Koo Chang-mo (NC) prepares fully to show the best performance while filling the first regular innings of his life. On the other hand, director Kang In-kwon mentioned the possibility of ‘management’.
Gu Chang-mo’s Achilles heel is, of course, durability. He has not filled the regulation innings in a single season since joining in 2015 as the 3rd pick in the 2nd round of the 1st round. He even missed the first half of the 2020 season and 2021 completely with an injury. He also failed to play full-time in the 2022 season.
But Chang-Mo Koo has proven over his last two seasons to be one of the best pitchers in the league when healthy. His deception is good, but his arm swing is concise. He is not easy to attack because both his fastball and breaking ball come from the same form. Thanks to this, he was able to sign a multi-year non-FA contract for 6 + 1 years and 13.2 billion won.
Anyway, for Koo Chang-mo, 2023 is a season of proof. First of all, I raised my pace faster than usual in line with the WBC in March. On the 16th, immediately after the New Year’s party at Changwon NC Park, he flew to Jeju Island with his teammate Park Min-woo to continue his personal training.
Koo Chang-mo said, “This season is an important season for me. He made a good contract and was even selected for the national team, so his sense of responsibility increased. He had the mindset this season that he had to prepare well before going into preparation. He can pitch straight from Jeju Island,” he said.
However, since coach Kang In-kwon has no choice but to make the season management as conservative as possible, he is cautious. He has no full-time experience, but he did mention the possibility of ‘managing’ native aces going all the way to the WBC. “The most important thing is to finish the season healthy. I think I will have to come back after the WBC and think about how to operate while looking at my condition.”
He said, “I don’t have a set number of innings yet. I will have to play more innings than last year, but I am thinking in a way that does not strain my body as much as possible. For example, if you catch 140 innings, there is a way to take a break for one turn and come back to the starting lineup. I am looking at various things.”
It is not the intention that coach Kang manages Koo Chang-mo’s innings like a knife and prevents him from starting if he exceeds the standard. It means focusing on health and opening up various possibilities. It is not so easy for a player with surgery experience and no full-time experience to suddenly throw 170 to 180 innings healthily. It is a natural idea for a manager to thoroughly manage an ace who is supposed to support the team for years. 먹튀검증
Of course, Gu Chang-mo is only herself. “The March match may be a burden, but if you build up your body in a hurry, injuries will come. So this time, I prepared to make my body more relaxed. There are no issues with the surgical site. He is preparing well so that he does not get sick elsewhere.”
At the same time, Chang-mo Koo said, “I am curious about the full season myself. This season seems to be different. I think I will reach the regular innings, and I feel good. I want to clearly show that this year is different.” If he is the successor of Hyeonjong Gwang, he is approaching a wall that he must overcome. 8 months from March to 10th month. The performance of a healthy Koo Chang-mo is an issue that can influence the future of NC beyond this season. Thorough preparation and management are also important.