“I was surprised too.”

Kang Baek-ho (24, KT Wiz) said right after the final entry (30 players) of the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was announced on the 4th. He couldn’t hide his embarrassment. 

The possibility of Kang Baek-ho joining the national team was not high. He is a player who has taken an elite course, such as winning the rookie of the year in 2018 and 토토 winning the Golden Glove (first baseman category) in the 2020-2021 season, but this is because he suffered from toe and hamstring injuries in the 2022 season and only played 62 games. His batting average last season was also just .245. 

When asked about his willingness to participate in the WBC after the end of last season, Baekho Kang calmly said, “I don’t think I dare to wish for it. As it is a tournament held in March, players who did well in the 2022 season should participate. I don’t expect (selection for the national team).” . 

National team coach Lee Kang-cheol struggled with the selection of the first baseman. Park Byung-ho (KT), the home run king in the 2022 season, had to undergo rehabilitation treatment for a right ankle injury suffered at the end of last season all winter long. Major leaguer Choi Ji-man also needed time to recover after undergoing surgery to remove bone fragments in his elbow last November. Choi Ji-man’s team (Pittsburgh Pirates) was not allowed to 안전놀이터 participate in the WBC.

Coach Lee Kang-cheol had Chae Eun-seong (Hanwha Eagles) in mind as the number one substitute until mid-November last year. An alternative to selecting Oh Jae-il (Samsung Lions), who has solid defensive basics, was also considered.