'3rd baseman will be better for me because of surgery,' says Kang Jung-ho

Kang Jung-ho (29) of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the MLB participated in the team's official spring camp. Kang is currently in rehab recovering from a knee injury he got last year.

The MLB reported on its website on Wednesday that Kang participated in the first training held in Bradenton Pirates City, Florida, the U.S.

Kang participated only in defense and batting practices on that day. He played catch with shortstop Jordy Mercer as a warm up and practiced taking grounders on the third base. However, he was excluded in trainings on pick-off throws from pitcher and infielders. During batting training, he did tee batting only and practiced with a pitching machine in a batting cage. He watched when a pitcher throw balls and did not try to bit the balls. In a 15-second video clip uploaded on MLB.com, Kang did a leg kick (lifting and then putting down one foot when batting) with no apparent difficulty.

"Kang is doing great in his rehab. I hope his condition will improve during the camp," Pittsburgh Manager Clint Hurdle remarked after watching Kang's training. "For now, Kang is not working on anything that requires fast and rough movements."

"I was not really successful last session. I did not do much," said Kang after completing his training. "I still have many more cards to show. Fans will see me much improved from last session."

On his defense practice on the third base, he explained, "With this condition after the surgery, I think the third baseman is better." Kang was switching between third baseman and shortstop and in the second half of the year, he was a shortstop more often before he was injured.

강홍구기자 windup@donga.com