episode_0377

[In the stands, we can see Coach Lee Geum-hyun, who leads this year’s Olympic team. As it’s a showdown between the first and second-ranked teams, we can expect to see top-notch players here, right?]

[That’s correct. The Volcano Falcons and AT Thunders. Just like the clash between the first and second-ranked teams, there are many players expected to make it to the national team. Immediately, we can almost guarantee players like Seong-hyun, who pitched seven scoreless innings in the first game of this series, paired with Lee Yong-gi, and Ji Maeng-ho, who achieved a record of six consecutive home runs last weekend.]

The match between the successful Volcano Falcons and AT Thunders, dubbed the prelude to the Korean Series, unfolded with the Volcano Falcons securing one win and one draw. In the ninth inning tied at 1-1, it was AT’s turn to bat. Ji Maeng-ho stepped up to the plate.

[Ji Maeng-ho is up to bat now.]

[Sin Su-ho, no intention of avoiding him, right? With Coach Lee Geum-hyun watching, it’s clear they want to mark Ji Maeng-ho out and make a statement.]

[Ji Maeng-ho’s swing! This hit goes far! Ji Maeng-ho’s walk-off home run! A game-changing walk-off home run by Ji Maeng-ho evens the series! And the hero is Ji Maeng-ho!]

[After failing to add another home run since his six consecutive home runs, Ji Maeng-ho seemed a bit off, but he comes through with a home run here! Truly a clutch hitter beyond words. Ji Maeng-ho! Indeed, Ji Maeng-ho.]

[With a record of 3 hits in 10 at-bats and zero home runs after the six consecutive home runs, fans were questioning if Ji Maeng-ho’s performance was not living up to his name, but ultimately, Ji Maeng-ho finishes this game. Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maeng-ho of AT Thunders.]

[Oh, we can see Coach Lee Geum-hyun’s expression too. He’s smiling, isn’t he? Seems delighted by Ji Maeng-ho’s performance.]

“Coach, have you finalized the national team roster?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a relief. We need to announce the roster soon. By the way, I went to watch the Volcano game at Jamsil yesterday as expected…”

“Yes, there are many competitive players for first base. I checked on Choi Si-woo’s condition last.”

Scheduled to lead the 2024 LA Olympics after the 2023 WBC and 2023 Asian Games, Coach Lee Geum-hyun appeared tired, likely from staying up late reviewing the player list received from the coaching staff and management. The position that troubled Coach Lee Geum-hyun until the end was the highly competitive first base.

Even considering just the Golden Glove winners like Kang Han-beom of Charlotte, Choi Jin-cheol of AT, and Gu Jin-mo of UG, along with the explosive potential shown by Choi Si-woo of Volcano since last year, the dilemma of having two left-handed and two right-handed batters was what had kept Coach Lee Geum-hyun pondering until yesterday.

“So, who is your choice, Coach? Kang Han-beom is definitely in, right?”

“Yes. We need a key hitter to anchor the lineup.”

Kang Han-beom’s performance this season includes playing 60 games with a stat line of 0.331/0.409/0.593/1.002 and hitting 14 home runs. Moreover, last year, he recorded a stat line of 0.352/0.436/0.588/1.024 with 32 home runs, earning him the designated hitter Gold Glove award as one of Korea’s top hitters. With experience in achieving a .300 season and a 30-home run season in the big leagues, not selecting him would be unreasonable.

The challenge lies with Choi Jin-cheol, Gu Jin-mo, and the emerging Choi Si-woo. Each of these three players possesses unique strengths.

First, Choi Jin-cheol, a power-hitting type player who has experienced two 50-home run seasons and has Major League experience, achieved an impressive performance last season with a batting line of 0.304/0.413/0.659/1.073 and 44 home runs, marking what could be considered a second prime. Coming from a third baseman background, he also had decent defensive skills and leadership qualities as a veteran.

However, being a right-handed hitter overlapped with Kang Han-beom, and although his performance this season was solid with a batting line of 0.273/0.351/0.509/0.860 and 12 home runs, it was relatively lackluster compared to the previous year.

The second candidate, Gu Jin-mo, boasts the league’s best defense, being a left-handed hitter, and recorded an impressive performance this season with a batting line of 0.314/0.388/0.538/0.926 and 10 home runs. Additionally, his performance last year was notable with a batting line of 0.291/0.371/0.566/0.937 and 37 home runs, although not as good as Choi Jin-cheol’s previous year.

