"Making a member for the best team"...'WBC 잔혹사' 이제 안녕? 韓 즉전감+유망주 총집합, 역대급 라인업 구성하나

"Making a member for the best team"...'WBC 잔혹사' 이제 안녕? 韓 즉전감+유망주 총집합, 역대급 라인업 구성하나

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KBO and NPB (Japan Professional Baseball) announced the hosting of the Korea-Japan national team warm-up match at 1:30 p.m. on the 17th at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo, Japan. On behalf of the national baseball teams of the two countries, KBO President Koo Hu-yeon, Korean national team coach Ryu Ji-hyun, NPB President Sadayuki Sakakibara and Japanese national team coach Hirokazu Ibata attended the meeting.안전놀이터

The exhibition will be held at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo from November 15 to 16. The goal is to prepare for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. It is the first warm-up match between Korea and Japan and is drawing much attention as it allows the two countries to check their performance as well as their pride.

KBO explained, "[The warm-up match] was made with the will of the two league secretariat, which needs to provide baseball-thirsty fans after the end of the postseason and check the skills and conditions of players who are likely to join the national team ahead of their participation in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March next year."

The upcoming exhibition match between Korea and Japan will provide an opportunity to examine the team's capabilities. "As long as the players are not injured, we will have members to build the strongest team in March next year," Ryu said at the press conference.

Currently, there are not only players who have grown to the top in the major leagues but also many prospects who are sweating in the minor leagues. On top of that, due to the relatively loose nationality regulations, Korean players are expected to join the WBC tournament, drawing keen attention to whether the team will set up an all-time record.

Outfielder Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants) and infielder Kim Ha-sung (Tampa Bay Rays), who played for the WBC national team in 2023, the last tournament, are expected to further develop and strengthen the national team's center line. In addition, infielder Kim Hye-sung (Triple A under the Los Angeles Dodgers), outfielder Bae Ji-hwan (Triple A under the Pittsburgh Pirates), pitcher Choi Hyun-il (Triple A under the Washington Nationals), and pitcher Jang Hyun-seok (Single A under the Dodgers) are also in the minor leagues.

In addition to this, Tommy Hyun-soo (Dodgers), Korean domestic and foreign multiplayer Tommy Hyun-soo (Dodgers), outfielder Rob Lefsnyder (Boston Red Sox), pitcher Dane Dunning (Taxas Rangers Triple-A), pitcher Riley O'Brien (St. Louis Cardinals Triple-A), and pitcher Mitch White (SSG Landers) are also positively considering whether to play in the WBC national team.

In particular, there is a lot of expectation on whether experienced pitchers such as Dunning and White will release the absence of starting pitchers, which were considered weaknesses of the national team at the "2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier 12" held in November last year.

Coach Ryu said, "WBC is a place where the world's best players gather. Korean players are also active in MLB, and some players strongly appeal their intention to participate," adding, "Young players have been nurtured and grown in KBO through APBC (Asia Professional Baseball Championship) since the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. We will hold the tournament with the best power through new and old harmony."

"There are some Korean players who are doing well in the major leagues, and young prospects are growing well in the minor leagues." He added, "We are in the season (currently), and we need to see our condition at the end of the season, but I think young players will have a chance in the warm-up match."

Team Korea has yet to produce any outcome since its runner-up finish at the WBC in 2009. The team was disqualified from the first round group stage for three consecutive events since the 2013 WBC event.

Now it is the national team that needs to be proved. In addition to the players who are active on the U.S. stage, there are many prospects who are growing, including Kim Do-young (KIA Tigers), Kim Taek-yeon (Doosan Bears), Moon Dong-ju and Kim Seo-hyun (Hanwha Eagles). Attention is focusing on whether they will be able to break the more than decade-long WBC atrocities.