[National baseball team coach Ryu Joong-il, “It is premature to mention the selection of Ryu Hyun-jin “I will watch.”]

Ryu Hyun-jin is doing bullpen pitching during the Hanwha Eagles' second spring camp training held at Gochinda Stadium in Okinawa, Japan on the 23rd.

Coach Ryu Joong-il (61), who was appointed as the full-time head coach of the national baseball team, did not say anything about the selection of Ryu Hyun-jin (37, Hanwha Eagles), who showed a desire for the Taegeuk symbol.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced on the 23rd that it had appointed manager Ryu Joong-il as the head coach of the national baseball team.

Coach Ryu successfully achieved a generational change in the baseball team last year, achieving achievements such as a gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games and a runner-up finish at the Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC).

The KBO abolished the full-time manager system for the baseball team after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and has been selecting managers for each international competition.

However, after the disaster of being eliminated in the first round at the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC), the need for a full-time manager emerged. Accordingly, after careful consideration after completing the APBC, the KBO chose Coach Ryu as the full-time manager.

Coach Ryu's term ends until the 2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier 12, which will be held in November. The KBO is expected to extend coach Ryu's contract until the 2026 WBC based on his performance in the Premier 12.

Manager Ryu will make his debut as a full-time manager through the Major League Baseball (MLB) Seoul Series special game to be held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul next month. The national team will face the San Diego Padres at 7 p.m. on March 17th and the Los Angeles Dodgers at 12 p.m. on the 18th.

The national team that will play in the Major League Seoul Series special game is composed mainly of young players, like the Hangzhou Asian Games and APBC. Previously, KBO announced a reserve list of 35 players, including Moon Dong-ju, Noh Si-hwan (Hanwha), and Kim Hye-seong (Kiwoom).

Coach Ryu said, “Last year, the generational change in the national team gave me and the rest of the team great confidence. “I will do my best to achieve excellent results in international competitions through systematic management of the national team in the future,” he said in his inauguration speech.

He continued, “Just playing against a major league team comprised of the best players is a great honor and valuable experience. “It will be of great help to the growth of young players,” he said, adding, “Personally, I have high expectations.”

While games against major league teams are focused on 'growth', the Premier12, where the top 12 teams in baseball rankings compete, must produce 'results'.

There is also a possibility that a veteran will be selected to help young players. In particular, there is interest in whether Ryu Hyun-jin, who recently ended his career in the major league and returned to Hanwha, will wear the Taegeuk symbol again.

Ryu Hyun-jin played as the national team's ace and contributed to the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, runner-up in the 2009 WBC, and gold medal at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. After entering the major league at the end of 2012, he was not selected for the national team.

Ryu Joong-il, coach of the Korean national baseball team, is entering the game between Korea and Japan in the final of the '2023 Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC)' held at Tokyo Dome in Japan on the afternoon of the 19th.

Ryu Hyun-jin, who returned to the KBO League, said, “I don’t know if they will select me, but I want to wear the Taegeuk symbol and play for the national team one more time.”

Coach Ryu, who heard this story, said he was cautious about commenting on Ryu Hyun-jin's selection. Right now, we need to focus on the major league team and games, and after the regular season opens, we need to look at Ryu Hyun-jin's physical condition and skills.

Coach Ryu said, “It is too early to talk about Ryu Hyun-jin’s selection to the national team. The decision of the Power Enhancement Committee is also necessary. There is still time. “I will also watch (Ryu Hyun-jin) in the future,” he said.

He said, “Basically, the Premier 12 national team plans to select players with an eye on the 2026 WBC and the 2028 LA Olympics. After the special game, we plan to diligently visit baseball stadiums across the country to check on the players (in preparation for the Premier 12). “I am curious to see what kind of performance the young players who have grown through the Asian Games and APBC will perform,” he said.

스포츠토토; https://www.sportstotomen.com

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Pub: 24 Feb 2024 02:14 UTC
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