"If you're not feeling well, you may not come."
Conor Seabold, the first starting pitcher of the Samsung Lions from the Major Leaguer, has finally left for the U.S. Is this the end of his chance to play in the PS.
However, Connor promised that he would come back after rehabilitation to the extent possible until the Korean Series. Samsung manager Park Jin-man, who has been waiting for Connor's rehabilitation for a long time, expected Connor to come back from the Korean Series, but left open the possibility that he would fail to join the team, saying, "If he is not in good physical condition, he may not bring in a sick player."
Coach Park Jin-man explained at a press conference ahead of the third round of the PO on the 17th that Connor, who had been rehabilitating due to scapular pain until recently, left for the U.S. "Connor went to the U.S. when he was training in the playoffs. Since he has his family and his doctor there, he said, "I will come back in good condition if I can rehabilitate hard."
This season, Connor played the role of Samsung's ace by posting 11 wins, 6 losses and an earned run average of 3.43 in 28 games. However, he started against the Hanwha Eagles in Daegu on Sept. 11 and left the mound due to scapular pain. Connor was excluded from the first team entry the next day, Sept. 12, and could no longer play in the first team.
Connor was accompanied by a first-team squad until recently, but he left for the U.S. during the playoff camp. "Connor himself has a strong will to take the mound in the Korean Series. However, with the fall baseball season beginning and the team moving according to the PS, I told the team that I want to focus on short-term treatment in the U.S. as trainers cannot focus on his rehabilitation."
Connor also told the team, "Please advance to the Korean Series," and promised to return if he recovers to a state where he can throw the ball.
However, his joining is not in a definitive situation. "If our team advances to the Korean Series, we will come back after rehabilitation if we can," coach Park said. "We will have to wait and see after that. We will have to go up first to see what is decided, and then we will have to check (the condition of the corner) according to the date."
Even if he returns to Korea, he will not be able to take the mound as a starting pitcher since he has yet to enter the pitching stage. If he returns, he will likely be utilized as a bullpen pitcher. If he can strongly block even a short inning like the LG Twins' Elijah Hernandez, he will be able to make full use of it.
In the end, the key to recovery will be how long he or she can recover. As the scapular part is a part of the body that can perform multiple functions such as pitching, if the pitcher cannot throw the ball due to pain, it can be a side crisis that cannot be easily recovered in many ways.
On the possibility of failing to return to the team, Park said, "If you are in poor physical condition, you may not be able to come. If you are in poor physical condition on the date you join the team, you may not bring in a sick player," expressing a firm standard on the condition that Connor recovers.
Samsung has no corner, but it is cruising. It won the first and second games with a big victory and gained the upper hand with two wins, before losing 0-1 in the third round of PO. Although its batters lost to opposing starting pitcher Lim Chan-kyu and second pitcher Hernandez, the team is still in an advantageous position with two wins and one loss in the series. 먹튀검증
Nevertheless, his trip to the U.S. is not welcome news given that Connor's chances of joining PS are becoming less and less likely.