'The First Korea-Japan Match' So Hyoung-jun Takes the Mound! Japan Deploys a 151 km/h Social League Left-Handed Ace... Victory Means Path to Finals at the Summit [Aichi Nagoya AG]

*This content was translated by AI.

The Korean baseball national team, aiming for a fifth consecutive Asian Games title, has selected So Hyoung-jun (25, KT Wiz) as its key pitcher at this decisive juncture on the path to the finals. In response, Japan has countered by deploying Higuchi Shin (24, Oji), a left-handed ace from a social league team, after three days of rest.

Under head coach Ryu Ji-hyun (55), South Korea will face host nation Japan in the first Super Round match of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games baseball tournament at Toyohashi Citizens Stadium in Aichi Prefecture on the 25th at 6:30 p.m.

South Korea advanced to the Super Round as the top team in Group B after defeating Taiwan 5-0, then recording a 13-0 victory over Hong Kong via a 7-inning cold game, and an 18-1 win against Thailand via a 5-inning cold game. Japan also topped Group A. Now, South Korea will face Group A's top-ranked Japan at Toyohashi Citizens Stadium on the 25th at 6:30 p.m., followed by Group A's second-ranked China on the 26th at 6:30 p.m., with the goal of securing a spot in the finals.

The weight of this match is significant. A victory would effectively carry South Korea over the final hurdle toward the finals. In the Super Round, teams do not rematch opponents from their group; instead, results from the group stage are carried forward. If South Korea defeats Japan as well, it will finish with two wins and no losses, placing itself in a highly advantageous position ahead of its the 26th match against China for a spot in the finals. Now, South Korea will face Group A's top-ranked Japan at Toyohashi Citizens Stadium on the 25th at 6:30 p.m., followed by Group A's second-ranked China on the 26th at 6:30 p.m., with the goal of securing a spot in the finals.

The heavy responsibility falls on So Hyoung-jun. As the only starter among the national team's pitching options who did not take the mound during the group stage, he was widely expected to be Japan's designated pitcher from the outset. This season, So Hyoung-jun made 20 starts in the KBO League, throwing 114⅓ innings with an 8-3 record and a 3.38 ERA. He recorded 92 strikeouts against just 20 walks and achieved 12 quality starts (defined as six or more innings pitched with three or fewer earned runs allowed).

He also has extensive experience wearing the national team jersey. He participated in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC), the 2024 WBSC Premier12, and is set to compete in the 2026 WBC. However, this marks his first time facing Japan while wearing an adult national team uniform.

He has positive memories from past encounters. As a third-year student at Yushin High School, So Hyoung-jun started against Japan in the Super Round of the 2019 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup, pitching 6⅔ innings with seven hits allowed, no walks, eight strikeouts, and two earned runs in a strong performance. His opponent that day was Sasaki Roki (25, Los Angeles Dodgers), who is now well-known in Major League Baseball. South Korea ultimately secured a 5-4 comeback victory after ten extra innings.

Japan also fields a formidable left-handed pitcher. Higuchi is the ace of Oji, a social league baseball team based in Aichi Prefecture rather than a professional player. Born in June 2002 and originally from Tokyo, he attended Chiba Keidai High School and Aichi University of Technology. Standing 178 cm tall and weighing 84 kg, he throws a fastball reaching up to 151 km/h, along with sliders, splitters, and curveballs. Weekly Baseball Japan introduced him this year as a strong candidate for the professional draft and one of the top left-handed pitchers representing social league baseball.

His condition in this tournament is also excellent. He started against China in the group stage's opening match on the 21st, pitching six innings with six hits allowed, one earned run, and an impressive ten strikeouts, leading Japan to an 11-3 victory.

This matchup pits a 25-year-old right-handed pitcher proven in the KBO League against a 24-year-old left-handed ace from Japan's top social league baseball scene. Seven years ago, as part of the youth national team, So Hyoung-jun helped shut out Japan; now, wearing the adult national team jersey, he takes the mound for the most critical Korea-Japan match.

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*This content was translated by AI.