The Lotte Giants, who finished the first spring camp in Guam, released a roster that will return to Korea, not Japan, where the second spring camp will be held. 11 members, including Choi Jun-yong, will return to Korea.
Lotte made the first cut-off on the 16th. Lotte decided to return a total of 5 players, including Cho Se-jin, Han Tae-yang, Jang Doo-seong메이저사이트, Na Won-tak, and Lee Tae-yeon. An official from Lotte explained, “From the second field training in Japan, considering the condition, etc., it was composed mainly of players who will compete in actual matches.” And 11 more returned home.
A Lotte official said on the 18th, “Pitchers Cha Woo-chan, Choi Jun-yong, Kim Do-gyu, Lee Min-seok, Jung Sung-jong, Jin Seung-hyun, and Choi Lee-joon, and fielders Kang Tae-yul, Kim Se-min, Kim Joo-hyun, and Choi Min-jae will return to Korea.” Players returning home will join Sangdong Stadium in Gimhae, where the 2nd division spring camp is being held from the 21st.
After the 2022 season, Kim Do-gyu, who underwent surgery, and “prospects” Lee Min-seok and Jin Seung-hyun, were in the “rehabilitation team” due to large and small injuries before leaving spring camp. These are the players who needed more management looking into the future than right now. However, what is the reason Choi Jun-yong, ‘Pilseungjo’, came back at a time when he had to spur preparation for the 2023 season and sweat?
Choi Jun-yong debuted in 2020 and made a mark with 2 losses and 8 holds with an ERA of 4.85. And in 44 games in the 2021 season, he digested 47⅓ innings, recorded 4 wins, 2 losses, 20 holds, 1 save, and an average ERA of 2.85, establishing himself as a’pilseungjo’. And last season, in 68 games (71 innings), he recorded 3 wins, 4 losses, 6 holds, 14 saves, and an ERA of 4.06. An indispensable presence in the Lotte bullpen.
According to a Lotte official, Choi Jun-yong is not returning to Korea because he has a special physical condition. In the second list of returnees, as in the first round, Choi Jun-yong was left out of the list as the team was composed of players who would compete in the game considering conditions. Choi Jun-yong plans to go back to Japan after taking a short break.
An official from Lotte explained, “Choi Jun-yong was not classified as a pitcher to play against the Ishigaki Chiba Lotte Marines. Therefore, Lotte plans to bring three more pitchers, including playing coach Choi Jun-yong and Jeong Tae-seung, to the 3rd spring camp to be held in Okinawa on the 27th.
Lotte held a Guam spring camp with 47 players from the 1st. After completing all schedules in Guam by the 18th, Lotte will hold a second camp on Ishigaki Island, Japan on the 20th after returning home on the 19th. After two evaluation matches against Chiba Lotte in Ishigaki, Lotte moved to Okinawa on the 27th to practice with KBO League clubs and return to Korea on March 7th.