Doosan sidearm pitcher Park Chi-guk (25) met Lee Seung-yeop twice, who was spending his retirement season at Samsung during his rookie days . The result is all strikeouts. Before Lee entered the plate, he took off his cap and bowed his head to express his respect, but when the match began, he struck out a senior player with coolness uncharacteristic of a rookie.
Park Chi-guk first faced Lee Seung-yeop on May 4, 2017 in Daegu. In the ninth inning, with a 17-2 lead at the time, Lee Seung-yeop, who appeared as a pinch hitter with no runners out, struck out on a swing after an 8-pitch game. Later, in the Daegu game on September 17, the last match of Lee Seung-yeop’s career against Doosan, he struck out looking with an exquisite curve on the 5th pitch from 1st base in the 7th inning, leading 20-5.
Park Chi-guk, whom I recently met in Jamsil, said, “At the time, the coach was a player representing Korea, so I had no idea but to catch him. There were good results because I focused more.” “I remember that the director told me to throw it gently as he passed by. I didn’t know that such a hitter would come as our team’s manager. In fact, I recently found the video and watched it again,” he said with a laugh.
I also have a question I want to ask director Lee Seung-yeop. Park Chi-guk said, “If I get a chance later, I want to ask the coach how the ball was at that time. He hasn’t had much conversation with the director yet, but I’m looking forward to it.” 바카라
Park Chi-guk, who struck out Lee Seung-yeop twice, has become a necessary member of Seung-yeop Lee’s team over the years. After recovering from an elbow injury, his goal is to recapture the glory of 2018, when he achieved his dream of becoming a national team player by jumping back into the winning group.
Park Chi-guk, who came out of Jemulpo High School and became a Doosan Man in the 10th place in the 2nd round of 2017, from the first year of his debut, put on the temperament of a matchmaker that was not like a rookie, and was one of the pillars of the winning group. There was also no second-year jinx that most of his rookies go through. He showed a good pitching with an average ERA of 3.63 with 1 win, 5 losses, 3 saves and 17 holds in 67 games with the selection of the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games national team in 2018. Park Chi-guk went through 14 holds in 2019 and ran on a solid road in 2020 with an average ERA of 2.89 in 63 matches, 4 wins, 4 losses and 7 holds.
But his elbow couldn’t stand the 5 years of non-stop running. Park Chi-guk, who had suffered minor pain in his elbow since the 2021 spring camp, had a difficult time even after entering the season due to frequent ups and downs and being listed on the injured list twice. And as a result of the MRI examination, surgery was decided, and the season ended on June 24, 2021 with the Kiwoom match.
Park Chi-guk returned from the match against Kiwoom on June 15 last year, but left an average ERA of 5.40 in 15 games, 1 win, 2 losses and 3 holds, and promised the following year. Feeling discomfort in his elbow ligament area, he entered long-term rehabilitation for more than six months again.
How is your current physical condition? Fortunately, there is no hindrance to the start of the 2023 season. Park Chi-guk said, “We continued training in Icheon. He has progressed to the current half while playing catch. His physical condition is so much better than I thought,” he said. He is creating a certain state.”
Park Chi-guk was fortunate to reunite with Yang Eui-ji, who was with him during the first and second years of the return season. The year 2018 with Yang Eui-ji was his heyday, so expectations are naturally high. Park Chi-guk said, “When I was the best, the catcher was (Yang) Eui-ji senior. I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “The Asian Games were held then, and there are Asian Games this year as well. If things go as planned, I want to compete again.”
As the hiatus has been long, I feel like starting this year from ‘zero base’. Park Chi-guk said, “After doing well in 2020, I had surgery in 2021, and in 2022 I was sick again.” “My mindset went back to 2018. There is no place for me right now and I have to go up by showing it again. There are many good pitchers such as Jeong Cheol-won and Choi Seung-yong, so I am going to start with the mindset that there is no place for me.”
If I can occupy a spot in the Pilseungjoo again, my goal is to be able to play full-time without getting sick anymore. Park Chi-guk said, “All rehabilitation is over,” and “I want to finish the race to the end without getting sick this year. It’s been over a year since he had surgery and he’s been through a lot of rehab. Now that his arm is feeling better, he’ll try harder to prepare. And I will work hard on reinforcement exercises to prevent the recurrence of the injury.”
