"It doesn't have to be the main game." Big leaguers are so active! DET JONES "I'm more than happy and grateful"

*This content was translated by AI.

Although he has established himself in the Major League Baseball (MLB), he expressed his strong desire to participate in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) as a member of the Korean national team.

Jermai Jones (29, Detroit Tigers) was listed on the final list of the Korean national team at 2026 WBC announced through MLB Network on the 6th.

It was possible because there was a Korean-born mother, Mitchell Jones. WBC can play as a representative of the country if its parents or grandparents are born in Korea, even if they do not necessarily have the nationality of the country, and Jones, Riley Jun-young O'Brien (St. Louis), Shay Wittcombe (Houston), and Dane Dunning (Atlanta) will wear the national flag as Korean players.

Detroit released the photo, saying, "Jermy Jones will play for the Korean national team at the World Baseball Classic." Jones quoted the post on his Instagram, writing, "Couldn't be more excited and grateful to have this opportunity (Couldn't be more exciting and for this opportunity!!!)," and introducing the post, which was introduced as "Team Korea" with Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco) and Kim Hye-sung (LA Dodgers).

Dane Dunning also reported on his WBC appearance, citing KBO's entry public post on his Instagram account.

Jones, a second-round pick by the Los Angeles Angels in 2015, made his big league debut in 2020 and spent his career high season in Detroit in 2025 after playing for the Baltimore Orioles in 2021, the Milwaukee Brewers in 2023, and the New York Yankees in 2024.

In 72 games, he had a batting average of 0.287 (37 hits in 129 at-bats), seven home runs, 23 RBIs and 21 runs, a on-base percentage of 0.387, a slugging percentage of 0.550, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.937, which left a strong impact. In defense, he played evenly as left fielder, right fielder, and designated hitter.

Coach Ryu Ji-hyun said at a press conference on the day, "I've been a head coach for the national team since 2023 for three years, but I lacked right-handedness as a member of the national team, and I felt that the left-hander bullpen and the tournament after the end of the season had fatigue and need to be managed," adding, "In that sense, right-handed players were Korean players, and Jones and Witcom were players who prioritized and were at the top of the list."

"What is very fortunate is that these players expressed their intention to participate in the Korean national team and expressed their great honor, especially to be able to play with the national flag in their mother's country." "I can't join Okinawa, but I have expectations that I will be able to give very good energy when I come to the team," he added.

Although he did not elaborate on this, coach Ryu said there were more candidates for Korean players, but added, "I watched last year's performance and skills for a year and finally chose four players."

There is a more detailed anecdote about Jones's activism. Coach Ryu Ji-hyun met with reporters at Saipan's first camp last month and recalled his first meeting with Jones. "At that time, it was a sensitive time for Detroit to go wild card or not, so it was difficult to connect with the team, so I personally promised and met," he said. "I invited him to Detroit's accommodation and met him in person."

"My wife, who I met for 7 or 9 years since Minor League, was pregnant and I think I met her well. "I met my wife well and complimented her that the Major League seemed to have become a player, and she liked it," he said. "It was so pleasant and the doctor for the national team was very active. He said, "I'm a player who plays in the Major League, and I even said, 'I'll play whatever role I play' and 'I don't have to go into the lineup.'

Coach Ryu, who watched him actively celebrate after hitting a double at the time, said, "I can't join and spend a long time, but I thought that a player with that personality would be able to adapt to the team quickly and melt well into other players with a positive appearance. "I expect the team's overall atmosphere to be better if we work with Shai Han players," he said.

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*This content was translated by AI.