‘s final concerns of the baseball team ahead of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) are not resolved. It is whether ‘overseas’ Choi Ji-man (Pittsburgh Pirates) will participate.
On the 27th, Lee Kang-cheol, head coach of the national team, left for Arizona, USA through Incheon International Airport and met with reporters, saying, “It is best for Choi Ji-man to join, but if he cannot come (to the national team), he must be prepared.” Until Choi Ji-man’s decision to join, he said he would not allow a reserve player to join the national team, but the question mark is still attached.
There are two major problems at stake. For one thing, he’s in the process of rehabbing after undergoing surgery on a bone fragment in his elbow late last year, so he’s not sure if he’ll be able to get his form up to the competition. In addition, it is necessary to consider the situation in which the Pittsburgh club is in a tug-of-war due to the salary adjustment.
Ready for Plan B? Is Chae Eun-seong and Oh Jae-il alternatives possible?
Like coach Lee said, the best scenario is for Choi Ji-man to take over the first base without any problems. In addition to stable defense, if Choi Ji-man takes on an axis of the central batting line, the national team’s offensive power can be expected to increase.
However, it is impossible not to think about Choi Ji-man’s departure from the national team. If that happens, the national team must activate ‘Plan B’. We need to find a player who will replace Choi Ji-man as the starting first baseman, 카지노 and we need to change the concept of the center batting line.
Currently, there are two first basemen included in the final roster of the national team, Kang Baek-ho and Park Byung-ho (above kt Wiz), and someone has to play the starting lineup. Or, depending on the opponent selection type, Kang Baek-ho and Park Byeong-ho could alternately be listed in the starting lineup.
Another first base resource should be considered in the place where Choi Ji-man is missing. The names of Chae Eun-seong (Hanwha Eagles) and Oh Jae-il (Samsung Lions), who were included in the 50-person interest list submitted in November last year, but failed to join the final list, are being discussed.
Chae Eun-seong has no national team experience, while Oh Jae-il participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and was sluggish with 1 hit in 7 at-bats. Due to the nature of the national team’s fielding team with many left-handed hitters, Chae Eun-seong may have a chance, and if you think about defense, you can choose Oh Jae-il.