It is clear that he has built a high-quality mound. Three pitchers were selected for the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) team, which is composed of the best, and they can wear the Taegeuk mark intact at the Hangzhou Asian Games (AG) scheduled for September. WBC is held before the season, but AG is held in September during the season. In other words, the two international competitions are inevitably a big variable. In particular, LG needs to build stronger depth considering the absence of key pitchers in September.
Plans are visible through the camp roster. On the 25th, LG announced the list of camps in Arizona, USA, starting on the 31st local time. A total of 26 pitchers have been named. In addition to the key pitchers and prospects who made the first team stage last year, rookie sidearm pitcher Park Myeong-geun (19) and right pitcher Yoo Young-chan (26), who graduated from college for 4 years, stand out. There is a possibility that they will be included in the September Pilseung Group instead of Ko Woo-seok and Jung Woo-young, who can compete in AG.
On the 26th, LG pitching coach Kyung Heon-ho said, “Jung Woo-young and Ko Woo-seok are absolute players on our team. Both players can go out in September, and I will try to prepare enough players to replace them,” he said. In addition, I am thinking of newcomer Park Myeong-geun and Yoo Young-chan, who are going to camp for the first time this time.” 온라인바카라
Yoo Young-chan had a relationship with Coach Kyung from before. Coach Kyung said, “When I was a rookie, I was with the 2nd team. He enlisted during his first season, was discharged, returned last year, and was in good shape at finish camp. His skills have gone up a lot. He introduced Yoo Young-chan as a pitcher with good pitching mechanics, good pitches, and a high-quality breaking ball.” He continued, “Our team’s strength is the middle pitching team, but I think there will be opportunities for Yoo Young-chan and Park Myung-geun. In particular, there is AG in September and there are variables such as injuries. Even if there is a variable, I will prepare for players like Yoo Young-chan and Park Myung-geun to fill it well.”
It’s not just the new faces. Ham Deok-ju, who tried to switch from the 2nd team during last season, goes back to the bullpen. Yun Ho-sol, a compensation player following Chae Eun-seong’s FA transfer, was recruited in consideration of AG in September. If Ham Deok-joo, who also played an active role as a closer in the past, and Yun Ho-sol, who firmly guarded the Hanwha mound in April of last year, settle down, the bullpen can still become the strongest.
At the camp, the composition of the starting lineup proceeds widely with the last spot. Casey Kelly, Adam Plutko, Kim Yun-shik, and Lee Min-ho have been confirmed for four spots, and Im Chan-gyu, Kim Dae-hyeon, Kang Hyo-jong, Lee Ji-gang, and Kim Yoo-young are aiming for the remaining one spot. Regarding Kim Dae-hyeon, who recently completed active military service, Coach Kyung said, “I made a really good body while serving in the military. He also lost a lot of weight. He is a player who played both starting and middle, but he plans to digest the starting program at camp.”
On the other hand, starting pitcher Son Ju-yeong was included in the roster despite undergoing rehabilitation after undergoing elbow ligament surgery last year. I am not aiming for the opening day starter, but I am heading to Arizona to digest the rehabilitation program in a better environment. Coach Kyung said, “Son Ju-young has come to the final stage of ITP. But he has no intention of rushing. He decided to go to Arizona with me so he could rehab in a warmer place,” he explained.