Last season, LG Twins relief pitcher Ham Deok-ju (29) erased the question mark. He came back with the injury cleared away and announced his revival by adding strength to the bullpen mound. Ham Deok-ju, who showed competitiveness again in the league, also expressed confidence in his physical condition.
Ham Deok-ju left Doosan through a trade in 2021 and wore an LG uniform. LG's expectations were high for Ham Deok-ju, who played an active role as a closing pitcher for Doosan and was a part of the bullpen.
However, Ham Deok-ju was hampered by injuries after transferring to LG. The aftermath of his elbow injury limited him to 21 innings pitched in 16 games in the 2021 season, and he underwent surgery to remove bone fragments in his elbow after the season. In 2022, he only played 12⅔ innings in 13 games while focusing on rehabilitation.
Ham Deok-ju, whom we recently met at Jamsil Stadium, said, "Before I got injured, I threw a lot of balls, and I've had bone fragments in my elbow since I was a rookie. The pain subsided after about a week of rest, so I didn't have surgery, but I was traded when I needed to have surgery." I looked back and said, “I threw with pain for years, and that’s when I regret it the most.”
Last year, Ham Deok-ju, who regained his health and was proud of his teeth, spread the wings of his resurrection. He took charge of 55⅔ innings in 57 games and succeeded in making a comeback with 4 wins, 4 saves, 16 holds, and an ERA of 1.62. In the Korean Series, he pitched in 4 games, pitched 3⅓ innings, won 1 game, and posted an ERA of 2.70, contributing to the team's first overall championship in 29 years.
Based on his performance in the 2023 season, Ham Deok-ju signed a contract renewal with LG. Last December, he signed a free agent contract with a four-year contract period and a total of 3.8 billion won (down payment of 600 million won, annual salary of 1.4 billion won, incentive of 1.8 billion won). Although the incentive portion is large, Ham Deok-ju is confident that he can receive enough as the achievement standard is not high.
Ham Deok-ju said, "I thought staying at LG was the best scenario. The team offered good conditions, so I quickly completed the contract." He added, "Last year's performance was very good, but I think I can receive incentives even if my record is not at that level." “I think I can receive enough as long as I stay healthy and pitch in the first team,” he said.
Last year, it was encouraging that Ham Deok-ju played a season without pain. LG put a lot of effort into managing Ham Deok-ju during the season, including downgrading him to the second team for rest. Thanks to the club's consideration, Ham Deok-ju was able to display his skills again, and concerns about his injury recurring were erased.
Ham Deok-ju said, "I'm not worried about injuries at all. I actually missed two years due to injury during my 10-year professional career, but I still qualified as a free agent. I don't think I'm a player at risk of injury."
After finishing the 2023 season, LG had a gap in the closing pitcher position. Go Woo-seok (San Diego Padres), who achieved a total of 139 saves, successfully advanced to the U.S. Major League and began looking for a replacement. Ham Deok-ju, who had 55 saves at Doosan and 4 saves at LG last year, was mentioned as a new closer, but LG chose right-handed relief pitcher Yoo Young-chan.
Regarding the finishing position, Ham Deok-ju said, "Because it is decided by the director, I have no regrets and nothing has to change. (Yoo) Young-chan made the decision because he saw what was best. I only try to do what I have to do. I don't worry too much." did.
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