By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Park Chan-ho and Lee Seung-yeop were included in the second preliminary roster for the World Baseball Classic (WBC), while Baek Cha-seung is out.
Manager Kim In-sik and his coaching staff held a meeting in Seoul Friday, and announced an entry, comprised of 32 players, for the baseball world cup.
Initially, they planned to finalize the 28-player roster, but whether Park and Lee would play for South Korea, a semifinalist in the inaugural event, is not certain, they extended to 32, including four reserves.
Park, who has signed a one-year deal with the World Series champions Philadelphia Phillies recently, and Lee, who had the worst season of his career in 2008 with the Yomiuri Giants, has said they will not participate in the WBC to focus on a new season.
But the Korean squad has courted those veterans, who provided strong performances on an international level.
``We planned to finalize the roster today, but variables in Park and Lee postponed it,'' the 61-year-old manager Kim said.
``I think the final roster is likely to come after Jan. 10, 2009.''
As for Baek of the San Diego Padres, his pick has been controversial because he acquired American citizenship in 2005.
Kim also dropped Lee Byung-kyu of the Chunich Dragons and Lee Hye-chun of the Yakult Swallows from the initial roster, issued on Dec. 1.
The final roster has to be submitted to the WBC organizing committee by Feb. 22 2009.