'158 km/h Hanwha fireballer to LG-drafted catcher': South Korea's U-23 national team departs for Nicaragua today (the 1st) for the decisive battle! Aiming for their first-ever world championship title

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Can they shake off the regret of their runner-up finish in 2022? The South Korean U-23 baseball national team, featuring Hanwha Eagles' 158 km/h fireballer and a university catcher drafted by the LG Twins this year, heads to Nicaragua aiming for their first-ever World Championship title.

The Korea Baseball & Softball Association (KBSA) announced on the 31st of last month that the U-23 baseball national team, led by head coach Lee Yeon-soo (63, Sungkyunkwan University), has completed its domestic intensive training and will depart for Nicaragua on the 1st to participate in the 6th World Baseball Championship.

The national team conducted intensive training in Suwon and other locations starting from the 21st of last month. They played two practice games against the KT Wiz, who were preparing for the Korean Series, including KBSA All-Stars, and concluded their domestic schedule with a final exhibition game against Hanyang University on the 31st.

South Korea is challenging for its first-ever championship in this tournament. The team placed third in the inaugural tournament in 2016, fourth in 2018, and eighth in 2021. In the 4th tournament held in Taiwan in 2022, they advanced to the final but lost 0-3 to Japan, finishing as runners-up. They recorded a fifth-place finish at the 2024 tournament in Shaoxing, China.

Head coach Lee Yeon-soo, who led the team to the runner-up spot at the time, has taken the helm again. This marks his second attempt at reaching the world summit in four years. The national team roster includes a balanced mix of promising players with first division professional experience and university players drafted in this year's KBO Rookie Draft.

On the pitcher's mound, Won Jong-hyuk (21, Hanwha) stands out. A right-handed pitcher who throws fastballs up to 158 km/h, he recorded a 1-0 record with a 4.76 ERA in 17 first division games this year, pitching 17 innings. There is also Choi Woo-seok (21, NC), a tall right-handed pitcher standing at 190 cm. He showed his potential by recording a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings across 13 first division games this year.

LG left-handed pitcher Park Jun-seong (19) has also earned a spot on the national team. Initially on the preliminary roster, he joined the final roster due to an injury to Samsung's Hwang Su-ho. Park recorded a 1-4 record with one save and a 7.29 ERA in 12 Futures League games this year, and was selected as the Futures League Monthly Rookie of the Month in the pitching category in September.

In the batting lineup, Military Service Team outfielder Park Han-gyeol (22) is expected to perform well. He showcased his power by recording a .275 batting average with 20 home runs and 69 RBIs in 92 Futures League games this year. Kiwoom infielder Eo Jun-seo (20) and Hanwha outfielder Yoo Min (23) are also included.

Kim Dong-ju (22), a catcher from Yonsei University who was selected by LG in the third round, 30th overall, of the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft this year, has also joined the team. Kim served as a key hitter for Yonsei University in the university league this year, contributing to the team's victories in the U-League group stage and the King of Kings tournament.

The national team is also focusing on local adaptation. After arriving in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, in the early hours of the 2nd (local time), they will begin training. They will play an exhibition game against the Nicaraguan national team on the 3rd and continue local training on the 4th. Following official practice, a managers' meeting, and a press conference on the 5th, they will enter the full tournament schedule starting from the 6th.

Head coach Lee Yeon-soo stated, "Given that the tournament is being held far away, our goal is to secure sufficient time to adjust to the time difference and environment before entering the first game."

Support from local overseas Koreans is also planned. With the cooperation of the Korean Embassy in Nicaragua, a welcome dinner bringing together the team and overseas Koreans will be held on the 4th. Overseas Koreans are expected to visit the stadium during the tournament to support the South Korean national team. CJ CheilJedang provided convenience meals to help with the team's local meals and condition management.

The national team members conveyed, "We were quite worried about meals given that we have to stay in an unfamiliar environment for a long period, but it was a great help having the sponsored convenience meals prepared for us." They added, "We will return with good results to repay the solid support."

Twelve countries are participating in this tournament, divided into two groups for the group stage. South Korea is in Group B, competing against Cuba, Japan, Venezuela, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. Starting with a game against Cuba on the 6th (local time), South Korea will face Japan on the 7th, Venezuela on the 8th, the United Kingdom on the 9th, and South Africa on the 10th, playing five consecutive days. In Korean time, each game is held one day later.

If they pass the group stage, they will play in the Super Round from the 12th to the 14th, with final rankings determined through medal decision games on the 15th. Key matches of this tournament will be broadcast live domestically via SPOTV.

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

*This content was translated by AI.View Original