The Korean national baseball team, united with youthful spirit, took a strong step toward Taiwan, the land of the showdown.
The 2024 World Baseball Softball Federation (WBSC) Premier 12 baseball team, led by head coach Ryu Joong-il, left for Taipei, Taiwan, on the morning of the 8th.
The national team, which arrived at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 at 6:30 a.m. after getting out of their accommodation early in the morning, was welcomed by numerous baseball fans.
“As I always say, no team is easy. My first goal is to go to Japan (where the Super Round will be held). I will do my best in every game,” Ryu said.
The national baseball team, which was convened on the 24th of last month, has been preparing for the tournament by joining hands at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.
On the 1st and 2nd, he played two warm-up matches with the Cuban national baseball team, the opponent he will meet in the group stage, and won both matches to increase his confidence.
On the 6th, the final domestic mock test was held with the Armed Forces athletic unit.
The national baseball team, which departed on the same day, will improve its condition through five days of adaptation training, including a practice game against a Taiwanese professional baseball team in Taipei on the 10th.
And the challenge will begin at 7:30 p.m. on the 13th with the first game against Taiwan, the host of Group B at Taipei Dome.
The Premier 12 of the Baseball Grand Festival, where the top 12 countries in the WBSC world rankings will face off, will be held for the third time after the first tournament in 2015 and the second tournament in 2019.
The Korean national baseball team, which produced the “Tokyo Battle” in the ninth inning of the 2015 semifinal match against Japan, won the first championship.
The second competition in 2019 also reached the final, but lost to archrival Japan and had to settle for the runner-up.
The Korean national baseball team’s realistic goal of making this tournament an “experience ground” in five years is to advance to the Super Round (semi-finals) at Tokyo Dome in Japan.
Korea (6th in the world), which is in Group B of the group league, will meet five countries in order: Taiwan (13th, 3rd), Cuba (14th, 9th), Japan (15th, 1st), the Dominican Republic (16th, 12th), and Australia (18th, 15th).
The top two teams will advance to the Super Round in the full league group stage. 메이저사이트
The United States (5th), Mexico (2nd), the Netherlands (7th), Venezuela (4th), Puerto Rico (8th), and Panama (10th) are in Group A, which starts the group league on the 10th, three days ahead of Group B.
The Super Round and Final, in which the 1st and 2nd places in Group A and the 1st and 2nd places in Group B clash, will be held at Tokyo Dome in Japan from the 21st to the 24th.
South Korea, which won the previous two competitions and finished second, will focus on young players.
We intend to use it as a cornerstone for major international competitions such as the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) and the 2028 Los Angeles (LA) Olympics.
Manager Ryu Joong-il selected 28 final entries on the 7th, consisting of 14 pitchers, two catchers, eight infielders and four outfielders, with a number of players, including Moon Dong-ju, Noh Si-hwan (Hanwha Eagles), Son Joo-young (LG Twins), Koo Ja-wook, Won Tae-in, Kim Ji-chan, and Kim Young-woong (Samsung Lions), falling due to injuries.
The national team’s biggest strength is its strong bullpen.
A large number of young pitchers from each team, including Jung Hae-young (KIA Tigers), Yoo Young-chan (LG), Park Young-hyun (kt wiz), Kim Taek-yeon (Doosan Bears), and Cho Byung-hyun (SSG Landers), joined the national team.
They played well as expected in warm-up matches against Cuba and Sangmu.
On the other hand, the starting team with only four players remaining, Kwak Bin, Choi Seung-yong (Dusan), Ko Young-pyo (kt), and Lim Chan-kyu (LG), is considered a weakness.
The batting line is harmonized with talented young players such as Kim Do-young (KIA), Yoon Dong-hee, Na Seung-yeop (Lotte), and Lee Ju-hyung (Kium Heroes), and veterans Hong Chang-ki and Park Dong-won (LG).
