his left shoulder, and we plan to take him to a nearby hospital for a checkup,” a KIA official said.
In the August 22 game, Lee made a motion to stretch his shoulder while pitching in the bottom of the second inning. He appeared to be in some discomfort. In the bottom of the third inning, he threw a fastball to leadoff hitter Ahn Chi-young that was only 135 km/h. All four fastballs he threw to Ahn failed to exceed 140 km/h.
There was no recovery in the bottom of the fourth inning. Lee touched 134 km/h, his lowest fastball of the day, when he faced Oh Yoon-seok with one out in the bottom of the fourth. Lee, who was replaced by Jang Hyun-sik in the bottom of the fifth, gave up two runs on four hits with five strikeouts and two walks in four innings.
Lee went straight to the hospital after the game and underwent a late-night MRI examination due to the length of the day’s examination. On the 23rd, Lee underwent another examination at a different hospital. The results of the two examinations reportedly did not reveal as big a problem as feared. However, he is expected to rest his shoulder due to accumulated fatigue.
On August 23, a KIA representative said, “Lee Yi-ri was diagnosed with simple inflammation (partial inflammation of the shoulder blade) after a medical examination. For his protection, he will be removed from the roster and will rest for about one turn,” the organization said.
“He doesn’t need an injection and can pitch right away…” Manager Kim Jong-guk is relieved by the simple inflammation test result
Manager Kim Jong-kook also breathed a sigh of relief when he met with reporters after the August 23 game was rained out. He said, “I was very worried, but I’m glad that it was diagnosed as a simple inflammation. “I was worried about him, but I’m glad he was diagnosed with simple inflammation. I saw that his velocity was slow, and I wondered if he was throwing like that on purpose. After the inning, I realized that he felt a little sore, so I decided to make a substitution.
Kim plans to give Lee 10 days of rest. If all goes well, Lee will skip one turn and return to the first team starting mound.
Kim said, “Lee will accompany the first-team squad and prepare for next Sunday’s start (September 3 against the Munhak SSG Landers). The doctor said it’s just a simple inflammation, so he doesn’t need an injection and it won’t matter if he throws the ball right away, but he’s been running nonstop, so I’m going to give him one turn. I’m lucky that the injury is minor,” he said.안전놀이터
Meanwhile, KIA recorded its 18th rainout of the season (9 at home and 9 away) on the 23rd by canceling the game against Suwon KT. The starting pitcher for the 24th game against Suwon KT is expected to be Thomas Pannoni, while the starting lineup for the upcoming three-game series at home against the Gwangju Hanwha Eagles will be Mario Sanchez, Yang Hyun-jong, and Yoon Young-chul.