*This content was translated by AI.
Dane Dunning (32, Seattle Mariners), who lost his place in the Major League due to a long injury, wore the national flag in a healthy body condition.
On the 6th, a strange name was seen on the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team list officially announced by Ryu Ji-hyun, head of the Korean national baseball team, and Cho Gye-hyun, chairman of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).
It was a Korean major leaguer Dunning. Dunning was born as the youngest of three siblings to American father John Dunning (62) and Korean mother Jeong Mi-soo (62). His older brother Jake Dunning (38, retired) is also a pitcher with major league experience.
Dunning is also a player who wanted to participate in the 2023 WBC national team. However, he underwent hip surgery in September 2022 and failed to join. At the time, Dunning said in an interview with Texas local media 'Dallas Morning News', "I think participating in the Korean baseball team means a lot to my mother. I feel the same way," he said.
At the time, he was selected as the representative player of the Texas Rangers' Asia/Pacific Heritage Month, and made headlines by revealing a Korean tattoo of "same blood" inscribed on his right forearm. "It's a tattoo that all three of us have," Dunning said. "I really like this Korean tattoo. I've been away from my family for a long time and every time I see this tattoo I think of my family. He expressed his affection, saying, "It makes me feel like I'm always with my family."
The 2023 season, which was played with such regret behind it, was Dunning's career high season. The average fastball speed was only 91 miles (about 146km), but he used modified fastballs such as cutters and sinkers to record the best with 12 wins, 7 losses and an ERA of 3.70 in 35 games. He also won the team's first World Series title that year while serving as Texas' fifth starter.
Since then, it has been gradually forgotten in people's minds due to injuries. He suffered a shoulder injury in 2024, and was eventually traded to the Atlanta Braves for cash last year. The ball speed became normal as the average speed dropped to 89 miles per hour (about 143 kilometers).
However, Tread Athletic, a famous training center in the U.S., set a turning point. As a result of modifying the pitching mechanism and focusing on the increase in restraint, the average restraint in its heyday was regained. Eventually, he signed a minor league contract with Seattle last month, allowing him to continue his big league dream.
"Congratulations to Dunning on joining Seattle," Tread Athletics said on its official social media. It was no secret that he had to do more than 91 mph again. In the 2023 season, which was his career high, sinker's average speed was 91 miles, he said. "Dunning has done more than that in the bullpen. He explained, "We recorded the fastest average restraint since 2020 without a batter, and this is a pretty good performance."
Dunning, who showed good condition, is also good news for Ryu Ji-hyun, who lost first starter Moon Dong-joo (23, Hanwha Eagles) ahead of the announcement of the list. According to Chairman Cho Kye-hyun, Moon Dong-ju felt uncomfortable with his shoulder in bullpen pitching at the end of last month and was excluded from the list. Dunning, who has experience in both starting and bullpen, is expected to be a good resource to fill the gap.
Manager Ryu Ji-hyun announced the list and said, "WBC needs two to three starting pitchers because starting pitchers have a limit on the number of pitches. Dunning is a player who will play that role in the starting lineup and bullpen."
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*This content was translated by AI.
