"I went to the ballpark to do weight training after 6 hours back home." "The national team retired from Noh Kyung-eun." [Incheon on-site interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

I came back to the ballpark less than six hours after returning home. It was to do weight training. This is the story of Noh Kyung-eun (42, SSG Landers), who struggled hard as the best member of the national team at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC).

Noh Kyung-eun returned to Incheon International Airport with the national team at around 5 a.m. on the 16th. And he visited the baseball stadium ahead of the KBO League exhibition game between SSG and Samsung held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon during the day. Even though SSG coach Lee Soo-yong (55) said, "Don't come and take a two-day break," Noh Kyung-eun said, "It's a day to do weight work on the routine. "I came out because I thought it would be good to leave my body to the team training part to exercise and do sauna and massage," he said.

Noh Kyung-eun, who is well over the moon, showed off his spectacular pitching at the WBC, taking charge of the mound's bad work. His performance in the tournament contributed to the national team's dramatic advance to the quarterfinals by allowing one hit and no run in two innings in three ⅔ innings, starting with one scoreless inning against the Czech Republic on the 5th, ⅓ innings against Taiwan on the 8th, and starting Son Joo-young (26, LG Twins), who suddenly left the mound due to elbow pain on the 9th.

I met Noh Kyung-eun in the interview room of the stadium and heard the secret of the tournament's good pitching, the back story of the national team, and his feelings. The following is the question and answer.

- Isn't it hard.

▶ I got the time difference right. I slept a lot on the plane. Since it was a chartered flight, there were many seats left, so I slept lying down.

- Ryu Ji-hyun (55), the coach of the national team, mentioned Noh Kyung-eun as the MVP after returning home.

▶ Personally, it was an honor itself. I was very proud to be in the same team with the players representing the country. It's the honor of the family. Coach Ryu Ji-hyun and the coaching staff treated the seniors well. I think the result came out well because I worked with a responsibility that I should do well without disappointing him.

- Ryu Hyun-jin (39, Hanwha Eagles) announced his retirement from the national team immediately after the tournament.

▶ If someone asks me, I thought I wanted to talk like Ryu Hyun-jin. Isn't it "automatic retirement?" (laughs) All I think about is continuing my career in the team. I'm not that kind of class...

- He dramatically advanced to the quarterfinals by winning 7-2 against Australia on the 9th.

▶ I'm not nervous about throwing. Pitchers also said they would rather throw than watch it. The people must have watched it nervous, but the players were the same. I was so nervous watching it on the bench that I went into the locker room and stuff.

- In the match against Australia, starter Son Joo-young suddenly took the mound in the second inning after leaving the mound early.

▶ Pitcher coach Kim Kwang-sam (46) waited from the first inning because me and Soh Hyung-joon (25, KT Wiz) were going to be the second pitchers. "I did stretching and other routines in advance that day." Coach Kim rushed to the bullpen because Joo-young said her elbow hurt. I said, "I'll go out" because you know I'm warming up quickly.

- In the quarterfinals against the Dominican Republic, they were completely defeated 0-10.

▶ There was a sense of resentment. I don't think we're a team that can even play cold games. Korean baseball is not that bad, but the game didn't work out. The players also felt angry and unfair that they lost without even fighting properly. Ryu Hyun-jin and Lee Jung-hoo (28, San Francisco) told their juniors, "Don't be discouraged and prepare well next time and show good performance. Today is not the end," he said a lot of good things.

- I joined WBC for the first time in 13 years since 2013.

▶ At that time, I was only passionate and lacked a lot about baseball. As I get older, I know how to produce the best performance through systematic routines and condition management. I had a good experience 13 years ago, so I controlled my condition well this time.

- He threw the ball from the mound of the Major League Baseball Stadium (Rondipo Park, Miami in the quarterfinals).

▶ In fact, personally, I think it's the most important thing in my life. I've never been to a major league stadium in the U.S. I was going to buy a ticket and look around if I had to retire and go to the U.S. later, but I was thrilled to achieve my personal dream.

- He seems to have raised his pace faster than usual.

▶ The coach also told me to take a rest, but there is nothing difficult about taking care of myself in a good environment and throwing the ball while being treated well. I also had a good exhibition game, so the pace is the same.

- On my birthday on the 11th, I received a congratulatory cake from my juniors on a chartered plane.

▶ I think it will be remembered as the happiest moment of my life. It was a birthday I will never forget until I die in 2026.

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*This content was translated by AI.