“It was a tournament where I felt that my skills were inferior compared to world players.” The
Korean national team, led by coach Lee Kang-cheol, faced the Chinese national team in the 4th round of the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) Group B group stage held at the Tokyo Dome in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan on the 13th. -2 ‘cold game’ victory.
In the previous match between Australia and the Czech Republic, Australia won 8-3, and the Korean national team was finally eliminated in the first round. However, in the last game of the group stage, the Korean national team hit 20 hits, including grand slams by Kun-Woo Park and Ha-Sung Kim, and finished the tournament writing a new history of scoring the most points in a single WBC match.
The player who stood out the most for the Korean national team was Lee Jung-hoo. Lee Jung-hoo started as a center fielder three times against China on the 13th and played an active role with 2 hits, 3 RBIs, 1 run, 1 walk, and 1 steal in 2 at bats. He played an active role and held a proper ‘showcase’ ahead of advancing to the major leagues.
After the match against China, Lee Jung-hoo said, “Even if the ranking is decided, it is a player’s duty to do his best until the end. I worked hard.” Each lacking part may not be the same and may be different. I think we should go back to our respective teams and improve what we felt at the tournament.”
The contents and results of the Korean national team at this WBC were very disappointing. In the KBO League, those who are evaluated as the ‘best’ players have been exposed as ‘frogs in the well’ who do not work on the international stage.먹튀검증 The result led to the first round elimination of the WBC three times in a row. Lee Jung-hoo did not deny this either. Rather, he demanded the awakening of the players, including himself.
He said, “A lot of young players, including me, participated, but it was a tournament where we felt that our skills were inferior to many players in the world.” I think we should start preparing for it from now on.”
Still, among the Korean players, it was Lee Jung-hoo who performed the most outstandingly. Are there any memorable moments in this tournament? Lee Jung-hoo said, “I prepared for the winter to hit fast balls and balls that change a lot. And I think it became a stage where I could confirm this.” It’s a big harvest,” he said.
Continuing, Lee Jung-hoo added, “Also, the most memorable at-bat was hitting against Darvish (San Diego Padres), but the foul going to the right in the first at-bat seems to be the most memorable.”
After the 2023 season, Lee Jung-hoo can try to go abroad through the ‘posting system’. That he can challenge the major leagues, including Japan. Japanese media questioned Lee Jung-hoo about the possibility of ‘advancing to Japan’, as his father Lee Jong-beom played for Chunichi Dragons in the past. But Lee Jung-hoo was adamant.
Lee Jung-hoo drew a line about advancing to the Japanese stage, saying, “Right now, I think I have to do better in Korea. I don’t know what will happen after this season is over, but I want to go to the United States and challenge myself.”
[Lee Jeong-hoo is sprinting after hitting two RBIs and doubles in the top of the 3rd inning of the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) match between Korea and China held at Tokyo Dome, Japan on the afternoon of the 13th.