There is a new groom who dreams of resurrection in 2023. In 2018, he performed well and was selected as a national representative for the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games. Over the next three years, he played more than 60 games each season and was responsible for the bullpen of the Bears corps. Then, in the summer of 2021, he underwent elbow ligament surgery, and in June of last year, he had a comeback, but the pain worsened and he had to focus on rehabilitation.안전놀이터
Now I look only at the 2023 season and run again. He promised to revive himself, saying that he himself had been resting for a year. This is the story of Doosan Bears’ ‘idol’ bullpen pitcher Park Chi-guk (25), who married on December 18 last year and joined the ranks of out-of-stock men.
Park Chi-guk, who graduated from Incheon Sungui Elementary School – Incheon Shinheung Middle School – Jemulpo High School, joined Doosan in 2017 in the 10th place in the 2nd round. In his first year with the club, he went 1-1 with a 6.75 earned run average in 21 games.
It was from 2018 that he made a leap to become a full-fledged main player. In the 2018 season, he posted a 3.63 earned run average with 1 win, 5 losses, 3 saves and 17 holds in 67 games. That year, he participated in the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games and devoted himself to the national team.
In the 2019 season, he had an average ERA of 4.50 with 2 wins, 2 losses and 14 holds, and in the 2020 season, he showed a good figure with an ERA of 2.89 with 4 wins, 4 losses and 7 holds. 2020 was a career high season.
However, from the 2021 season, elbow pain began to plague him. It became difficult for him to pitch further, and he ended up on the operating table in July of that year. Park Chi-guk, who devoted himself to rehabilitation, returned to the mound on June 15 last year in a match against Kiwoom. After that, Park Chi-guk recorded 1 win, 2 losses and 3 holds with an average ERA of 5.40 in 15 games. But my elbow hurt again. In the end, he decided to spend his rehabilitation time after the match against Hanwha on July 29th.
In fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that he took a break for more than a year and a half after the surgery. Park Chi-guk said, “I’m in really good shape right now. Last year, I had anxiety about what to do if I got sick after surgery. Now, that thought has completely disappeared.” I’ve had enough time to rehabilitate myself. I’ve been training in Icheon and even half-pitched. This year, I set my goal to play full-time by preparing well.”
Park Chi-guk said, “I did well in 2020, and after surgery in 2021, I felt sick in 2022. I think my mindset went back to 2018. To be honest, I don’t think I have a place. It’s time to show it again and rise. (Jeong) Cheol-won Lee throws well, and (Choi) Seung-yong is also good.
A lot has changed in the team as well. ‘Legend’ Lee Seung-yeop (47) has been newly appointed. Park Chi-guk once faced Lee Seung-yeop as a pitcher during his retirement season. I faced him twice, and the result was 2 strikeouts. All of them were Park Chi-guk’s victories. Park Chi-guk remembered this scene very clearly. He even said that he still occasionally watches the video of manager Lee striking out.
Park Chi-guk brightly said, “It was the first time I met you on the mound, and after greeting you, I struck out. That memory remains the most. When I get a chance, I want to ask, ‘How was my ball then?’. Recently, I watched a video of me striking out.” laughed He continued, “At the time, I only thought that I had to catch it because I was a player representing Korea. As a director) I didn’t expect you to come, but I’m looking forward to it.” He smiled.
Will Park Chi-guk be able to make 2023 a year of revival under coach Lee Seung-yeop, the “legend” he looked up to?