Tokyo: This was probably the one starting assignment that no South Korean pitcher wanted to take at the World Baseball Classic (WBC), and when sidearm pitcher Ko Young-pyo was told late last month that he would face Japan, he had a million thoughts going through his mind. "They are the defending champion and there's no hole in that lineup," Ko told a small group of reporters before South Korea played Czechia on Thursday at Tokyo Dome, two days before his scheduled start. At that point, South Korea manager Ryu Ji-hyun had not yet announced his pitching plans beyond Thursday's opening game against Czechia.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Ko initially felt nervous about how he should pitch to Japan's formidable lineup, but eventually decided to adopt an aggressive approach on the mound. He expressed his intent to throw as many innings as possible within the pitch count limits set for the WBC. In the first round, pitchers are capped at 65 pitches, with limits increasing as the tournament progresses.

Ko's career with the KT Wiz in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has been successful, yet his international record tells a different story. Over six international games, including the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and the 2023 WBC, he holds a 0-2 record with a 6.64 ERA, allowing 15 earned runs in 20 1/3 innings. Despite these struggles, Ko remains determined to improve.

Ko believes that overthinking has hindered his performance in international play. He aims to rely on his instincts and approach the WBC with an underdog mindset, despite South Korea's repeated eliminations in the first round of previous tournaments. To maintain focus, Ko has even avoided watching videos of Japanese players, choosing instead to concentrate on his own strengths.

The tournament's conditions, such as the bouncy ball and dome setting, add to the pressure, as Ko observed during a previous game between Australia and Chinese Taipei. However, he aims to clear his mind and not let these factors affect his performance. Ko's changeup, known for its unpredictable movements, remains his signature pitch, and he has been working on quickening his delivery to disrupt hitters' timing.