As he works his way back after getting struck in the face by a line drive, Kia Tigers ace James Naile thinks he will face an even bigger mental hurdle than a physical one.

The American right-hander suffered a broken jaw after a comebacker off the bat of NC Dinos slugger Matt Davidson hit him on Aug. 24. Naile has been ruled out of the rest of the regular season, and he is now trying to return in time for the Korean Series, which will start in late October.

In this file photo from Aug. 18, 2024, Kia Tigers starter James Naile pitches against the LG Twins during a Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)

The Tigers grabbed a direct berth in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) championship series after clinching the best regular-season record Tuesday. This has bought Naile a few extra weeks to continue his rehab from the frightening injury, without the Tigers needing him in early rounds of the postseason.

Naile, who was tied for first in the league with
12 wins and second with a 2.53 ERA at the time of his injury, is healthy enough that he has been traveling with the Tigers for road games lately. He even tossed a ceremonial first pitch before a home game in Gwangju, some 270 kilometers south of Seoul, on Sept. 6, after taking the mound wearing a mask and sunglasses to disguise himself.

In an interview with Yonhap News Agency before Thursday’s game against the Doosan Bears in Seoul, Naile reported good health and said he can eat mostly without issues, as long as he chews gently.

“My lip is still incredibly numb, which is a problem, but numb is not pain. I’m not in any pain whatsoever,” Naile said in the visitors’ dugout at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, a few minutes after throwing on a bullpen mound for the first time during his rehab.

Kia Tigers pitcher James Naile poses for a photo after an interview with Yonhap News Agency at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Sept. 19, 2024. (Yonhap)

“I’m able to work out freely. I’m able to throw freely with no issue at
all,” Naile added. “So now, it’s more about getting in good shape that way. I’ll try and help in the Korean series the best I can.”

When it comes to his mental state, it’s a different story for the 31-year-old pitcher, who had never been hit in the face by a batted ball before the August game.

“I think that the biggest hurdle is going to be mental, and I think it’s going to be just me getting back out there and doing what I’ve always done,” he said. “Go right back at them and not try to avoid it.”

Naile admitted it is “a scary thought” to be back on the mound after what he went through, but he also doesn’t want to succumb to fear.

In this file photo from Sept. 6, 2024, Kia Tigers pitcher James Naile throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the southern city of Gwangju. (Yonhap)

“I think that this is what I am supposed to be doing, and so I can’t let fear get in the way of that. I can’t let the fear of it happening aga
in stop me from going out there and doing my best, and doing what I love,” he said. “I trust that this is the same game I’ve played forever, and I hope I go 31 more years without getting hit in the face. And it is a little scary to think, ‘What if it happens again?’ but I’m trying not to go there.”

Naile said it felt “weird” to be ramping back up in September, something he would normally do during spring training in February. He said he threw about 10 pitches from the mound Thursday — “Just nice and easy,” he added — and he will throw two sets of 20 pitches each next week.

“I have about a month, which is enough time to get a lot of good work in,” Naile said of his preparation for the Korean Series. “We’ll just continue to work, and if I can get to 75, 80 pitches, I’ll be in pretty good shape.”

Naile said he has also been enjoying the company of his teammates the past few days. It was the Tigers’ idea to bring Naile for road games, something Naile said he was grateful for, and he has responded by serving
as a big cheerleader from the dugout.

In this file photo from Sept. 6, 2024, Kia Tigers pitcher James Naile acknowledges fans after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before a Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the southern city of Gwangju. (Yonhap)

He and the rest of the Tigers celebrated their regular-season title Tuesday after a game in Incheon, just west of Seoul.

“We’ve worked hard to get to this position. This team deserves it,” Naile said. “I don’t think you win the regular season by luck. I think that it’s a lot of hard work and it’s a lot of winning games when you need to, and that’s what we’ve done all year.”

Naile previously won minor league titles in the United States, but that experience was “not as cool as it is here.”

“Getting to celebrate is just awesome. For young players that have done anything like that, seeing the excitement on their faces … that’s what it’s all about,” Naile said with a smile. “And getting to be with the veteran p
layers is just really special. It’s nice to accomplish the goal of winning, and now we’ve got to take it to the Korean Series.”

Source: Yonhap News Agency