However, his disadvantage lay in using Munhak Stadium, a hitter-friendly park, and being prone to strikeouts.

The final candidate, Choi Si-woo, emerged as a contender with a batting line of 0.323/0.410/0.514/0.924 as a left-handed hitter and 9 home runs. However, being a less experienced young player, his defense was considered slightly inferior compared to Choi Jin-cheol or Gu Jin-mo.

With each player having their own strengths and weaknesses, the KBA chairman awaited Lee Geum-hyun’s decision.

“The starting first baseman… will be Gu Jin-mo.”

“As expected, Gu Jin-mo…”

“It seems that having a left-handed first baseman provides advantages in defense, and considering his international experience from the WBC, Gu Jin-mo should be suitable.”

“That makes sense. Shall we review the confirmed starting lineup?”

“Yes. Please review it, and if everything looks fine, we will announce it this afternoon.”

The chairman quickly scanned through the national team’s starting lineup based on Coach Lee Geum-hyun’s words.

“There aren’t many changes from the last WBC, are there?”

“That’s correct. We mainly selected players who played well together in the last WBC. Time to adjust together is limited.”

“It’s a shame about Lee Eun-chong. He’s a player who could bat first or second even in the national team.”

“I feel the same way. However, considering his poor performance this season and the fact that Yang Ji-hyuk can handle the roles of lead-off hitter and defensive anchor, we felt it was sufficient.”

“Yang Ji-hyuk. Good choice. Even though Hyeon-seong is currently at the bottom, Yang Ji-hyuk maintains a .300 batting average.”

There were no significant changes in the Olympic roster compared to the last WBC.

The chairman nodded in satisfaction, noting Kim Won-ho’s transition from the bullpen to a starting role this season and the emergence of Vulcan’s Shin Soo-ho as the league’s top closer since Goyoung-ho’s departure. Apart from Lee Eun-chong’s slump in the batting lineup, the roster remained stable.

“Shall we proceed with this announcement?”

“Let’s do that. However, please keep a steady list of backup players in case of injuries.”

“Of course, that goes without saying.”

With those words, a brief silence fell between the two. It was the KBA chairman who broke the momentary silence.

“Sigh… Coach, you understand how important this Olympics is. It could potentially be the last Olympics where baseball is featured, so it’s crucial.”

“I am aware.”

As the chairman mentioned, this Olympics was indeed significant. The performance of the national team attracted public attention, not only for the sake of Korean baseball’s popularity but also due to the symbolic nature of a baseball Olympics whose future hosting was uncertain. Furthermore…

“If the public sentiment is positive in this Olympics, meaning if we achieve results of at least a silver medal, then KBA is considering lifting the posting restrictions. You probably already know this.”

The change in the posting system that the chairman had ambitiously prepared for was dependent on the outcome of this Olympics.

The reason behind the chairman’s contemplation of altering the posting system was simple: for the popularity of the KBA league and Korean baseball. The impact of players who have played in the KBA league moving on to Major League Baseball has been proven through cases like Ju Hyoung-jin.

Even those unfamiliar with baseball become interested in the sport by watching Major League players in the news, leading to a cycle that benefits the KBA league once again.

Furthermore, there was the advantage of being able to prevent promising talents from being exported to the United States. The dream of baseball players is to step onto the stage of the Major Leagues. There were more than a few prospects dreaming of becoming big leaguers and heading to the U.S.

Just the fact that Jang Woo-joo, who competes for the top starting pitcher position in the league by throwing 100 miles per hour, would have almost been sent to the Major Leagues had it not been for the radical promise of taking even debutants to the WBC.

Of course, while Ji Maeng-ho hit the jackpot by being selected fairly, the leakage of promising talents was severe enough to warrant such a move. The disappearance of players with superstar potential to the U.S., without a word, was also a problem in the baseball world.

However, if we achieve successful results in this Olympics and change the years required for posting eligibility to four, the story changes. Four years may seem long or short depending on perspective. It is also around the time when promising athletes graduate from high school and debut in the big leagues.

If it becomes four years, the age at which talents debut would be similar unless they possess extraordinary talent, so promising athletes wouldn’t necessarily need to choose to go to the U.S. They wouldn’t have to give up their stable life in Korea, nor would dazzling talents risk losing their shine on unfamiliar soil.

Certainly, there will still be players attempting the Major Leagues for their dreams, but it was clear that the number of such players would decrease with the change in the system.

