The baseball team led by coach Ryu Joong-il headed to Japan.
The baseball team participating in the Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) 2023 departed for Japan through Gimpo Airport on the morning of the 14th.
The national team plans to hold a training and press conference on the 15th 지울프-토토
followed by a game schedule starting on the 16th.
APBC, which was first introduced in 2017, celebrates its second year this year.
A total of four countries, including Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Australia, will participate, including players aged 24 or younger (born after January 1, 1999) or less than three years into their professional careers, and three wild cards (born after January 1, 1994). ) The national team is composed of.
The competition format will be played in a full league format between the 16th and 18th
with the top two teams from the preliminary rounds competing in the finals at 6 p.m. on the 19th.
The 3rd and 4th place teams from the preliminary round will play the 3rd place match at 11 a.m. on this day.
Following the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, coach Ryu Joong-il once again took the helm of the national team, and many players who played in the Asian Games
including Moon Dong-ju (Hanwha), will participate in the APBC.
After being called up on the 5th, Ryu Joong-il began his training and practice schedule at Daegu Samsung Lions Park the next day.
Coach Ryu Joong-il, who met with reporters during the convocation training, said, “Isn’t it a tournament for young players? Through this tournament
they can improve their confidence and skills as they are players who should play a key role in next year’s Premier 12, the 2026 WBC, and even the 2028 LA Olympics.
I think there will be,” he said, expressing his thoughts on entering the competition.
During the preparation process for the competition, the national team’s concerns were revealed.
The first concern was, of course, the players active in the Korean Series. The Korean Series ended with Game 5 on the 13th, but the national team could not help but think about the physical strength of its players.
In the end, the national team changed its entry once on the 12th, ahead of the final entry submission deadline.
In addition to Jung Woo-young, Moon Bo-kyung (LG), and Park Young-hyun, who were unable to join the national team due to the KBO Korean Series schedule, Kang Baek-ho (KT)
who left due to injury, also withdrew from the national team.
Instead, Shin Min-hyuk (NC), Jo Byeong-hyeon (SSG), Na Seung-yeop (Lotte), and Moon Hyun-bin (Hanwha)
who were on the reserve entry list and worked hard at the Daegu camp, finally joined.
The national team needs to find a starting first baseman and closer.
First of all, it seems likely that third baseman Kim Do-young (KIA) and first baseman Noh Si-hwan (Hanwha) will take charge of the infield corners, and ‘professional closing pitcher’ Jeong Hae-young (KIA) will take charge of the back door.
However, one option has been added in that Na Seung-yeop, who experienced the joy of being selected as the final entry
can defend first base, and pitchers with outstanding pitches such as Choi Jun-yong (Lotte) can add strength to the bullpen.
Compared to the Asian Games, there is less pressure on performance.
Instead, it is important to gain experience. Coach Ryu Joong-il said, “It is not easy to wear the national team uniform.
If you train or play with the Taegeuk emblem, you will feel proud.
I also played for the youth and adult national teams, but when I play with the Taegeuk emblem, I feel proud and confident.
He emphasized the significance of this tournament, saying, “After playing only domestically
I gained confidence by playing overseas against Japan and Taiwan, and (after returning) I feel like I have to do well as a member of the national team.”
Meanwhile, APBC 2023 will be broadcast live through terrestrial broadcaster MBC and sports channel MBC Sports Plus.
Announcer Kim Na-jin, Jeong Min-cheol, and Park Jae-hong, who met viewers through the KBO League broadcast
will take the microphone. It can also be viewed through the OTT platform TVING.