Lee Eui-ri, who received the first nomination from the KIA Tigers in the rookie draft in 2021, took the title of "Rookie King" with 4 wins, 5 losses and a 3.61 ERA in 19 appearances in his first season. Considering the weight of the title of Rookie of the Year, his performance was a little disappointing, but Lee completely put the controversy to rest with his performance the following year. He ate 154 innings in 29 games in the 2022 season, producing a 10-10 record and a 3.86 ERA.메이저놀이터

His performance did not end in just one season. In the 2023 season, Lee also played 131 ⅔ innings in 28 games, recording 11 wins, 7 losses and a 3.96 ERA. Although the number of innings decreased and the ERA slightly increased, Kia also had the pleasure of acquiring a double-digit win for the second consecutive year with 11 wins, more than in the 2022 season, and Kia succeeded in securing the starting resources that Lee will definitely face. However, last year was a nightmarish season for Lee.

In the game against the Doosan Bears, which was his first game of the season last year, Lee pitched four scoreless innings. Then, he pitched five innings of two runs (two earned runs) against the KT Wiz, his second opponent, on April 4, securing his first win. However, he felt uncomfortable with his left elbow in a showdown with the LG Twins on April 10, and he left the mound after allowing five hits, four walks and three runs (three earned runs) during one ⅔ inning. Then, he was diagnosed with a muscle sprain in his left elbow after undergoing a physical examination.

As a result, Lee had a hiatus of more than a month and focused on recovering his elbow, before returning to the mound in late May. However, the game against the NC Dinos on May 29 was Lee's last appearance in 2024. Lee finished his return match by allowing four hits (two homers) and three walks (three earned runs) during three innings, but after conducting a medical examination again, he came across a shocking finding that his elbow ligament was damaged.

Ligament damage in the elbow is a major injury that usually leads to Tommy John, who needs more than a year of long rehabilitation. Eventually, Lee had no choice but to end his season early and moved to Japan for surgery. However, Lee's recent rehabilitation trend is unusual. Lee has played a total of five bullpen sessions so far, and his resilience is so strong that it is questionable whether he is the right player who underwent Tommy John surgery for bone fragment removal along with internal ligament reconstruction in his elbow in June last year.

Coach Lee Bum-ho, who met in Irvine, Orange County, California, on the 10th (local time), seemed surprised by Lee Eui-ri's resilience. In particular, the head coach even said, "You can tell if you see Lee Eui-ri's bullpen pitching," and Shim Jae-hak, the general manager, hinted that Lee Eui-ri is kicking the ball stronger after undergoing surgery than before, and that his control has improved.

Still, he is not pushing himself too hard. Kia also has no intention of pushing ahead with Lee's return to the mound. However, Lee explains that she has no pain or discomfort even after pitching. She is speeding up her rehabilitation process by banking on her good resilience. Currently, Lee is aiming to return to the mound in June. However, if her current pace continues, she could be seen taking the mound earlier than expected.

If Lee Eui-ri returns to the mound in good health, KIA's integrated victory for the second consecutive year is expected to gain more momentum. If "Ace" James Nail, "New Face" Adam Oler, "Great Pitcher" Yang Hyun-jong and Yoon Young-chul join Lee Eui-ri, they will build the best starting lineup in the KBO league. I'm already looking forward to seeing how Lee Eui-ri, who is showing an amazing pace to the extent that the head coach and general manager are impressed, will return to the mound.