“There is no way back.” Kim Min-woo is not afraid and is actually enjoying the time of rehabilitation. [미야자키 현장]

(Xports News Miyazaki (Japan), Reporter Jo Eun-hye) Hanwha Eagles Kim Min-woo is walking through this tunnel, which could be a time of hell for some, with a smile. This is because you clearly know the path you have walked and the path you will take.

I worked hard, had expectations, and had confidence. The preparation was perfect. Minwoo Kim, who had a disappointing season last year due to a shoulder injury and poor performance with 1 win, 6 losses, and an ERA of 6.97 in 12 games, 51⅔ innings, went to the United States at his own expense in the off-season, did personal training at the Driveline Baseball Center, and lost more than 10kg of weight. I was very proud of my back.

In his first appearance as a professional, he pitched at a maximum speed of 148 km/h, pitching 5 innings with 2 hits, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts, and no runs. He also raised expectations by earning a starting win in his first appearance of the season as a professional. After resting for a turn due to symptoms of phlegm, he pitched well against Kiwoom in Gocheok on the 7th, allowing 3 runs in 7 innings.

However, in the game against Daejeon KIA on April 13, he felt signs of an abnormality in his body and was replaced after throwing only 4 balls, and was no longer able to go on the mound. Minwoo Kim, who was diagnosed with a right elbow flexor sprain as a result of the examination, chose surgery between rehabilitation and surgery and underwent MCL (medial collateral ligament) surgery again on the area where he had surgery 10 years ago.

In the ‘2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League’ game between Hanwha Eagles and SSG Landers held at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the afternoon of the 26th, Hanwha starting pitcher Kim Min-woo is throwing the ball vigorously in the bottom of the first inning. Xports News DB

In the ‘2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League’ game between Hanwha Eagles and SSG Landers held at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the afternoon of the 26th, Hanwha starting pitcher Kim Min-woo is heading to the dugout after finishing defense in the bottom of the 4th inning. Xports News DB

No matter how much Ryu Hyun-jin came, the unexpected departure of Kim Min-woo made Hanwha’s mound creaky. Kim Min-woo, whom we met in Miyazaki where the finishing camp was in progress, reflected, “My personal performance is good, but in the end, if I do well, the team is also good, so I prepared so hard and worked hard, but I felt bad that I couldn’t help the team.”

Still, I decided not to keep that feeling for long. Kim Min-woo said, “My upset feelings passed away in an instant when I was on the mound when I was injured. After going to the hospital and hearing the results, I thought, ‘It must be fate.’ It’s so unfortunate, but what can I do? I’m just thinking positively and getting in shape.” talked about it

Rather, Minwoo Kim said, “It’s fun.” He said that he received a lot of stimulation when he went to the United States, and said, “Now I am doing it with great confidence. Because I have faith, the long rehabilitation time is not too difficult and I am enjoying it. It is not like I lose what I have learned. What I have learned is “It’s all in my head, and I have a feeling in my body, so I’m sure I’ll be able to show a good performance (when I’m in a good mood),” he predicted.

In the ‘2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League’ game between Hanwha Eagles and Kiwoom Heroes held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 7th, Hanwha starting pitcher Kim Min-woo is throwing the ball vigorously in the bottom of the first inning. Xports News DB

Minwoo Kim is coming down the mound after finishing the inning with no runs in the bottom of the 6th inning in the ‘2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League’ game between Hanwha Eagles and Kiwoom Heroes held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 7th. Xports News DB

We need to continue to monitor the condition and progress through the stages, but for now, the goal of returning is June. Kim Min-woo said, “Actually, it’s not the time to work hard now, but I kept talking to the training coach and worked out well, so I’ve moved up the time a little. I think if I continue to do well, it might be accelerated.”

I asked him if he had any fear of pain. Then Kim Min-woo said, “Actually, I think all surgeries have some degree of elbow pain. I have no fear of pain at all. What can I do if it hurts here? I’m not going to have surgery again, and there’s no way to go back. I just have a set schedule. “I’m going to do my best,” he replied.

The emergence of a new starting resource named Eom Sang-baek also becomes a new stimulus for Kim Min-woo. Minwoo Kim said, “I have always had motivation, and I think it has become a stimulus. As (the pitching staff) becomes more solid and we have to face another competition, I think that stimulus will also become a reason and driving force to work harder.”

Photo = Xports News DB

Reporter Jo Eun-hye eunhwe@xportsnews.com