KIA Tigers ace James Nail (31), who shed tears after suffering an unexpected injury, is sweating profusely in order to return to the Korean Series. Plans are underway as well.
However, Nail has yet to take the mound in the first division for one month. In an away game against the NC Dinos at Changwon NC Park on June 24, she was hit on the chin by Matt Davidson, the leadoff hitter, in the bottom of the sixth inning. Without making a follow-up play, she immediately grabbed her face and ran down the dugout.
Afterwards, the doctor’s examination revealed a fracture of the jaw joint, and he was out for the season after undergoing a fixation. After the surgery, Nail said on her SNS account, “The surgery is over well. Now I am focusing on recovering.” “I went to Nail and we both cried. She was so determined to do anything even though she was sick,” KIA general manager Shim Jae-hak said. “I showed Nail a video of players praying for recovery, but she keeps on crying.”
Ahead of the away game of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League regular season against the Lotte Giants at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on Sunday, Kia Tigers coach Lee Bum-ho (43) said, “I have no problem throwing (nails). I’m worried about my future fears, but I don’t care at all.”
Nail has contributed significantly to Kia’s winning the regular league title for the first time in seven years this season. She has taken the mound in 26 games (149 ⅓ innings) this year, with 12 wins and five losses with 138 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.53. Notably, in terms of ERA, ranking No. 1 overall, Kyle Hart (NC, 2.69) and Enmanuel de Hayesus (Kium, 3.68) have all completed their last appearances this season, confirming 99.9 percent of the title.
Since then, Nail, who greeted her fans as a surprise pitchman in the match against Kiwoom in Gwangju on the 6th, has made a quick recovery. Initially, it was unclear whether she would return to the postseason, but recently, she has become a strong candidate to return to the Korean Series. Manager Lee said on the 25th, “I thought there was no pressure at all by thinking about and throwing according to various situations. There is no pain in my jaw, so if I throw it at a practice game, I think I can play in the Korean Series.”
Nail started pitching in the bullpen on Wednesday, and pitched in the run-up to the game against Sajik Lotte on Wednesday. In his third bullpen session, he threw a total of 60 pitches, including 15 warm-up pitches. The number was 20 more than the previous one on Tuesday. “The (data) was good, including the speed,” Lee said. “I don’t think there will be any problems because I threw while resting.”
KIA will play three practice games ahead of the Korean Series, and nail polish will also take the mound. “I have no problem throwing at all. I’m a little worried about my fear and other things, but now I don’t think he cares at all while exercising,” manager Lee said. 안전놀이터
“In the pennant race, James (Nail) gave the players a lot of strength even though he was injured. The strength was considerable because we played the game knowing that the nail could return only when we advanced to the Korean Series,” coach Lee said. “The players (directly to the Korean Series) gave them time to return to their nails for about a week, so they will prepare well without any problems.”