Lims Injury Alerts Korea
By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
Before the South Korean team arrived for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) opening game in Japan, Sunday, it was hit by an injury scare to closer Lim Chang-yong.
In an exhibition game for his team, the Yakult Swallows, against the Chunich Dragons, Lim descended from mound and went straight to hospital after he was struck by an Atsushi Fujii hit Saturday.
The 32-year-old had moved to the mound in the seventh inning as third. Lim gathered two outs by strikeout and ground ball. It was after this that the injury was incurred.
A writhing Lim was on the mound for some time before leaving for the hospital.
Lim was scheduled to join the national team's training camp ahead of its first match in the baseball world cup on March 6.
``The injury is judged as a bruise. However, his appearance in the WBC will be decided after we get the diagnosis,'' the Swallows trainer said.
According to the Jiji press agency, his injury was a simple bruise and his bone was fine.
During the game, Lim's fastball marked 150 kph. That he was throwing 150-kph balls before the start of the season suggests he is in good condition.
Under-hand throw pitcher Lim has performed the most powerful pitching in the Korea bullpen. With fellow under-hand pitcher Kim Byung-hyun not on the final roster because of passport issues, his role could be even more important.
In the South Korea training camp, the Cleveland Indians outfielder Choo Shin-soo appears in good shape, and the Lotte Giants slugger Lee Dae-ho has rebounded from a slump, earning four RBIs Friday in Hawaii.
The third member of the clean-up trio, Kim Tae-kyun, produced two hits with one RBI, while Kim Hyun-soo earned a three-run homer as South Korea's WBC team beat the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) 11-4 in its fourth friendly match.
South Korea baseball team manager Kim In-sik declared that they would gather victories not only through the sterling performances of star players, but also courtesy of well-organized team power.
``To do our best is the national team members' role, definitely,'' manager Kim said before leaving for Japan from their training camp in Hawaii, Sunday.
``With generation changes, we have many new faces and our clean-up trio is totally changed. Instead of leaning on some stars' individual abilities, we will get through this hard competition by cooperation and strategies. The team is definitely the first consideration - more than any one player,'' added Kim.