I hope to win and become a ‘last dance’ like the Chicago Bulls.”
Choi Jeong (36, SSG Landers) was included in the final roster for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) team to be held in March. After departing for the United States on the 25th, he trained for his team in Florida and will participate in the national team’s field training in Arizona from February 14th.
The WBC was Choi Jeong’s first Taegeuk mark experience. In 2009, when he was 22 years old, he was selected for his first adult squad at the WBC twice. He was not the main player, but he was able to taste the runner-up of the Korean national team.
Players born in the mid-1980s, including Choi Jeong, are regarded as the ‘golden generation’ who led the heyday of Korean baseball. They achieved the revival of Korean baseball from the 2008 Beijing Olympics to the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.
Time has passed, but the ‘golden generation’ is still the pillar of the national team. Kim Hyeon-soo (LG Twins) and Kim Gwang-hyeon (SSG), who were considered ‘young blood’ with Choi Jeong in 2009, will head to the WBC this time wearing the Taegeuk mark. In addition to them, other players of the same age as Yang Hyeon-jong (KIA Tigers), Park Byung-ho (KT Wiz), and Yang Eui-ji (Doosan Bears), who led professional baseball in the 2010s, also joined the national team again.
For those in their mid-30s, this tournament is virtually their last national team appearance. Choi Jeong-eun, who met with reporters before leaving for the country on the 25th, said, “I hope (the Korean national team) wins and becomes a ‘last dance’ like the Chicago Bulls.” The Last Dance is a basketball documentary aired by ESPN and OTT Netflix in the US. 메이저사이트
Choi Jeong-eun said, “I’m looking forward to this national team member because I like it, and I’m greedy.” I want to go all the way to the United States (by advancing to the semifinals).” It means a lot to be with my colleagues. He said, “I continued to play in the same team with Gwanghyeon, but it is good to be together in the national team.” I want to show (to the public) that this time it is different.”
Previously, the entry of veterans into international competitions caused controversy. Choo Shin-soo (SSG)’s remarks sparked a fire. Choo Shin-soo mentioned Kim Hyun-soo, who had participated in most of the tournaments since 2008. He once argued, “Kim Hyun-soo has the skills to represent Korea, but if it were me, I would have looked at the future.
However, in the KBO League, there is still no player in his 20s who can replace Kim Hyeon-soo, who is ranked first in left fielder WAR (4.66 based on Sports 2 I). Among left fielders in their 20s, the gap is so great that Lee Chang-jin (KIA, 2.42) ranks first. Players also put the Taegeuk mark on their skills. It is difficult to find younger players who were unfairly pushed back.
It should be noted that veterans showed top-notch skills even in their mid-30s. Park Byeong-ho, the eldest member of the national team, was sluggish in 2020-2021. He regained the Taegeuk mark with a home run (1st place) and 98 RBIs. It is not ‘Byeong-ho again’, but ‘Byeong-ho again’. To him, the Taegeuk mark is more like a medal