Hanwha's 158 km/h fireballer earns the national team badge! Korea U-23 national team, featuring a university catcher drafted by LG, begins intensive training on the 21st

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

They have already reached the runner-up spot. The remaining goal is now the world championship. From young players who have shown their potential in the KBO first division to university prospects drafted in this year's KBO rookie draft, they are joining forces to challenge for the first victory in the history of Korea's under-23 (U-23) baseball.

The Korea Baseball and Softball Association (KBSA) announced, "The national team roster participating in the 6th World Baseball Championship (U-23), held from November 6 to 15 in Nicaragua, was called up on the 21st and will conduct domestic intensive training in Suwon and other locations until the 31st."

Lee Yeon-su (63), head coach of Sungkyunkwan University, has once again taken the helm of the national team. Coach Lee led Korea to the finals at the 4th tournament held in Taiwan in 2022. Korea lost to Japan 0-3 at the time, finishing as runner-up, but recorded their best-ever result in U-23 World Championship history.

Korea placed third in the inaugural tournament in 2016 and fourth in 2018, while remaining at eighth place in 2021. They stepped onto the finals stage for the first time with a runner-up finish in 2022, and recorded a final fifth-place finish at the previous tournament held in Shaoxing, China, in 2024. They have not yet experienced a championship victory.

The Lee Beon (CEO) team features a large number of young players who have already gained experience in the KBO League. On the mound, Won Jong-hyuk (21, Hanwha) stands out. Drafted by Hanwha in the 9th round, 81st overall pick, of the 2024 rookie draft, Won Jong-hyuk pitched 17 innings across 17 first-division games this year, recording a 1-0 record and an ERA of 4.76. He left a strong impression by securing his first professional victory in the season opener.

There is also Choi Woo-seok (21, NC), a tall right-hander standing at 190 cm. Joining NC as the 5th round, 45th overall pick in the 2024 rookie draft, he led with fastballs reaching up to the 150th km/h range this year, recording an ERA of 1.50 across 12 innings in 13 first-division games.

In addition, Park Ji-ho (23, Military Service), Lee Tae-yeon (22, Lotte), Lee Do-u (22, SSG), Seo Jun-o (21, Doosan), Ha Hye-seong (20, Lotte), Woo Seung-wan (21, Samsung), Shin Sang-yeon (21, SSG), and Eom Yo-seop (20, Hanwha) will make up the pitching staff.

Park Jun-seong (19, LG), who was initially included in the preliminary roster, joined the final roster after Hwang Su-ho (20, Samsung) dropped out due to injury. A left-hander who graduated from Incheon High School and joined LG as the 2nd round, 18th overall pick in the 2026 rookie draft, Park Jun-seong pitched 33⅓ innings across 12 Futures League games this year, recording a 1-4 record with 1 save and an ERA of 7.29. In particular, he recorded an ERA of 3.60 over 15 innings in three games in September, earning him the KBO Futures League Monthly Rookie Award in the pitching category.

There are also many notable names in the position player lineup. In the infield, Eo Jun-seo (20, Kiwoom) has the most first-division experience. Drafted by Kiwoom as the 3rd round, 21st overall pick in the 2025 rookie draft, Eo Jun-seo appeared in 38 first-division games this year, recording a batting average of .230 (20 hits in 87 at-bats), 3 RBIs, and 8 runs.

In the outfield, Park Han-gyeol (22, Military Service) is considered a candidate for the middle of the lineup. Drafted by NC as the 2nd round, 14th overall pick in 2023, Park Han-gyeol recorded a batting average of .275, 20 home runs, 69 RBIs, and a slugging percentage of .515 across 92 Futures League games this year. Yoo Min (23, Hanwha) also showed potential with a batting average of .269, 3 home runs, 11 RBIs, and an OPS of .813 in 31 first-division games.

The presence of amateur players also draws attention. Catcher Kim Dong-ju (22, Yonsei University) was selected as the 3rd round, 30th overall pick by LG in the 2027 KBO rookie draft held last month. He demonstrated strong offensive power in this year's university league, leading Yonsei University's middle of the lineup, and contributed to victories in the U-League group stage and the King of Kings tournament. Among catchers, he is the only university player to make the Lee Beon (CEO) team roster.

Sungkyunkwan University infielder Jo Jun (22) and Hanyang University outfielder Kim Seung-ju (21) also earned the national team badge. Kim Seung-ju posted a batting average of .378, 1 home run, 10 RBIs, 12 stolen bases, and an OPS of 1.023 in 12 games in this year's university U-League, showing well-rounded performance in hitting, fielding, and baserunning.

The national team will conduct a final check with four live practice games before departing the country. They will face the KBSA All-Stars on the 27th, and play two practice games against the KT Wiz, who are preparing for the Korea Series as the regular season leader, at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 28th and 30th. Domestic training will conclude with a game against Hanyang University on the 31st.

On the 25th, 'Korean Express' Park Chan-ho (53) is scheduled to visit the team to encourage his juniors ahead of the international tournament. Korea will compete in Group B against Cuba, Japan, Venezuela, Great Britain, and South Africa. They will play their first game against Cuba on November 6 and face Japan in their second game. If they advance from the group stage, the Super Round will follow from the 12th to the 14th, with medal-deciding games on the 15th.

The national team will depart for Nicaragua on November 1, undergo local adaptation training in Managua, and then challenge for the first championship in U-23 World Championship history, surpassing their runner-up finish in 2022.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original