Veteran reliever confident he can make WBC team

Noh Kyung-eun of the SSG Landers speaks after receiving the trophy for the Fair Play Award at the Golden Glove ceremony at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

When Korea opens its first training camp for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in January in Saipan, SSG Landers reliever Noh Kyung-eun will be the team's oldest player at 41. And the durable right-hander will be out to prove that he wasn't called up to camp just to be the proverbial adult in the room and that he can make the final team on merit.

"I may get cut during the first camp," Noh said with a mischievous grin while discussing the upcoming trip Tuesday evening before the Golden Glove award ceremony in Seoul. Noh was the winner of this year's Fair Play Award, given to the player who best exhibits sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct on and off the field.

"But seriously, I am confident I can make the team. I've been working hard to get into shape," Noh continued. "Ultimately, it will be up to the coaching staff to make that decision. I am just going to go out there and do my thing."

SSG Landers reliever Noh Kyung-eun pitches against the Samsung Lions during Game 2 of the first-round series in the Korea Baseball Organization postseason at Incheon SSG Landers Field in Incheon, Oct. 11. Yonhap

If Noh pitches the way he has the last couple of years in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), then manager Ryu Ji-hyun will have no other choice but to take Noh to the WBC.

Since 2023, no KBO pitcher has made more appearances than Noh's 230, and he also leads all relievers with 246 2/3 innings and 103 holds. Among all relievers with at least 150 games during that three-year stretch, Noh has the lowest ERA at 2.88, with no one else sitting below 3.00.

And Noh has led the KBO in holds in each of the past two seasons, with 38 in 2024 and 35 in 2025. Noh can no longer blow by hitters the way he once did but he has still done an effective job minimizing damage. He served up only two home runs in 80 innings in 2025.

In recent years, the national baseball team has kept older players at home and has instead taken 20-something youngsters, and in some cases teenagers, to tournaments to give them an early taste of international baseball. However, after his young hurlers struggled against Japan in two exhibition games in Tokyo in November, Ryu spoke of the need for some veteran presence on his pitching staff.

Given his ability and experience, Noh can be a perfect fit.

"Honestly, this may be my last chance to play for the national team," Noh said. "I will do whatever I can to help the team and try to be there for younger guys."

Noh's only previous national team stint came at the 2013 WBC, a tournament that Noh admits was "a disaster" for Korea.

In that 2013 tournament, four years after going on a heady run to the championship final, Korea failed to make it out of the preliminary round. Losing to the Netherlands 5-0 in the tournament opener essentially sealed Korea's fate. Noh gave up three hits and a walk in relief while allowing two inherited runners to score.

He pitched better in the next two games, against Australia and then Chinese Taipei, but Korea couldn't get out of its early hole.

"That was a disaster and we've got to make sure it doesn't happen again," Noh said. Korea also suffered early elimination in the preliminary stage in 2017 and 2023.

Noh said he learned an important lesson for himself from 2013.

"Back then, I ramped up more quickly than anyone on the team, and I was the first one that started throwing in the 150s (in kilometers per hour)," he said. "But I think I threw too much, too hard going into that tournament. I should pace myself better this time around."

The KBO submitted its provisional roster of 35 players to the WBC organizing committee on Dec. 3 but it was not allowed to reveal the names due to tournament regulations.

The deadline to finalize the 30-man roster is Feb. 3. The 2026 WBC runs from March 5 to 17. Noh will turn 42 on March 11.