Despite the injection fighting spirit, the national flag 'resign voluntarily' and the blue uniform stepped on by Won Tae-in's eyes, "It's a nuisance to the national team... It wasn't even polite to Samsung"

*This content was translated by AI.

He even pushed ahead with offseason injection treatment for the first time in his career. The blue uniform was behind Won Tae-in (26), who longed for participation in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), who voluntarily resigned from the national team.

On the 15th, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) officially announced, "We confirmed LG Yoo Young-chan as a replacement for Samsung's Won Tae-in, who has become difficult to participate in the WBC due to injuries, and asked the WBC Organizing Committee to approve the replacement of players."

It was disappointing news for the national team, which lost its ace, but the player's own despair was even more. "I was very disappointed in myself," Won Tae-in said ahead of the first practice match between the national team and Samsung at Akama Stadium in Onnason, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan on the 20th. I've never slept peacefully since the day I fell because I felt so lost," he said honestly.

For a while after the injury, I suffered so much that I politely declined interviews. Looking at the voluntary resignation process of the national team, which he revealed himself, the feeling of despair was understood. Won Tae-in felt pain in his right elbow at Samsung's first Guam spring camp after returning from the first Saipan camp of the national team. As soon as he felt elbow pain, he returned to Korea for the first screening. There were no special findings at this time.

After that, Won Tae-in headed back to Okinawa, where the second camp will be held. The pain continued, and Won Tae-in even tried injection treatment that had never been hit in the offseason with the consent of the coach and training coach for the first time.

Despite all the efforts, the pain never disappeared. In the end, Won Tae-in returned to Korea once again on the 13th and underwent a thorough examination. There, he was declared injured in the first stage of the elbow flexor muscle and announced his intention to resign to the national team.

The reason why he expressed his desire to participate in the WBC was also because of his resonance. Won Tae-in said, "It's my first time getting a shot in the offseason while playing baseball. I really wanted to go to WBC this time. I wanted to avenge the last tournament, and I wanted to take off the image that I was only good at throwing in Korea," he said honestly.

Won Tae-in left a disappointment with a 6.23 ERA in three games (4 ⅓ innings) in the 2023 WBC, which he played for the first time. As a result, it was stigmatized as a "domestic pitcher." However, Won Tae-in is an ace even recognized by Major League scouts. Multiple Major League scouts told Star News, "Won Tae-in's changeup works in the Major League as well. If the fastball speed is higher than now, it is also competitive in the United States," he said.

However, Won Tae-in was also the blue blood ace that Daegu Samsung fans loved before the Korean baseball team's clear card. The cheer was finally caught in the eye. "It was such a stimulating competition for myself," he said. However, he did not recover, and even though he endured the pain in this condition, it was a nuisance to the national team and was not polite to the Samsung Lions. "I didn't think I was going to play only in the national team and take a break during the regular season," he said.

In fact, Won Tae-in's physical condition is not yet guaranteed for the opening game in a month. Won Tae-in, who is currently focusing on relieving the pain, decides to rehabilitate through a reexamination about two weeks later. The result was that only the muscles were injured, but it is the same that you have to build your body.

Won Tae-in said, "Actually, the opening game seems uncertain. "I'm going to discuss with the club whether I can enter the season right away even if I don't miss it for a long time," he said, adding, "In fact, I decided to do this interview today (20th) and make up my mind." With this interview, I will shake off all my burdens and cheer for the national team hard. I will do my best to win this season as a Samsung Lions player again," he stressed.

"I think the national team is supported by all fans of the 10 KBO teams. So I'm really sorry that I can't show such a good performance to all the fans who supported the national team."

On this day, Akama Ball Park in Okinawa, where the Samsung national team trains, was crowded with Samsung fans who came to cheer as individuals. Won Tae-in once again recognized himself as the ace of blue blood by signing autographs to such fans one by one.

Won Tae-in said, "It's a pity that I couldn't show 'Won Tae-in for the national team' to the Samsung Lions fans who would have been most worried." However, I really want to promise that I will return to the state where I can throw my best on the mound in good health as always during the regular season," he said with strength.

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*This content was translated by AI.