Korea manager being careful with 2 key right-handers following long KBO seasons
Korean pitcher Won Tae-in chats with a teammate during a practice session at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, Nov. 7. Yonhap
With Korea scheduled to play its rival Japan in a pair of exhibition baseball games in Tokyo this weekend, manager Ryu Ji-hyun is being tight-lipped about his usage plans for his top two right-handed starters, Won Tae-in of the Samsung Lions and Moon Dong-ju of the Hanwha Eagles.
Won has already appeared in 10 games for the national team at age 25. Moon, 21, pitched Korea to the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games with a scoreless outing in the final against Chinese Taipei. Both have been among the best homegrown starting pitchers in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in recent years and are expected to carry the big load at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March next year.
However, neither pitched in Korea's two wins over the Czech Republic in Seoul over the weekend. It remains unclear if either of them will toe the rubber when Korea's WBC prep continues at Tokyo Dome this weekend.
"The most important thing is to have our players in their best physical condition possible for the WBC next March. This is not the time to push them too hard," Ryu told reporters after a practice session at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Tuesday, the eve of his team's departure for Japan. "Both Won Tae-in and Moon Dong-ju enjoyed great seasons this year, and they are important pitchers for us. That's why we have to take the long view. I will let you know if they are ready to pitch against Japan."
Both right-handers set career highs in innings, regular season and postseason combined. Won went 12-4 with a 3.24 ERA in 166 2/3 innings — his fifth straight season of at least 150 — and logged 17 2/3 more innings in three rounds in the postseason.
When asked about his chances of pitching in Tokyo, Won said, "Nothing has been finalized. I will have to speak with the manager once we are in Japan."
Moon threw 121 innings in the regular season, while winning a career-high 11 games, and tossed an additional 11 1/3 innings across four outings in two rounds of the postseason.
Moon touched 161 kilometers per hour with his signature fastball in his first postseason game in relief, but when he started Game 5 of the Korean Series, Moon's fastballs sat in the low 140s. He was pulled after the first inning.
The Eagles confirmed Moon had not suffered any injury, but the national team staff has not been in any rush to put Moon back on the mound.
"I've managed in the KBO for two years, and teams have their own guidelines on protecting players. Won and Moon have already surpassed innings thresholds set by their clubs," Ryu said. "It would be so foolish if we only chase short-term goals here and something happens to these players."
Before boarding his Tokyo-bound flight Wednesday afternoon, Moon said he will try to stay ready to pitch.
"I've been talking a great deal with my manager and coaches here, and I've been training really hard," Moon said. "I don't know how things will play out, but I will try my best to be ready. I don't think I will be asked to throw that many innings, but if I take the mound, I want to keep Japan off the board."