“He played better than I thought. I think he is a player who will definitely help Lotte win the championship this year.”

This is what a Lotte Giants official said to veteran Cha Woo-chan (36).

It was the core of the Samsung Lions dynasty. 9.5 billion won in 4 years, it was the starting pitcher boasting the highest amount ever for a pitcher free agent at the time. The starter and the bullpen were well digested according to the command tower’s instructions. Above all, he was one of the most durable players in the league. He was the pillar of the LG Twins, who pitched 541 innings for three years from 2017 to 2019 and posted double-digit wins for three consecutive years. This is the reason why a 3-year, 2 billion won FA contract was made again despite the aftermath of the injury.

He arrived in Guam as an advance party 10 days earlier than the main body of the spring camp, which departed on the 1st. He is concentrating on exercising smoothly in warm weather with daytime temperatures exceeding 30 degrees.

Even now, his athletic ability is one of the best in the Lotte team. Despite his considerable age, he runs better than his juniors and moves agilely.

But his shoulder is the problem. Cha Woo-chan was out of the season due to shoulder pain after the 2020 season, and in the spring of 2021, ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, he briefly returned to play as a national team member and then went out again. A harrowing diagnosis followed: a torn shoulder muscle and joint and labrum injuries.

He underwent shoulder surgery and committed to rehabilitation, but eventually had to leave LG. Afterwards, he pledged his last challenge and wore a Lotte uniform at the de facto minimum annual salary of 50 million won.

The Lotte team is full of potential, but it is still young. It is the gaze looking at veterans, including Cha Woo-chan, that he wants to fill in that regrettable part, know-how.

In the end, it depends on when Cha Woo-chan’s shoulder recovers. Heo Sam-young, who has been with Cha Woo-chan for a long time since his Samsung days, said, “The most important thing is not to think in a hurry. The season is long. There will definitely come a moment when the team faces a critical moment. Emphasized. 안전놀이터

It is not yet possible to specify a return date. However, I am gradually increasing the intensity of my training. Everyone in baseball agrees that he is a player who will do his part as long as there is no pain. Immediately after the release, 3 to 4 teams competed.

Could that moment be this season? Lotte, which recruited three free agents, including Noh Jin-hyeok, Yoo Gang-nam, and Han Hyun-hee, is dreaming of a fall baseball season for the first time in five years despite the absence of retired Lee Dae-ho.

A Lotte official did not hide his regret, saying, “Cha Woo-chan’s lips broke a lot during intense training. I’ve never seen him like this before. That means he’s working hard himself.” Will Cha Woo-chan be able to resurrect?