ⓒ JoongAng Ilbo/JoongAng Ilbo Japanese version2024.11.18 08:02
South Korea failed to qualify for the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier 12. Korea, with two wins and two losses, will play the final match of Group B in the opening round against Australia at Tianmu Stadium in Taipei, Taiwan at 1 pm on the 18th, but it was decided that they would be eliminated as early as the previous day, on the 17th. Japan defeated Cuba 7-6 and Taiwan defeated Australia 11-3, resulting in both countries taking first and second place in Group B, respectively, and advancing to the Super Round (final four).
In the Premier 12, only the 1st and 2nd place in their group will pass through the qualifying round. Even though Korea with 2 wins and 2 losses won their final match against Australia and are tied with Taiwan with 3 wins and 2 losses, they will be eliminated because they lost in a direct match with Taiwan. As a result, Venezuela and the United States will pass through the opening round in Group A, and Japan and Taiwan will play in Group B, and the Super Round will begin at the Tokyo Dome in Japan from the 21st.
This is the first time that South Korea has been eliminated from the qualifying round in the Premier 12. He won the first tournament in 2015. In 2019, they lost to Japan in the final and were runners-up. South Korea, which is undergoing a generational change, has composed its national team mainly of young players in their early 20s ahead of this tournament. The decision was made to increase the international competitiveness of Korean baseball from a medium- to long-term perspective, but the difference in strength against Asian rivals Japan and Taiwan became apparent, leaving some issues unsolved.
Although there were some disappointments in the process and results, there were also gains. Above all, it is significant that we discovered a reliable closing pitcher in Park Yong-hyun (21, KT Wiz). Park Young-hyeon took the mound after one out in the 8th inning of the fourth game against the Minica Republic held at Cheonmu Stadium on the 16th, trailing 4-6, and pitched 2/3 of an inning without allowing a run. Manager Ryu Jung-il’s bet paid off, as he was delayed in making pitcher changes in the games against Taiwan and Japan. Park Young-hyun allowed a hit to the first batter in the top of the 8th inning, but was stabbed by the first baseman. He ended the inning by striking out Frank Rodriguez. Korea, with a new atmosphere, turned the game around with an attack in the 8th inning. In the 8th inning, with one out and one out, Song Seung-moon hit a timely hit to the right field from first and third base, and Park Sung-han hit a two-RBI triple to right-center field, making the score 7-6. Furthermore, Choi Won-jun’s double and Hong Chang-ki’s hit to center field widened the lead to 9-6.
Park Young-hyun, who took the mound in the ninth inning, allowed a hit to the first batter, but closed out the game with a left-field fly ball and a double play grounder. Park Young-hyun, who pitched no runs in the first inning against Cuba, said, “My seniors encouraged me, saying, “If you keep the eighth inning scoreless, we’ll definitely turn things around.” I believed in those words and pitched with all my might. “I’m happy that our team won a come-from-behind game,” he said with a laugh.
Manager Ryu Jung-il decided on Park Young-hyun as the closing pitcher early on. Of the five closers representing the KBO (Korean Professional Baseball) League, including Jeong Hae-young, Yoo Young-chan, Kanazawa Yeon, and Cho Byeong-hyun, Park Young-hyun’s pitching power is the best. This is because of the judgment that Manager Ryu expressed his strong confidence in Park, saying, “Park Young-hyun is a talented talent who will become the best closing pitcher in Korean baseball in the future.”
Park Young-hyun, who graduated from Yushin High School and made his debut wearing the KT uniform in 2022, has improved his skills and gained experience at last year’s Hangzhou Asian Games and this year’s Premier 12. When he first joined the team, there was a strong impression that he was just a pitcher who could hit the ball fast, but he has improved his game management skills and developed into a pitcher who is difficult to beat. Park said, “At last year’s Asian Games, I felt like I was pitching without knowing anything.In this Premier 12, I am pitching carefully with the idea of “testing myself.”Fortunately, I have received many opportunities. However, I want to continue to be a pitcher who can take on the responsibility of being the closer for the national team.”
