“I have a great responsibility.”
Park Dong-won (LG Twins), the “home lady” of the Korean baseball team, lowered his head.
Park Dong-won served as the main catcher of the Korean representative team in the 2024 WBSC Premiere12. In 130 games this season, Park Dong-won, who has a batting average of 0.272118, 20 home runs, 80 RBIs and 58 points, has strengthened LG’s entry into autumn baseball and realized his dream of joining the national team at the age of 34.
The results are also very good. Park Dong-won, who had one hit and one RBI in the first game against Taiwan, also had one hit in the second game against Cuba.
And in the third game against Japan, he performed very well. He hit a home run against Japan’s starting pitcher Hirohito Takahashi (Chunichi Dragons). This was his first home run for the National Team. Takahashi ranks first in ERA not only in the Nippon Professional Baseball Central League, but also in the two major leagues. Takahashi has achieved 12 wins and 4 losses with an ERA of 1.38 in 21 games this season. It is worth noting that he only allowed one home run in 143.2 innings. In the game against Yakult on September 10, Takahashi’s home run by Murakami was his only home run, but he was hit by Park Dong-won 66 days later. He also had 2 hits in the 4th game against the Dominican Republic.
Although the individual results were good, the team results were not ideal. The South Korean team lost the first match against Taiwan and the third match against Japan, finishing in third place with 3 wins and 2 losses. This is a very regrettable result for the Korean team, which won the first championship in 2015 and the runner-up in the second competition in 2019. Park Dong-won also said: “It is really regrettable that the first international competition held in the national team uniform ended like this.
During the match against the Australian team, Park Dong-won handed his mask to Kim Hyung-joon (NC) and cheered for his teammates on the bench. After the match against the Australian team, Park Dong-won said, “It’s really a dream come true, and I feel very regretful.” Everyone should be looking forward to it, but I’m sorry that it didn’t meet your expectations. Although I don’t know if I will have the opportunity next time, I will try my best to be prepared and live up to everyone’s expectations. I know Korean baseball is very strong.”
He continued: “The position of the national team is a position that creates desire. So I feel even more regretful. I should have done a better job and went to Japan, but I couldn’t go, so I can only say I’m sorry.”
Hitting a home run against Takahashi, the pitcher who ranked first in ERA in the two major leagues of Nippon Professional Baseball, was a very meaningful game for individuals, but due to the poor performance of the team, it was impossible to laugh about it. The sound comes.
Park Dong-won said: “I lost to Japan and Taiwan, and I have nothing to say. But facing a strong team, I didn’t seem to lose in vain. Although I tried my best, it was a pity that I lost the game.” “It’s not just me. Only if a person does well can he go to Japan. As an older brother, I have a lot of responsibility for not being able to lead the younger brothers.”
But there is also hope. Young pitchers such as Park Young-hyun (KT), Kim Seo-hyun (Hanwha), and Kim Tae-yeon (Doosan) showed good form.
Park Dong-won also said: “I think they are very good players. Because of these players, baseball in the Republic of Korea will develop a lot. As time goes by, if they grow a little more and participate in international competitions, I think they will show A good look. If everyone looks forward to the next competition, I believe we will achieve better results.”
[台北(台湾)=MK体育记者李正源]
