Kang Baek-ho (24), who played as a strong hitter representing KT WIZ and has been struggling with physical and mental trials this year, announced his return to the Futures (second team) league.

Kang started as the No. 3 designated hitter in the Futures League game against the Armed Forces Athletic Corps (Commerce) at Iksan Stadium on April 1, going 1-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.

In the sixth inning, he took advantage of a 141-kilometer-per-hour four-seam fastball from Commerce pitcher Park Joo-sung to hit a two-run double to right-center field.

It’s been 37 days since Kang played in a live game since July 26 against the LG Twins.

“I didn’t get a detailed report, only that he hit a double,” KT manager Lee Kang-cheol said, “so we’ve cleared a spot on the first team roster for now.”

The KBO will implement expanded rosters on Sept. 1, allowing teams to register five additional players per team.

On this day, KT only registered three players: outfielder Cho Myung-ho, pitcher Kim Young-hyun, and catcher Kang Hyun-woo.

“One spot will be filled by Kim Sang-soo, who will return next week, and the other by Kang Baek-ho,” Lee said.

“We will enroll him in the first team only if there are reports that he has improved,” he added.

Kang Baek-ho’s return to the first team doesn’t mean he’ll be given a chance to start right away.

Even with Kang out of the lineup, KT has been on the rise, climbing to second place, 4.5 games behind the first-place LG Twins.

“You start with a pinch-hitter, and you can only go to the starting lineup if you’re good,” Lee said, adding, “If you go straight to the starting lineup, that’s the ‘parachute’ that players don’t like these days, and you have to understand that.” 토토