The 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) Korean national team has finished warming up before departing for Japan, the place of the decisive battle.
The national team won 10-2 in the match against the SSG Landers Futures team held at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 3rd. The national team players mixed with SSG players to improve their condition, so the win or loss or score was not that important.
Koh Young-pyo (kt Wiz), who started the national team, blocked 3 innings with no hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts and no runs. He managed the number of pitches efficiently and only threw 37. Considering that the number of pitches per round is limited to 65, this is encouraging.
Koh Young-pyo, who is likely to be selected for the national team’s first game against Australia (9th at 12:00 noon), said after the game, “It was preparation for the last real game, but the balance was right, and it was easy to throw the official ball because it was a dome stadium, so it was easy to throw.” I will focus on blocking one hitter and one hitter by making good use of my in-changeup and command.” Regarding the major league keystone combination (Kim Ha-seong, Tommy Hyeon-soo Edman) taking responsibility for the infield defense, he expressed his desire, “I am a ground ball judo pitcher, and I hope I can catch it well even if I get tired after hitting a lot.”
Yang Hyeon-jong (KIA Tigers), who took the mound following Koh Young-pyo, gave up 3 hits, 1 walk and 1 run in 2 innings. Standing on the SSG mound, Kim Gwang-hyun pitched 2 innings, 3 hits and 1 run against the national team hitters. Among the national team’s pitching staff, Jung Woo-young (LG Twins), who will play an important role in the back, was good with 2 strikeouts and no runs in 1 inning. National team coach Lee Kang-cheol said, “The pitching staff management has been sorted out to some extent.”
Kim Hye-seong (Kiwoom Heroes), who started as the national team’s number one hitter, still showed a heightened sense of hitting. He went 9 hits in 14 at-bats during a practice game in Arizona, USA, and recorded 2 hits in 3 at-bats and 1 walk in the match today. His batting average in practice matches reaches 0.647 (11 hits in 17 at-bats). With Tommy Hyun-soo Edman (St. Louis Cardinals) and Kim Ha-seong (San Diego Padres) expected to be the first and second table setters for the national team, Kim Hye-seong’s demonstration with a bat is expected to give the national team coach Lee Kang-cheol a happy thought.
In this game, outfielder Park Gun-woo (NC Dinos) defended third base due to a lack of infielders as Kim Ha-seong and Edman could only participate in the official evaluation match due to the rules of the tournament. This is because even Choi Jeong (SSG) could not participate in the game due to poor physical condition. Park Gun-woo also recorded 4 RBIs with 3 hits (1 home run) in 4 at-bats. Director Lee Kang-cheol said, “I think if Choi Jeong-eun rests until tomorrow, he will be fine.”메이저놀이터
The national team will depart for Osaka, Japan on the 4th. After an official evaluation match against Japanese pro teams Orix Buffaloes (6th) and Hanshin Tigers (7th), they will enter Tokyo Dome, the decisive battleground. Korea is in Group B along with Japan, Australia, China and the Czech Republic. After the game against Australia, we will play against Japan (7pm on the 10th).