Taiwan Steel Eagles ace Kannan returns to the team, shoulder soreness is the main reason

Kannan. (File photo, taken by reporter Li Huizhou)

[Reporter Gong Naijie/Kaohsiung Report] Taiwan Steel Eagles' ace foreign pitcher Kannan returned to the first team yesterday after 22 days. He only played in the first game in June. He revealed that his shoulder was sore after pitching for Lotte Monkey on May 29. "That's why I was away from the battle line for so long."

On May 29, Kannan pitched 6 games of 8K scoreless pitches against Lotte Momomon, and had 23 consecutive scoreless innings. When he was in the second team, head coach Hong Yizhong explained that it was because he had to rotate Sanyang pitchers and could not keep his stamina in the second team. However, Kannan revealed today that he had a sore shoulder at the time. "Everything is fine. The team just wanted me to check it out. I was supposed to return on Tuesday (15th), but the game was postponed due to rain."

Cannan bluntly said that in fact, no pitcher wants to not pitch for such a long time. After all, he may lose control of the rhythm of the game or lose physical strength. "If it was a normal rotation rhythm, I would 100% pitch the eighth inning yesterday, but I have not played in three weeks, so I need to be careful."

Kannan surrendered 7 scoreless innings yesterday and has started 30 consecutive scoreless innings. He has a good chance to challenge the 34.1 consecutive scoreless innings set by Brother Elephant Legend Fengshen in 2000. The league record is 45 innings in 2004 by Kaiser.