Seoul: The national baseball team, composed of some of the most prominent players from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), convened for their inaugural practice session in Seoul on Tuesday, as they prepare for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, officials reported.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) confirmed that all 24 team members, under the leadership of manager Ryu Ji-hyun, participated in the initial training at Gocheok Sky Dome. South Korea is aiming for its fifth consecutive Asian Games gold medal in central Japan later this month.
KBO officials noted that Kim Do-yeong of the Kia Tigers participated in the practice with protection on his nose, which was surgically repaired after a recent injury. Kim had broken his nose when a bunt attempt led to a ball striking his face during a KBO game last week. However, after surgery on Thursday, Kim was back in action by Sunday, contributing three runs from three hits. With 40 home runs this season, Kim is anticipated to be a key player in Ryu's lineup.
The KBO also reported that Moon Bo-gyeong of the LG Twins and Lee Jae-hyeon of the Samsung Lions, both nursing minor injuries, were active participants in the practice. Hanwha Eagles' infielder Roh Si-hwan, aged 25, was named team captain, bringing experience to a squad predominantly comprised of players under 24. According to a KBO official, Roh's outgoing personality makes him an ideal bridge between the team's older and younger members.
The national team engaged in conditioning drills on Tuesday and planned to focus on hitting, running, and fielding drills for about three hours on Wednesday. They are scheduled to face a minor league club in a practice match on Thursday before traveling to Nagoya, the primary host city in Japan, on Friday. Despite being based in Nagoya, all games will occur outside the city.
South Korea's initial matchup in Group B is set against Chinese Taipei at 6:30 p.m. on Monday at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Baseball Stadium in Okazaki, approximately 50 kilometers southeast of Nagoya. Their subsequent game is against Hong Kong at 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday at Toyohashi Municipal Baseball Stadium in Toyohashi, about 85 km southeast of Nagoya, followed by a game against Thailand in Okazaki at noon on Sept. 23.
Ryu Ji-hyun expressed confidence that traveling would not pose a challenge for the team. The tournament format divides eight teams into two groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Super Round on Sept. 25 and 26. The final is slated for Sept. 27 in Toyohashi. While Ryu has yet to announce the starting pitcher for the pivotal opening game against Chinese Taipei, which is expected to be a formidable opponent, the team remains focused on their gold medal aspirations.