“Heo Kyung-min is out due to an injury”
On the 4th, KBO unveiled a list of 30 players who will participate in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) at the Baseball Hall in Dogok-dong, Seoul. There is more than a month left until the final entry deadline. However, the KBO and WBC technical committees announced the 30-man list early on so that players could prepare for the tournament more faithfully. 토토
The infielders for this national team are Choi Jeong (SSG Landers), Kim Hye-seong (Kiwoom Heroes), Oh Ji-hwan (LG Twins), Park Byung-ho, Kang Baek-ho (above KT Wiz), Kim Ha-seong (San Diego Padres), Tommy Edman (St. Louis Cardinals), and Choi Ji-man (Pittsburgh). Pirates). There are four center infielders who can handle second base and shortstop, and three first base resources, but only one third baseman.
The reason was the injury of Heo Gyeong-min (Doosan Bears). At a press conference, WBC Technical Committee Chairman Cho Bum-hyun explained the reason, “Heo Gyeong-min (Doosan Bears), who was included in the final entry, was suddenly left out due to an injury.”
According to Doosan officials, Heo Kyung-min’s injury is not serious enough to interfere with season preparation. However, he returned the Taegeuk mark because he judged that it would not be easy to improve his condition until he joined the national team due to a back injury that had not been good since last season.
Starting with the 2015 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier 12, Heo Gyeong-min is a regular national third baseman with plenty of experience to participate in the 2017 WBC, 2019 Premier 12, and 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, he made a difficult decision considering that he could damage the team after participating in the national team with an injury.
This WBC will be held as a single-elimination tournament until the final if the WBC goes through the quarterfinal stage after four matches in the group stage. There are not many matches, but the schedule is very tight. During the four matches in the group stage, there is only one rest day. And if they advance to the semifinals, they have to travel to the United States, so a backup player is essential.
Heo Kyung-min was suddenly unable to board the national team, but it is not that there is no alternative. Kim Ha-seong, Edmon, and Kim Hye-seong, who are on the team this time, have the advantage of being able to play in multiple positions. In particular, Kim Ha-seong was named in the starting lineup as a third baseman when Manny Machado (San Diego) was resting last year.
Coach Kang-Cheol Lee said, “There is only one third baseman,” and explained, “Ha-seong Kim can see the third baseman,” and “If Ha-seong Kim moves to third base, Oh Ji-hwan will become the starting shortstop.” Edmund also has solid defense enough to digest all positions in the infield. However, the command tower implied that he was considering the option of Ha-sung Kim to put third base, saying, “I thought Ha-seong Kim had a sense of stability rather than Edmund.”
Of course, options are just options. The best scenario is Choi Jeong, who has hit double-digit homers for 17 consecutive years in the KBO League, plays an active role in both offense and defense on the WBC stage. It is true that Choi Jeong’s shoulders are heavy, but there is no doubt that he is a player with the ability to do so.