Korean baseballers endure tough internal competition

By Yoon Chul

South Korean national baseball team members are involved in an invisible but inevitable competition among themselves for a place in the starting line-up at Asian Games scheduled for next month in Guangzhou.

The national team managed by Cho Bun-hyun of the Kia Tigers collected members for training Monday for the gold medal, knowing they must beat strong contenders, Taiwan and Japan.

Among the positions the toughest to get will be center field.

Left and right field are likely to be given to Kim Hyun-soo of the Doosan Bears, dubbed the “hitting machine” with a .317 batting average and 24 home runs, and Choo Shin-soo of the Cleveland Indians, who joined the 20-20 club with 22 dingers and 22 steals for the second straight year batting .300 as a full time Major Leaguer.

However, for center field, Lee Jong-wook of the Bears, Lee Yong-kyu of the Tigers and Kim Kang-min of the SK Wyverns will be in a heated competition.

Additionally, both Lees are competing for the leadoff hitter in the line-up with second baseman Jung Keun-woo of the Wyverns.

According to observers Cho will put Kim Hyun-soo in as second batter, while Choo, Lee Dae-ho of the Giants and Kim Tae-kyun of Chiba Lotte Marines will be the clean-up trio in the middle.

In the second World Baseball Classic in 2009, the three sluggers generated five homers and 20 RBIs in nine games. At that time Lee didn’t have an impact but he proved himself this season in the Korea Baseball Organization topping seven of the eight offensive categories with a .364 batting average, 44 home runs and 133 RBIs.

As catcher, veteran Park Kyung-wan of the Wyverns will be behind the plate, backed up by Kang Min-ho of the Giants.

Park, who is injured, said he joined the squad as Cho called him up personally.

“To be honest, I really don’t want to come here because my physical condition wasn’t strong enough,” Park said.

“We have to grab gold, and as I have joined the team, I will do my best,” added Park.

Due to Park’s damaged Achilles tendon, Kang may play not only against weak teams but also strong contenders.

At the mound, only No. 1 pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin of the Hanwha Eagles has been confirmed to pitch against Taiwan in the opener, and in the expected final game.

Korea is in Group B with Taiwan, Hong Kong and Pakistan, while Japan, China, Thailand and Mongolia are in Group A.

The top two of each group will advance to the semifinals.

yc@koreatimes.co.kr