Choi Ji-man is not going to have surgery He’ll be back early next week after rehabilitated
Tampa Bay Choi Ji-man (31) fortunately avoided surgery. He will return to the game as early as next week after rehabilitation.
Choi Ji-man was on the 10-day injured list (IL) due to pain in his right elbow on the 2nd (Korea Standard Time). Local media also mentioned the possibility of surgery.
However, Choi Ji-man said in an interview with Star News after the home game against Minnesota at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, the U.S., “My condition has improved since yesterday (1st), so I decided not to perform surgery.”
During a home game against Seattle on the 27th of last month, Choi Ji-man lost his balance while warming up by holding a heavy iron hitting aid with one hand and turning his wrist. At that time, the pain began due to a strain on his elbow, and he could not play from the next day.
I met with the team doctor and took an MRI, but it was judged that there was nothing wrong. Nevertheless, as the pain did not improve, surgery was also considered for a quick return. Fortunately, however, his condition improved and he decided not to perform surgery.
Tampa Bay will play its 10th consecutive away game from the 3rd to Oakland-Seattle-LA (Angels). Choi Ji-man plans to stay at his home stadium and go through rehabilitation with his trainer.
Afterwards, he will move to Port Charlotte, where Tampa Bay’s spring camp facility is located, learn the sense of practice by playing one or two games in the minor leagues, and join the team in the last game against Seattle (9th) or the first game against the Angels (10th) early next week. Choi Ji-man will be able to participate from the 9th as the registration of the injured list will be retroactively applied to April 29.
Choi Ji-man, who batted .357 (15 hits in 42 at-bats) with two home runs and 10 RBIs and OPS 1.086 in 15 games this season, said, “I’m happy to avoid the worst case of surgery,” adding, “I want to return to the team as soon as possible with my trainer.”