Seoul: The Kiwoom Heroes on Wednesday finalized their plans to bring back staff ace An Woo-jin from a shoulder injury.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Manager Seol Jong-jin announced that An will pitch an inning in a minor league game Thursday and then make his much-anticipated season debut in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) on Sunday against the Lotte Giants. "He will work an inning and will be capped at 30 pitches Sunday," Seol stated before facing the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. "Even if he completes the first inning in fewer than 30 pitches, he will not go back out for the second inning. In that case, he will get his remaining pitches in a bullpen session."
An Woo-jin, once one of the most dominant starters in the KBO, last pitched for the Heroes on August 31, 2023. He underwent season-ending elbow surgery later that year and fulfilled his mandatory military duty during his rehabilitation. Despite the setbacks, he finished second overall with 164 strikeouts that year and also ranked second with a 2.39 ERA. In 2022, An had an even stronger campaign, leading the KBO with a 2.11 ERA and 224 strikeouts, the second-highest total in a season by a South Korean-born pitcher in league history.
An was initially targeting a return to the KBO in September last year but suffered a freak shoulder injury in a fall while taking fungoes after a minor league scrimmage in August. The Heroes initially anticipated An wouldn't be back until July, but the 26-year-old is now just days away from returning to the top league.
"After Sunday, he will be in our rotation, and his workload will increase gradually," Seol commented. "Barring setbacks, we expect him to be able to go five or more innings by early May." Seol downplayed the unusual nature of ramping up a starting pitcher from injury at the KBO level, rather than in the minors. "It doesn't really mean anything," the manager said. "After throwing 30 pitches this time, he will get it up to 40 the next time, and so forth. There's no special meaning to the fact that he will be doing it here."