“Still, it’s fortunate. The clubs aren’t strongly opposing it.”

“If it were before, they would have opposed it. Being able to use a first-round pick for only four years is a significant loss. However, it was easy to persuade them with Ji Maeng-ho’s performance. Other than AT, the other clubs quickly realized that sending Ji Maeng-ho to the Majors as soon as possible would be beneficial. AT also agreed from a standpoint of great success.”

“Ji Maeng-ho… truly a cornerstone of Korean baseball.”

“The effect of the young player debuting for the national team must be significant, right?”

“Haha, is it really like that?”

“Anyway, we ask for your support for this Olympics as well.”

After the tragedy of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, appointing Lee Geum-hyun as the coach was an excellent decision. Lee Geum-hyun had shown satisfactory results in the WBC and Asian Games according to his reputation and career. The chairman believed that Lee Geum-hyun would also deliver good results this time. Regardless of what anyone said, Lee Geum-hyun was the best coach in Korea.

“Leave it to me.”

And Lee Geum-hyun confidently responded to the chairman’s words, displaying a vigor not inferior to that of a young person despite his advanced age.

—

– Olympic National Team Roster Announcement! Any new faces?

(OSEX Park OO Reporter)

The roster of the South Korean baseball national team participating in the 2024 LA Olympics was announced today at 2 p.m. Meanwhile, this Olympics will start in July…

The list of 24 players includes three current Major Leaguers:

Catchers: Lee Yong-gi (Volcano Falcons), Park Jung-hyun (Hyun Sung Madcats)

Catcher: Gu Jin-mo (UG Overloze), Kang Han-beom (Charlotte Blue Mariners), Park Cheol-young, Kim Hwan-young (LS Triggerz), Kim Soo-ho, Ji Maeng-ho (AT Thunders), Choi Joo-tae (LAA).

Outfielders: Kim Jung-hyun, Joo Seung-cheol (HC Grizzlies), Ki Sang-joo (AT Thunders), Yang Ji-hyuk (HS Madcats).

Pitchers: Jung Woo-sung (PIT), Go Young-hwan (MIN), Kim Sung-gyeol, Kim Woo-joon (UG Overloze), Choi Jung-hoon (HS Madcats), Seong Hyeon, Shin Soo-ho, Cha Jae-hyun (VS Falcons), Kim Won-ho (LS Triggerz), Jang Woo-joo (Future Buffaloes), Kim Si-hyun (NV Lex).

The national team roster consists of 2 catchers, 7 infielders, 4 outfielders, 6 right-handed pitchers, and 5 left-handed pitchers. The club that has produced the most national team players is…

Let’s go for a medal this time!! Let’s do it!!!

Oh, there’s still over a month left before anything happens, damn.

Please, let’s hope no tragedy occurs at this Olympics.

Man, I can’t wait to see Maeng-ho Shin face off against Major Leaguers.

What the hell, why are they so bad?? They were the champions last year, and not even one pitcher got selected? How did they win?

Honestly, Maeng-ho Ji… with a .400 average and 60 home runs, if they can’t win with him, is that even a team?

Looks like the Falcons had a reason for being in first place; they have the most pitchers with 3 and only 1 batter.

It’s a relief that Lee Jin-hong wasn’t picked; he’d probably embarrass himself in the US again, haha.

Honestly, the Olympic roster is so tight, it’s not easy for outfielders.

Still, isn’t Yang Ji-hyuk better than Kim Jung-hyun?

Yang Ji-hyuk is arguably the best defensively, while Kim Jung-hyun has good hitting and decent batting average, plus he plays right field well compared to Lee Jin-hong who only serves as a designated hitter. But that doesn’t mean Lee Jin-hong can outshine Kang Han-beom, right?

They were protesting not to select them for the Olympics, and now that they didn’t get picked, they’re throwing a fit, haha.

Honestly, am I the only one excited for this Olympics? Seems like the strongest lineup ever. With active MLB players like Jung Woo-sung, Choi Joo-tae, Go Young-hwan, along with Seong Hyeon, Kang Han-beom, Ki Sang-joo, future MLB players like Joo Seung-cheol, Jang Woo-joo, Ji Maeng-ho. Honestly, in terms of lineup strength, it’s the best ever.

Ki Sang-joo is just a lucky guy, haha. Damn, these guys from other teams are really hyping up their players.

Seems like the best lineup ever. Win it all, damn it.

Go Team Korea Baseball!!!