By Baek Byung-yeul
St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Oh Seung-hwan is scheduled to throw Saturday during his team’s first spring exhibition game against the Miami Marlins.
Oh is currently participating in the Major League team’s spring training in Jupiter, Florida. He has done some live pitching starting Sunday. After pitching against the Marlins, the 34-year-old Korean will return to Korea to compete at the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Oh is the only big leaguer representing South Korea in the international baseball tournament.
In his first major league season last year, Oh took over the closer role in the midst of the season and recorded 19 saves with an ERA of 1.92 in 79 2/3 innings. The Cardinals’ manager Mike Matheny recently told local a St. Louis newspaper that Oh will continue his role as a closer this season.
“As far as Oh stands, he’s going to be our guy who gets the ball late in the game,” Matheny told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Thursday.
“He was huge for us last year. I don’t think he’s capable of being scared. He’s special.
“I hope his English continues to improve because I think he’s got a lot to teach our guys. The way he’s gone about his business has been very impressive so far.”
Being paired with Chinese Taipei, Netherlands and Israel in Pool A, the Korean national team will have its first match with Israel at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on March 6.