13.2 billion jackpot , injury , AG elimination , injury recurrence season out…Koo Changmo's extremely harsh 2023 year

This is what Ryu Joong-il, head coach of the Korean national baseball team, said on the 23rd, regretting the departure of Koo Chang-mo (27, NC Dinos). He is Korea's best left-handed ace, but he missed his flight ticket to Hangzhou after failing to recover his health. Koo Chang-mo's vacancy was named instead by team junior left-hander Kim Young-kyu (23), and the national team left Incheon International Airport on the 28th to participate in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.

Koo Chang-mo was virtually ruled out of the season on the 28th, the same day. Koo Chang-mo pitched in relief against the Changwon KIA Tigers on the 27th and came down the mound after two ⅓ innings of no hit, one walk, one strikeout and no run. In the top of the eighth inning, he suddenly stepped back from the mound while playing with Kim Do-young, making him feel injured, and after immediate replacement, he was diagnosed with a re-fracture of the ulnar bone in his left arm. Additional checkups for more specific rehabilitation plans will be conducted after the 3rd of next month when the Chuseok holiday ends.

Even if there is a hopeful result in additional checkups, it is impossible to take an additional mound in the regular season, and it is virtually difficult to take the mound in the postseason. There is not enough time to stand on the mound after going through the rehabilitation process again. Koo Chang-mo has already fractured again in June when he left the left arm ulnar fracture, and it seems difficult for the club to push for a return within the season. After the 2021 season, the same injury continues to be repeated even after undergoing a left arm ulnar fatigue fracture valve fixation surgery, which is all the more cautious. In the end, Koo Chang-mo was eliminated from the first division entry.

It's a very harsh 2023. Koo Chang-mo had high expectations ahead of this season. He signed a non-FA multi-year contract with NC. If you qualify for the FA after the 2024 season, you will receive a total of 12.5 billion won for six years from 2023 to 2028, and if you do not qualify for the FA, you will receive a total of 13.2 billion won for six plus one year from 2023 to 2029.

So this year's performance was important. If he participated in the Asian Games and won a gold medal, he could repay NC's exceptional treatment for a longer time if he received military service benefits.

The desire to do well for the team and individuals led to the worst result of a third left arm ulnar fatigue fracture. When Koo Chang-mo first left due to the same injury in June, he built up his body with the top priority of participating in the Asian Games. When he was confirmed to be eliminated from the national team on the 21st, his new goal was to lead the team to its second championship. After this season, the enlistment of the managing director was confirmed.

Koo Chang-mo said at the time, "As I was replaced in the Asian Games entry, I was able to focus more on the team. There is only one goal. I have a goal that I want to enjoy the honor of winning the team once more before going to the fall baseball and going to the army. I'm trying to prepare hard by looking at that goal," he said calmly.

"Even when I won in 2020, I couldn't play fall baseball at NC Park. Since I joined the military after the season this year, I wanted to play fall baseball in Changwon even more. This year, I will do my best to play fall baseball in Changwon with my fans," he said.

At the same time, Koo Chang-mo said, "I signed a multi-year contract, but I felt more like it because I left for a long time with the same injury. So it was a little harder," he said, but the same injury once again hampered him.

As a result, Koo Chang-mo couldn't achieve any of what he wanted. In the first year of the 13.2 billion won contract, it became difficult to perform well, to win the Asian Games gold medal, and to pitch the last power to win the team. The goal of achieving the regular innings, which has not changed since joining NC in 2015, has also failed. All of this is due to the fracture of the ulnar bone of the left arm, which has been steadily afflicted since 2021, so it is frustrating.

NC coach Kang In-kwon expected Koo Chang-mo to return to the starting rotation in the first week of October. He planned to gradually increase the number of pitches by taking the mound in the first division. He tried to set the stage for the start by throwing 39 pitches in two ⅓ innings against the Jamsil LG Twins, who were returning from injury on the 22nd, and five days later, against Changwon KIA on the 27th, giving him a longer inning and number of pitches. At the same time, he thoroughly examined whether there was anything wrong with Koo Chang-mo's body, but it did not prevent the recurrence of the injury. Koo Chang-mo and Kang were also in a situation where their minds were heavy.

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