Seoul: Set for a return to action Tuesday evening after spending the past two months rehabbing a hamstring injury, KT Wiz slugger Ahn Hyun-min said his long layoff was an important learning experience for him. Ahn, the 2025 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) Rookie of the Year, last played on April 15 before hitting the sidelines. His rehab lasted much longer than initially expected, and the 22-year-old outfielder tried his best to stay patient and not rush back.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ahn had a strong start to his sophomore campaign, putting up a .365/.507/.654 line with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 14 games before getting hurt. As frustrated as he was that he had to be stopped in his tracks, Ahn said he decided to accept his fate and tried to make the best of his plight. He mentioned, "I decided I was going to get hurt at some point anyway and it was better to be injured this early in the season than later."
One significant change that Ahn made was to his diet. The hulking slugger, listed at 183 centimeters and 90 kilograms at the start of the season, showed up noticeably thinner Tuesday. He said he had shed about 5 kg after going cold turkey on hamburgers, fried food, and sugary drinks, instead consuming more fish. "I heard it would be best to get slimmer to lower the risks of another hamstring injury," Ahn said. "And for the long term, I want to become faster and more agile."
After hurting his hamstring, Ahn reached out to Kia Tigers superstar Kim Do-yeong, his close friend, World Baseball Classic teammate, and the 2024 KBO MVP. Kim dealt with three separate hamstring injuries that kept him out for more than 100 games last year. Back healthy this year, Kim is putting up big numbers once again, as he sits tied for the league lead with 19 home runs and tied for fourth with 52 RBIs.
In Tuesday's game, Ahn went 1-for-3 with two RBIs before being lifted for a pinch runner in the fifth inning, as the Wiz beat the Bears 6-2. "I felt bad about being away from the team for so long, and I wanted to give extra effort today," Ahn said afterward. "I am happy to have played my first game back pain-free and to have driven in runs in key spots to help us win. Now that I am back, I will try to push the team to an even higher place."