Taiwan is also very nervous, and 'Korean-born' Witcom WBC joins the spotlight... "I haven't received much attention in the meantime, but..."

*This content was translated by AI.

Taiwan is also nervous about the news that Shay Witcom (28, Houston Astros) will play with the national flag at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC).

According to multiple media outlets, including MLB.COM reporter Brian McTigert, the Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown acknowledged Witcom's participation in the WBC in a meeting with local reporters on the 4th (Korea time).

Early on, national team manager Ryu Ji-hyun said closer Riley Jun-young O'Brien (St. Louis) and outfielder Germai Jones (Detroit Tigers) would join, but he has been reticent about Witcom, but it was confirmed by Houston general manager's remarks.

With Kim Ha-sung (Atlanta) and Song Sung-moon (San Diego) out due to injuries, Witcom's presence in the infield position is expected to be too great a boost.

Witcom, who was selected by Houston as the 160th overall pick in the fifth round in the 2020 MLB Draft, has only played 40 games in two seasons in the Major League, hitting only 0.178 with one home run, but his position in the minor leagues is very solid. After first stepping into the minor leagues in 2021, he hit 127 home runs for five seasons, and became the home run king with 35 home runs in 2023, and he hit .267 with 25 home runs and OPS (on-base plus slugging) 0.869 in 107 games last season.

Compared to foreign batters playing in Korea, he is a batter with very strong power. Moreover, not only infield but also outfield defense is expected to be more useful as a resource that can be done without problems.

Taiwan, which will face South Korea in the group stage, is also nervous about Witcom's joining. ET Today said, "Korean-American Major League Baseball player Shay Whitcomb is expected to join the Korean national team at WBC to strengthen the infield," adding, "In the 2023 WBC, Korean-American Tommy Edman participated in the Korean national team and used the Korean middle name 'Hyun-soo.' It is expected that the number of Korean-American players will increase further in this year's tournament," he said.

"Houston infielder Whitcomb is also considered one of the leading candidates, with St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Riley O'Brien and Detroit Tigers outfielder Germay Jones already reportedly giving positive answers to their joining." Seattle Mariners pitcher Dane Dunning is also on the shortlist.

The media said, "Witcom has received relatively less attention than O'Brien and Jones, who have attracted considerable attention. However, his name is drawing attention again due to the recent weakening of the Korean national team's infield power, he said. "The Korean national team is suffering from bad injuries, and Kim Ha-sung is believed to have slipped in Korea and ruptured his right middle tendon, and it is expected to take four to five months to recover. Song suffered a side injury during batting practice. "With the infield team lacking, the value of a versatile infielder who can play third base, shortstop, and second base has increased further," he explained.

Like South Korea, Taiwan can only move to the next round if it crosses South Korea. South Korea and Taiwan were in the same group with Japan, Australia and the Czech Republic. Japan is considered a level, and the Czech Republic and Australia plan to take it without fail. In the end, in order to pass the group stage, we have to beat each other unconditionally.

In previous WBCs, South Korea had the upper hand. It won 2-0 in 2006, when it reached the semifinals, and 9-0 in 2009, when it was the runner-up. He did not concede a single point in two tournaments.

The national team, which had lost 2-3 in the 2013 tournament, won 11-8 again in the 2017 tournament. The two teams that did not meet in the 2023 tournament are once again targeting each other. Attention is focusing on how Witcom will help the national team in the match against Taiwan.

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*This content was translated by AI.