'3 consecutive extortion' → Ryu Hyun-jin, the 'main player of the runner-up', came out again, and the 39-year-old monster volunteered to give 'the tree to give freely.' [At Saipan]

*This content was translated by AI.

He returned to the national team for the first time in 16 years. The national flag, which had been carefully hoped for since returning to the KBO League in 2024, has finally been re-worn ahead of its 40th anniversary. As a leading player in the era of Korean baseball glory, he volunteered to give "trees of giving" to share it with his juniors.

Ryu Hyun-jin (39, Hanwha Eagles) met with reporters at Incheon International Airport on the 9th before heading out to Saipan for the first camp against the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) and said, "I think I have to show my heart on the field because I'm going out to represent the country."

The gold medal in all nine games at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the runner-up at the 2009 WBC, and the gold medal at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. Glory has always been present in the path of the national team Ryu Hyun-jin.

However, in the three WBCs since he was unable to participate due to injury, the Korean national team suffered the humiliation of being eliminated from the group stage for the third consecutive time. Ryu Hyun-jin, who had to watch this, also felt heavy. He said, "Of course, I cheered a lot, but unfortunately, I didn't get a good result, so there were a lot of regrets. He said, "I'm very responsible because I was selected for the national team as a senior this time."

Ryu Hyun-jin, who signed an eight-year, 17 billion won contract after returning to Hanwha last year, showed off his robustness with 10 wins last year, and although he lacked one win due to double-digit wins this season, he drastically lowered his ERA to 3.23, leading Hanwha to the Korean Series for the first time in 19 years.

Whenever he had a chance, he expressed his intention to return to the national team, and in November last year, he played two warm-up matches with Japan and the Czech Republic, and public opinion gathered that the pitching staff needed experience. Coach Ryu Ji-hyun brought Ryu Hyun-jin to the national team along with Noh Kyung-eun (42, SSG), the "highest hold king."

Ryu Hyun-jin said, "I'm so excited. The players gathered yesterday, and I think it feels so good, and even though it's the first camp, I think we need to do our best to build our bodies," he said. "I'm proud of (Taegeuk mark). That's because I still think I'm competitive," he said with a smile.

Ahead of the 2023 tournament, the national team suffered from inclement weather in Arizona, USA, and was eliminated early in the main tournament, perhaps due to this effect. This time, I found Saipan in a milder climate earlier. It is also unusual to have the first camp.

On top of that, veterans' active intention to participate is also an act that can be an example. Ryu Hyun-jin said, "Not at all, and of course, I think the players should do that," adding, "As the performance is low at WBC these days, they have created an opportunity to give players enough time to build their bodies, so I think it will be more efficient for the players to build their bodies."

The final list will be submitted by the 3rd of next month. If he still joins the main tournament, he is likely to be the last national team player for Ryu Hyun-jin. That's how active Ryu Hyun-jin was. "I've always said that I want to do it with the players the same way if there's a competition, but I'm still in a physical condition that I can do that and I'm satisfied with it," he said.

National team coach Ryu Ji-hyun said, "In the fielders, Park Hae-min plays (major) on the connecting line from the warm-up match. "I'm so grateful that Ryu Hyun-jin is doing it, and I think junior players will follow him well because the senior player is doing it," he said with a satisfied smile.

Ryu Hyun-jin said, "I didn't volunteer," but added, "I readily accepted it when I told my coach that I would like him to do this."

As such, he left Saipan with an open mind to help his juniors. In a recent warm-up match, the pitchers showed their self-destruction by overdosing on many walks, and Ryu Hyun-jin said, "I hope the pitchers don't have a hard time going," adding, "If we lose by hitting a home run, we have no choice, but I think they will tell us a lot about making sure we don't cause difficult flows through crisis situations and walks."

Ryu Hyun-jin then said, "When (the juniors) approach me all the time, my heart is open. I hope he will come up and prepare well during the camp," he said. Ryu Hyun-jin came forward in the twilight of his career, saying he would become a "tree of giving without hesitation." Who can actively utilize the favors of seniors.

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*This content was translated by AI.