Choi Seong-young (NC Dinos), who is overcoming an orbital fracture injury, promised a quick comeback. Choi Seong-young, who graduated from Yeongrang Elementary School, Seorak Middle School, and Seorak High School, is a left-handed pitcher with a proud physique of 180 cm and 85 kg. His ability to use breaking balls was cited as his strength, and he was nominated by NC with the 13th overall in the 2nd round of the 2nd round in the 2016 rookie draft.
Since then, Choi Seong-young played a role like salt on the NC mound by posting an average ERA of 5.32 with 8 wins, 7 losses, 1 save and 2 holds in 82 professional first team games (223.1 innings) until last year. He has shown even more improved skills this season. In the beginning, he was active in the bullpen, but when native left-handed ace Gu Chang-mo left due to a stress fracture in his left forearm, he took a place in the starting lineup. As of the 28th, his performance is 4 wins and undefeated ERA of 2.57 in 7 appearances (28 innings).
However, on the 20th of last month, unexpected bad news struck Choi Seong-young. In the match against the Changwon LG Twins, he was knocked out after being hit in the left cheekbone by Moon Bo-gyeong’s assault batted ball. Complaining of pain and unable to get up, he was eventually taken out of the ground by an ambulance. Nevertheless, at the time, Choi Seong-young was said to have comforted the people around him.
We met at Masan Baseball Stadium on the 27th, and he said about the situation at this time, “I got a lot of calls from around me, but I was worried that my parents would worry, and they said, ‘It doesn’t hurt. He said it was okay,” and “until he saw the test results, he thought it wasn’t a fracture. He came to his senses as he rode away in the ambulance and was not sick. He thought it would be okay as long as the swelling went down, but the test result came out as a fracture.”
NC’s head coach Kang In-kwon watched a lot of scenes where his teammates were hit by batted balls during his active career. Perhaps because of this aftermath, he was momentarily unable to move and closed his eyes when Choi Seong-young was injured. Choi Sung-young said, “Director Kang In-kwon said, ‘Are you okay? He said, ‘I hope you are recovering well. I didn’t want to reveal my pain, so I said it was okay.” He smiled.
He said this, but getting hit in the face by a batted ball can be life threatening. Fortunately, Seongyoung Choi did not have to undergo surgery, but he had trouble eating. He said, “I lost weight because I couldn’t eat. He endured by eating only porridge for about a week to ten days,” and said, “I used to eat rice with water when I could chew it to some extent,” with a bitter smile.
The NC club made every effort to ensure Choi Seong-young’s speedy recovery. In particular, the help of his trainers and teammates was a great help to Seongyoung Choi. “Everyone at the club helped a lot,” he said. He paid a lot of attention on the trainer part, and his colleagues called him every day. He also expressed his gratitude, saying, “Let’s get well soon and go up to the first team.”
Of course, Choi Seong-young himself did his best to make his quick comeback. He said, “When he was treated for his face, his arms were also treated. As a result, the pain subsided a lot. He just didn’t want to lose his good sense for a blank period. So he did light exercise alone without overdoing it, and threw a ball from time to time”. Sungyoung Choi says:
As a result, he showed a rapid recovery. He hasn’t had all of his bones yet, but he’s been told it’s okay to train. Choi Seong-young said, “It has improved a lot. There is pain, but it is tolerable,” he said. Other than that, it’s fine,” he explained.
In the match against the Masan Samsung Lions in the Futures (Second Division) League on the 25th, Choi Seong-young climbed the mound for the first time since his injury. He took the mound in the top of the 7th inning and recorded no runs in 1 inning, no hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout. He committed a straight walk to Lee Tae-hoon after the first shot, and although the ball-to-strike ratio was not good, it is impossible to distribute the first drink.
Choi Seong-young said, “I gave up a walk absurdly. Other than that, it was exciting to go up the mound after a long time. (Kim) Hyung-joon also got along with the battery for the first time in a while, so I think it was okay and fun,” he laughed.
However, in the case of Choi Sung-young, as a pitcher, he was hit in the face by a batted ball, so he could develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Nevertheless, he said, 스포츠토토 When I hear the stories of seniors who suffered the same injury in the past, they say that they remember when they went to that stadium. But I was beaten at my home stadium (Changwon NC Park). It can’t be helped (laughs)” and “It’s okay. I actually thought about it a little before I pitched this time, but I didn’t really think about it when I threw it.”
Choi Seong-young’s team, NC, has recently been suffering from a line injury of starting resources. Including Koo Chang-mo, Jae-hak Lee (fracture of the 1st metatarsal bone in his left foot) are all out with injuries. In addition, even Lee Yong-jun, who showed good pitching after settling in the starting lineup at the beginning of the season, is down to the Futures League for reorganization.
In the midst of this, if Choi Seong-young returns, NC will gain a thousand troops and horses. Choi Seong-young, who threw 19 pitches in the match against Samsung on the 25th, is expected to gradually increase the number of pitches and return to the first team as a starting pitcher.
He said, “You have to do well. He heard that the pitching staff is having a hard time right now. If I can help, I want to come back quickly and help the team,” he said. “I want to help the team by working as hard as I can. He nodded, saying, “I think I can return to the first team quickly because I am currently competing.”
Lastly, Seongyoung Choi said, “When I was injured, many fans were worried. Fortunately, a lot has recovered. I can start a match now, so I think I can go back soon. As much as you sent me your support, I will go up to the 1st team and repay you with good pitching. Thank you,” he bowed his head to the fans who supported him.