"Korean slugger" Jones. "I hear a lot that you're like brothers with Ahn Hyunmin. → Director, thank you so much for the heart"

*This content was translated by AI.

Jamai Jones (29, Detroit Tigers), a key hitter who will lead the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team's batting lineup, mentioned Ahn Hyun-min (23, KT Wiz), as well as Ryu Ji-hyun (55), the coach of the national baseball team. The team's atmosphere is also very good, and he vowed to promote WBC.

Jones responded pleasantly after completing the official 2026 WBC training session at Tokyo Dome in Japan on the 4th, mentioning that he looks like Ahn Hyun-min. "Ahn Hyun-min is like my 'Little Brother'," he said with a smile. "A lot of people look at us and say we're like brothers. They say they look so alike in body size and style. Those things are very interesting," he added.

Jones is a highly anticipated hitter in this WBC. He played in 72 major league games for Detroit in the previous 2025 season and recorded a batting average of 0.287 (37 hits in 129 at-bats), seven home runs, and an OPS of 0.937, so he is expected to be in the top batting order of the national team. Coach Ryu Ji-hyun also praised Jones' value at an official press conference on the 4th, mentioning wRC+ (adjusted scoring productivity, 100 is league average). According to manager Ryu Ji-hyun, Jones' wRC+ is 167 or more against left-handed pitchers and 123 or more against right-handed pitchers.

Therefore, Jones and Ahn Hyun-min are considered key players in the top batting order of the national team. In fact, Jones and Ahn Hyun-min have a common denominator in that they are "tool guys" with solid body and explosive athletic ability. Jones said, "(When we played the national team's warm-up match together) Ahn Hyun-min and Kim Do-young were really special and talented players. He is already showing a high level of skill at an early age, and there is a clear reason. I want to help you with anything I can do," he said.

Jones also thanked coach Ryu Ji-hyun, who sent a "heart" ceremony to him during a practice game with the Orix Buffaloes on the 3rd. "In fact, I looked at the bench after successfully stealing yesterday, and I was actually surprised that the coach drew a heart above my head," he said. "I was really grateful for the coach's warm expression, and I felt so good thanks to him."

A day before the opening of the WBC, reporters and Jones named the current team atmosphere the "best." "The locker room energy is so positive that it couldn't be better," he said. All of the players understand well what we have to aim for and what we have to do," he stressed.

It also mentioned the passionate support of Korean fans. He said, "I also heard cheering songs shouting at the batter's box in practice games. It felt really fantastic and welcoming. I will show you all the things I prepared for the real game starting tomorrow," he said.

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*This content was translated by AI.