*This content was translated by AI.
Koo Ja-wook (33), the "key leading hitter" of the Samsung Lions, confessed his more mature baseball view through the World Baseball Classic (WBC) stage for the first time in his life. It is said that he felt difficult in the position of "back-up," which he experienced for a while during the competition, leaving behind his brilliant life as a main player. He even sent a text message of apology to players who served as backup players of similar age in his team Samsung.
At a meeting with reporters during the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League Media Day & Fan Fest event on the 26th, Koo Ja-wook said that he understood the "player's mind preparing behind the scenes" as the biggest harvest. Koo Ja-wook played in two games preparing for the backup, not the starting lineup, in the 2026 WBC, but he was hitless in two at-bats. He couldn't hit a hit, but he silently worked with the players and supported the starters. There was also a strong cheer in the dugout.
Asked how he thought WBC would remain in his baseball life, Koo Ja-wook said, "I had a really big experience at WBC. One of them experienced a player preparing from behind. In fact, I haven't spent a lot of time like that at the club (Samsung), so I've been through that very short."
In particular, Koo Ja-wook recalled outfielder Lee Sung-kyu (33) and infielder Jeon Byung-woo (34), who are in a similar age group at Samsung. Koo Ja-wook said, "I only now know that it was really hard because I felt like I didn't know how they felt. In that regard, I came to respect the minds of those players and learned that part," he said.
Beyond simple apologies, it led to a deep respect for the players. Koo Ja-wook said, "I have come to sincerely respect the players who are preparing silently in the invisible. These experiences are likely to be valuable assets to touch their hearts even if they serve as leaders in the future," he added.
Although there were not many opportunities to play in two games, the high walls and details of the world stage were also a big stimulus. Koo Ja-wook said, "I was deeply impressed by the technical skills and very detailed details of the players in each country," adding, "It was a valuable time to see and learn a lot from many outstanding players."
Asked if there was a player he particularly wanted to see, Koo Ja-wook laughed, saying, "I didn't have a player I wanted to see, but I was impressed by the professional way that Dominican (Republic) players respect Korean players and greet them even though they are very famous and play in the Major League."
Koo Ja-wook, who first looked at the difficulty of backup rather than the splendor of the main player. Attention is focusing on how the "baseball of empathy" he felt will bring about a positive change in the team atmosphere of the Samsung Lions seeking to win this season.
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*This content was translated by AI.
