Lee Kang-joon (23), who joined the Premier 12 national team excitedly after receiving a discharge certificate, returned to the military after suffering an elbow injury during training. His dream to become a member of the national team has been postponed to the next international competition.
Ryu Joong-il, head coach of the national baseball team, met with reporters on the 6th day of training against the 2024 WBSC Premier 12 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 30th and reported the injury of right-hander side-arm fireballer Lee Kang-joon.
“Lee Kang-joon felt elbow pain while pitching, so he returned to the military today (30th). He needs three to four weeks of treatment,” Ryu sighed. “I sent him back because I couldn’t play.”
The KBO Power Reinforcement Committee convened three more people, including Lee Kang-joon, Kim Si-hoon (NC Dinos), and Cho Min-seok (Sangmu), for national team training on the 25th. “We contacted the three players, citing that Son Joo-young (LG Twins), who was on the previous call-up list, was unable to join due to an elbow injury and considered that five call-up pitchers were playing in the ongoing Korean Series.” 안전놀이터
Among the three players, the most noticeable player was Sangmu submarine fireballer Lee Kang-joon.
Lee Kang-joon left Seorak High School and joined the professional league as the 22nd ranking in the third round of the KT Wiz in the 2020 Rookie Draft. Coincidentally, he received a lot of guidance and attention at the same time when he met KBO League side-arm legend Lee Kang-chul as the head coach. He was nicknamed Little Lee Kang-chul because he had a heavy snake fastball and a pitching form similar to Lee Kang-chul’s active days.
Contrary to expectations, the impact was not significant in the first division. After leaving 6.35 ERA in four games in his first year, he moved to the Lotte Giants from KT through trade with Kim Joon-tae and Oh Yoon-seok in July that year.
At that time, the leak of Lee Kang-joon was not a bad trade for KT. In order to strengthen the catcher and infield depth, the coach Lee Kang-chul had no choice but to let go of the promising players he taught.
Lee Kang-joon also went through various trials and errors for Lotte over the past two years. He suffered a slump in ERA of 10.24 with one hold without losing or losing 13 games the following year, following 15 games with one win and no loss. Eventually, he wore the Kiwoom Heroes uniform as a reward for Han Hyun-hee’s transfer to the FA in January 2023.
Lee Kang-joon, who joined the Army Sports Department in May 2023, bombed the Futures League this year with a record of 3 wins, 1 loss, 11 saves, 8 holds, and an ERA of 0.76. In July, he participated in the Futures All-Star Game and drew great attention by throwing up to 158 kilometers of fastballs.
Lee Kang-joon, who joined the national team, complained of elbow pain while holding a showcase in front of coach Ryu Joong-il. Ryu’s analysis was that excessive force was put into his elbow than usual to impress the head coach.
“Because I’m a young player, I think I used more strength than usual because I’m wearing the national flag,” coach Ryu said. “Even during the spring camp, I usually tell my pitching coach not to come to the bullpen in the beginning. When the coach and coach see it, young pitchers feel hard for no reason. Looking at Lee Kang-joon, I went to see the ball because I liked it so much from the catch, but I think I went to see it for no reason.”
However, Lee Kang-joon succeeded in impressing Ryu in return for his elbow injury. “I’m really looking forward to it. The ball is really good. I wonder why he got an elbow injury when he throws it so pretty. The wrist snap of him hitting the ball is extraordinary. I’m really looking forward to it even when I return to Kiwoom,” Ryu said. “I met the player in person and told him, ‘I can’t do it, so let’s promise next time.’
Meanwhile, Lee Kang-joon, who headed to the military on May 8, 2023, was about to be discharged from the military on the 7th of next month. He received a discharge card and joined the Premier 12 national team on the 27th, but was injured and faced with a regrettable situation of returning to the unit later in the year.
