'AG Assembly D-6' Challengers with the Title, in a Hurry to Secure One More...

*This content was translated by AI.

The assembly of players for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games (AG) baseball national team is just six days away. The national team will begin training and play exhibition games at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome starting on the 14th, then depart for Nagoya, Japan—the final battleground—on the 18th. The tournament is scheduled to take place from the 21st to the 27th, with the team returning home on the 28th.

Players selected for the national team will have to leave their respective clubs during this period. Even if they return and immediately play in KBO League games starting the day after their return on the 29th, they could miss as many as 12 games (NC Dinos) or as few as 6 games (Kiwoom Heroes).

Teams that must compete without their key players face significant challenges, but there are also players who feel particularly anxious during the remaining week. These are athletes aiming for individual titles. While statistics in ratio categories (batting average, ERA, etc.) remain unchanged even without playing, those competing in cumulative stats (home runs, wins, etc.) cannot afford to miss a single at-bat or game.

Among batters, Kim Do-young (23·KIA Tigers) stands out as the prime example. He leads in both home runs (39) and runs scored (103). However, pursuers are constantly eyeing an opportunity to overtake him. Austin (33·LG Twins) trails by just three home runs and four runs scored, and with Kim Do-young set to miss seven games while Austin can play in eight, there is no room for complacency.

Among pitchers, Doosan Bears' "native duo" Kwak Bin (27) and Choi Min-seok (20) are notable. Both starting pitchers are expected to make one appearance each this week before skipping two to three pitching opportunities during the AG period.

Kwak Bin leads the strikeouts category with 177, holding a 21-strikeout lead over second-place Rodriguez (27·Lotte Giants). Considering Rodriguez averages 6.24 strikeouts per game (156 in 25 games), he could catch up to Kwak Bin in just about three games.

Choi Min-seok will also have to pause his winning streak. He will have to watch from Japan as Im Chan-kyu (34·LG, tied for first with 13 wins), along with third-place ties Tolhurst (27·LG) and Oller (32·KIA, both with 11 wins), add more victories.

Although not currently in first place, some players are missing opportunities to close the gap with the leader. These include Kim Ji-chan (25·Samsung Lions), fourth in runs scored, and Park Young-hyun (23·KT Wiz), third in saves.

However, more important than individual titles will be the glory of wearing the national emblem. Moreover, winning a gold medal at the Asian Games could bring benefits such as enhancing national prestige, special military service exemptions, and compensation for FA (free agent) registration days. It remains to be seen whether these athletes can catch both the gold medal and their individual titles—the "two rabbits in one hunt."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.