KIA Tigers foreign pitcher Will Crowe left for the U.S. for a detailed elbow examination. KIA manager Lee Bum-ho said he had to decide on one of surgery and rehabilitation regarding Crowe’s situation.
Kia officially announced on May 10 that Will Crowe, who had been removed from the roster due to partial damage to his right elbow ligament, will depart for the U.S. this afternoon for a medical checkup. Kia said it will determine Crowe’s final course of action based on the results of the U.S. reexamination.
Crowe felt discomfort in his elbow after pitching in a bullpen session on Wednesday during an away series in Daegu. After the first round of examinations at SM Hospital in Daegu, he was diagnosed with damage to the medial ligament of his right elbow after double examinations at Sejong Sports Orthopedic Surgery and Leon Orthopedic Surgery on Wednesday (Sept. 9).
Crowe played in eight games this season and was a key player in the starting lineup with five wins and one loss, 3.57 43 strikeouts, 12 walks and WHIP 1.31. However, his injury history ultimately hampered his performance last year. Kia seems to have no choice but to agonize over whether to use a substitute card for a foreign player based on Crowe’s physical condition.
Manager Lee Bum-ho also got confused over Crows absence. Ahead of the game against the Doosan Bears in Gwangju on May 14, Lee told reporters, "I have made two findings regarding Crows elbow condition. One is bad (surgery) and the other is positive (injection treatment and rehabilitation). It seems that the U.S. wants to confirm for sure. It is better for our club, too. If the results of the U.S. checkups say that you can throw, you will pitch again, or you will have to deal with other situations. We can only decide after the U.S. checkups are completed.”
Kia should continue to play as a substitute for the time being without a crore. Lee said, “First of all, chances are high that Hwang Dong-ha and Kim Geon-guk will start this weekend. Lee Eui-ri and Lim Ki-young need to increase the number of pitches, so they may not be able to return to the starting lineup until next week. We have to endure it until May as much as possible.”
Meanwhile, KIA will face Doosan starter Brandon by banking on its starting batting order of Kim Do-young (third baseman), Lee Chang-jin (left fielder), Lee Woo-sung (first baseman), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Na Sung-bum (right fielder), Socrates (center fielder), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Kim Tae-gun (catcher), and Park Chan-ho (striker) at a match against Doosan Bears in Gwangju on Tuesday. KIA’s starting pitcher is Yang Hyeon-jong.
Ahead of the match, Kia recruited pitcher Yoon Joong-hyun after expelling pitchers Kim Hyun-soo, Lee Hyung-bum and infielder Byun Woo-hyuk. “It will not be easy for Jeon to take the mound until tomorrow (May 15) due to the aftermath of his being hit by a pitch. That’s why we decided that we need Yoon, who can go as long as multiple innings,” Lee said.
BY: 사설토토