On the 17th, the World Baseball Classic (WBC) baseball team held at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, USA, 카지노and NC’s evaluation match. Kang Baek-ho (KT), who came out as the national team’s 7th hitter, hit a two-run home run by Woo Joong-wol in the second inning with one out and first base.
National team coach Lee Kang-cheol deserved to feel twice as happy. This is because, facing a situation in which Kang Baek-ho’s utility could be calculated from the first round of the WBC right in front of him, the scenario after April that he could expect as the KT command tower of his team was worth thinking about.
It seems that Korean baseball in March will be full of stories with the contents and results of the WBC game. But looking a little further, that wasn’t all. Since April, players who can shake the flow of the KBO League regular season have joined the national team, and depending on their movements, the new season can be predicted to some extent.
The majority of proven players are in the WBC national team. Regardless of the pace of the tournament in March, most of the players can predict what will happen after April. However, for players who have had a recent ups and downs in pace or are inexperienced, this month of March, when the tournament is held, can be special.
Kang Baek-ho is also a player who is curious about his progress this season. Kang Baek-ho, who recorded a batting average of 0.325 and 81 homers and an OPS of 0.931 for four seasons until 2021 after his professional debut in 2018, played only 62 games last season due to a toe injury and others, and was sluggish with a batting average of 0.245 OPS 0.683. If Kang Baek-ho recovers the pace of the season before 2021, KT’s attack power for the new season will inevitably change. Kang Baek-ho’s WBC score is expected to be a hint for KT’s future.
The pace of left-hander Kim Yun-sik, who emerged like Cinderella in the LG starting lineup late last year, is also a factor that will affect the overall season. Kim Yun-sik, who is in his fourth year of joining the team, was in the pitcher’prospect group’ until the first half of last year, but grew rapidly into a complete pitcher in the second half. He appeared as a starter in 11 games in the second half and flew with a 5-2 record and an ERA of 2.68.
If Kim Yun-sik can bring the flow of the second half of last year to this season, LG, which struggled due to a weak domestic starting lineup, is expected to be able to spend the season amidst revolutionary changes in the starting lineup. It can be transformed into a ‘selection strong team’. This is why I am curious about Kim Yun-sik’s March as he prepares for the new season.
Doosan right-hander Jeong Cheol-won, who was the rookie of the year last year, is also attracting attention from both the WBC national team and his team. Jeong Cheol-won joined the pro in 2018, but returned from active military service and spent his first pro season last year. Jeong Cheol-won pitched 72.2 innings in 58 games, recording an average ERA of 3.10 with 4 wins, 3 losses, 23 holds and 3 saves. Jeong Cheol-won is expected to compete within the team for the finishing position with Kim Kang-ryul and Hong Kun-hee, but the result is expected to change depending on the move in March.
Above all, if Chung Cheol-won shows performance equal to or better than last year, Doosan coach Lee Seung-yeop’s bullpen management will likely gain a lot of strength. Doosan pitcher Kwak Bin, who joined the national team along with Jeong Cheol-won, is also a name that makes one wonder about his pace in March. It is expected that the WBC will be able to check out the trailer for the new season of Kwak Bin, who is trying to show growth based on his strong fastball and head towards the ‘complete type’. Kwak Bin is also a name that can determine Doosan’s season and overall game.