Noh Kyung, the last national flag in the life of the '42-year-old hold king,' said, "I don't think about age. This competition is different."

*This content was translated by AI.

He reached his second heyday over 40 and became the oldest hold king for two consecutive years. And now he is heading to the World Baseball Classic (WBC) once again after 13 years as a member of the national team.

MLB Network released the final list of WBC participating countries through live broadcasts on the 6th (Korea Standard Time).

In the Korean national team, four Korean players and overseas players attracted attention and attracted attention as players who were excluded due to injuries. To add to this, Noh Kyung-eun (SSG Landers), the 42-year-old oldest who joined to add to the weight of the bullpen, is on board.

The national team allowed 18 runs in two K-baseball series games against Japan in November last year, but gave up 21 walks and destroyed itself. After the game, the importance of veteran pitchers emerged, and manager Ryu Ji-hyun joined Noh Kyung-eun and Ryu Hyun-jin (39, Hanwha Eagles) ahead of Saipan's first camp, and both were eventually listed on the final list.

Noh Kyung-eun, who made her professional debut in 2003, has not displayed her potential for nearly a decade, but was reborn as a starting resource representing the league only in 2012. He played 12 wins, 6 losses and 2.53 ERA that year, and eventually wore the national flag to the 2013 WBC the following year.

Noh Kyung-eun, who was a relief pitcher in the first game against the Netherlands at the time, failed to block the succession runner's score, leaving a regret. He allowed two runs in three games and three innings.

After 2013, he also went downhill in the league, and after being released by Lotte Giants in 2021, he became a completely different pitcher after joining SSG. It took a double-digit win for the first time in nine years in 2022 and has recorded more than 30 holds for three consecutive years starting in 2023. In particular, he became the oldest hold king for two consecutive years in 2024 (38 holds) and 2025.

Noh Kyung-eun will reach 41 years, 11 months and 22 days in the match against the Czech Republic on March 5, the first game of the finals, and will become the oldest participant in the Korean national baseball team, surpassing Lim Chang-yong (40 years, 9 months and 2 days) in the 2017 WBC, the previous record. Furthermore, it is expected to break the record for the oldest business trip.

Director Ryu Ji-hyun believed in Noh Kyung-eun's experience. Coach Ryu Ji-hyun, who held a press conference to announce the list, said, "The part I told you when I arrived at the airport after the warm-up match in November was that I needed more experienced players, and I was confident in that part," adding, "It is clear that he is very old, but he showed very good performances last season. I was able to make a choice because that was the foundation. There will be a game where those players have to play a role," he said.

"Ryu Hyun-jin and Noh Kyung-eun are players with experience and skills regardless of age," said Cho Gye-hyun, chairman of the Korea Power Reinforcement Committee. "Ryu Hyun-jin is a starting pitcher and Noh Kyung-eun is a middle pitcher." So I'm confident that he will fully draw the mound of the Korean national team from the front and the back," he said.

Roh Kyung-eun also has a different feeling. According to SSG, Noh Kyung-eun, who is training in Vero Beach, Florida, said, "I never thought about it. I have been thinking that 2013 was the last national team member. "I've never imagined becoming a national team again, and I feel new to join the team unexpectedly," he said, adding, "I feel good because I feel that apart from being the oldest, he treated me equally with young players." I don't think much about age. I will prepare well so that I can cheer up with my juniors," he said.

As the oldest player, he also had the task of transplanting a lot of experience into the national team in addition to his performance. Noh Kyung-eun said, "I'm excited and nervous whenever I go out because I wasn't a player who plays for the national team every time. Since I have experienced these emotions before, I try to communicate a lot and create a good atmosphere so that my juniors don't overface. "I think the top priority is to create an atmosphere where juniors can play more comfortably and interestingly," he said.

Even after the end of the season, he didn't let go of the ball. He has maintained his senses and has elevated his condition to the point where he pitched the fastest bullpen with Ko Woo-seok (Detroit) in Saipan camp. Noh Kyung-eun, who said, "I'm in such a good physical condition," said, "I've been making the strength part well, and now I'm training intensively to catch the balance part and the sense of breaking ball."

After 13 years, he put on the national flag again. He is determined not to repeat the failures of that time. Noh Kyung-eun said, "I think I had a lot of expectations in 2013. As a result, I failed to control my condition and showed a bad performance, but this tournament is different, he said. "I will make sure to control my condition and repay the fans' support with good pitching and performance on the mound."

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*This content was translated by AI.