“Two fighting cocks, I hope they fight well on the big stage!”
The 5th World Baseball Classic (WBC) is just around the corner. Starting with the first match of the first round against Australia on the 9th, Korea will start a fierce battle. WBC national team coach Lee Kang-cheol, who is directly in charge, as well as other KBO club heads are sending their support with one heart. The same goes for Lotte manager Larry Sutton. Even though he is an American citizen, he hopes for Korea’s success. Coach Sutton raised his voice, saying, “I can’t explain in detail because it’s a personal part, but he sincerely supports Team Korea more than the United States.” 스포츠토토
The fact that the disciples are sorting out will also play a big role. Ahead of this tournament, two Lotte players wore the Taegeuk mark. Right-handed pitchers Park Se-woong and Kim Won-joong are the main characters. Park Se-woong, who joined KT with the first nomination in 2014, changed his uniform to Lotte the following year. He has participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2017 Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC). Even Kim Won-joong enjoyed the joy of being selected for the adult national team for the first time in his life. He played an active role as a starter and switched positions to a closer from 2020, leaving a strong impression.
What the two have in common is that they use a breaking ball with a large drop as their main weapon. He has a forkball and curve that drop in front of home plate. It is also a strategy to target Australia in the first game. In the case of Australian hitters, they coped with fast balls and sliders to some extent, but struggled with breaking balls that move with a bell. The position has not been decided yet. I am determined to do my best wherever the team needs me in any position. Kim Won-joong made up his mind, saying, “I will work with the mindset that I will strike out everything.”
Another similarity is that they are full of the temperament of a winner. On the mound, I try to face whoever my opponent is. Park Se-woong and Kim Won-joong’s strikeouts per 9 innings last season reached 8.35 and 12.56, respectively. Director Sutton said, “I always call them fighting cocks. I hope you will fight with the same thoughts on the big stage.” “Being a member of the national team is an honorable position anytime, anywhere. It will be a special and good experience to represent the country.”