World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team back-up keystone duo Kim Hye-seong (24) and Oh Ji-hwan (33) showed off their climax of blows and went on a show of force.
The WBC national team won 10-2 in a practice match against SSG Landers Futures held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 3rd. Kim Hye-seong and Oh Ji-hwan, who served as table setters, started as the first hitter, second baseman, and second hitter, shortstop, respectively, and swung hard hits with 2 hits, 1 run, 1 walk in 3 at-bats, 3 hits, 3 RBIs, and 1 walk in 4 at-bats. 메이저놀이터
The Korean national team made every effort to recruit major league players ahead of the WBC. Dane Dunning (Texas), Mitch White (Toronto), and Rob Lefsnyder (Boston) Korean players all refused to participate, and Choi Ji-man (Pittsburgh) could not join the national team due to opposition from his team, but Kim Ha-seong (San Diego) and Kim Ha-seong (San Diego), who played an active part in Kiwoom, With the arrival of 2021 National League second baseman Gold Glove winner Tommy Edman (St. Louis), the most solid Keystone combination of this tournament was formed.
Kim Hye-seong, who won the Golden Glove at second baseman last season, and Oh Ji-hwan, who won the Golden Glove at shortstop, serve as infield backups for the national team. However, both players currently have a sense of the game that is no less than that of Kim Ha-seong and Edmund. Kim Hye-sung and Oh Ji-hwan, who are playing in practice on behalf of Kim Ha-seong and Edmund, who cannot participate in practice due to WBC regulations, are showing off their hot hitting every day. In particular, Kim Hye-seong drove a batting average of 60.47 (11 hits in 17 at-bats) in 5 games. Oh Ji-hwan also produced several impressive scenes in defense.
Although Kim Hye-sung and Oh Ji-hwan’s pace is steep, it is expected that it will be difficult to push Kim Ha-seong and Edmund, who are active in the major leagues. When asked about the composition of the WBC batting order in an interview after the match, manager Lee Kang-cheol said, “You will know if you watch today’s game. I think it can be said that those players (Edman and Ha-seong Kim) enter in 1 and 2,” he said, expressing his intention to use Edman and Ha-seong Kim as table setters.
In reality, it is not easy for Kim Hye-sung and Oh Ji-hwan to start as the starting lineup in the WBC finals. However, it is also true that they are the best hitting hitters in the current national team. Manager Lee Kang-cheol said, “Kim Hye-sung and Oh Ji-hwan showed excellent performances in both offense and defense. He praised the two players, saying, “I am worried because he showed such good condition that he could start with Arizona and go out as a real starter.”
South Korea was drawn in Group B of the first round of the WBC to be held in Tokyo, Japan. Starting with Australia on the 9th, Japan on the 10th, Czech Republic on the 12th, and China on the 13th. Although the roles of Kim Ha-seong and Edmund are important for advancing to the quarter-final tournament, the two players cannot be responsible for all innings in every game. Depending on the game situation, Kim Hye-sung and Oh Ji-hwan will also have opportunities to contribute to the team. Fans are looking forward to seeing what Kim Hye-sung and Oh Ji-hwan, who are in peak condition, will show on their first WBC stage.