SSG Landers pitcher Park Sung-hwan expressed deep regret over missing the World Baseball Classic (WBC) finals due to injury. “I really wanted to pitch in the finals, but I got hurt,” he stated during spring training.
Career Highlights and Setback
Park contributed to South Korea’s success at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and the 2024 Premier12 tournament. However, an injury during a November friendly against Yemen disrupted his momentum ahead of the national team selection.
In the WBC, South Korea faced the Czech Republic with two games in Korea, followed by two against Japan at Tokyo Dome. Selected for the team, Park struggled to generate offense in the Czech matchup and took a comebacker to the body.
Comeback at Spring Camp
At SSG’s Vero Beach, Florida, spring camp, Park smashed a 135 km/h comebacker during batting practice. “I hit it squarely and saw the full swing, reaching 135 km/h. It felt great, like ‘Okay~ that’s solid,’ and I went out for one round,” he recalled. Even the coach approved, boosting his confidence and restoring momentum.
Another check swing further strengthened his drive. Park admitted initial anxiety from inadequate warm-up but confirmed full recovery. “I was 100% over it,” he said, emphasizing continuous learning and steady improvement.
He avoided 135 km/h throws to teammates for safety, noting, “Pitching at 135 km/h to hitters isn’t wise—too risky.” Teammates like Kim Hye-seong and Song Sung-mun teased him about it.
Tokyo Challenges and Lessons
After securing a win against the Czechs, heightened finals anticipation faded as South Korea failed to sweep the Tokyo Dome games. “In Saudi Arabia, I managed tension well during warm-ups, but in Tokyo, I didn’t,” Park reflected. Heavy training helped regain form, and he now maintains 100% conditioning.
Despite readiness, WBC entry differed. Team dynamics and injuries to stars like Kim Ha-seong and Song Sung-mun prevented Park from joining the primary camp. NC Dinos’ Kim Juwon topped the entry rankings instead.
“This WBC meant even more to me—the biggest stage yet. I wanted it badly, but injury prevented it. No regrets now; Kim Juwon deserves the spot. I need to build strength steadily,” Park concluded with determination.
