Pirates' Jung Ho Kang jogging, throwing; still might be ready Opening Day
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang appears to be on a course that will lead to him returning to the diamond early next season – if not on Opening Day.
According to MLB.com, Kang has been "checking all the boxes and hitting all the necessary milestones" so far in his rehabilitation from a fractured left tibia he sustained in a collision while trying to turn a double play in September.
As his rehab has evolved over the past month, the 28-year-old South Korean has been jogging, throwing, and performing upper-body weight-lifting exercises.
While Kang still has much more ground to cover in his rehab journey, his return to baseball activities is heartening for the Pirates.
With 15 home runs, 58 RBI, and a .287/.355/.461 split in 2015, Kang finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year award voting behind fellow infielders Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs and Matt Duffy of the San Francisco Giants, respectively.
Although Kang is looking forward to his return, he's not quite ready to commit to targeting Opening Day as his reappearance in the Pirates' starting lineup.
"Maybe," he said, when asked by MLB.com if he'll be ready by Opening Day.
