After watching his younger pitchers battle to search out the strike zone in two exhibition video games towards Japan over the weekend, South Korea supervisor Ryu Ji-hyun got here away satisfied he’ll want some regular veteran presence on his youthful group for subsequent 12 months’s World Baseball Traditional (WBC).
Ryu and the nationwide group returned dwelling Monday afternoon after recording a loss and a tie in two video games towards the Samurai Japan at Tokyo Dome.
South Korea misplaced the primary recreation 11-4, with the pitching employees coughing up a 3-0 lead and issuing 9 walks.
South Korea once more blew a 3-0 lead within the second recreation, with its pitchers strolling 12 batters — together with 4 with the bases loaded. Kim Ju-won’s solo shot with two outs within the backside of the ninth inning helped safe a 7-7 tie.
“When new faces be a part of forces with a number of gamers who performed in these video games, then we must always have the ability to put collectively an entire group,” Ryu informed reporters at Gimpo Worldwide Airport in Seoul. “I used to be in a position to develop conviction on that entrance by way of these two video games.”
The common age of Ryu’s pitching employees was about 22 years previous, and a few of the older pitchers, just like the 26-year-old Son Ju-young and the 25-year-old Gained Tae-in, did not even pitch in Tokyo as a consequence of their put on and tear from an extended Korea Baseball Group (KBO) season.
Ryu blamed his younger hurlers’ management points on a number of components, together with their normal unfamiliarity with the WBC official ball in play, the strike zone known as by human umpires versus the automated ball-strike system within the KBO, and the stress of enjoying Japan, South Korea’s longtime sporting rival.
“Some pitchers nonetheless managed to carry out to the most effective of their talents in that circumstance,” Ryu added. “And if they’ll gel with veterans, then I consider we could have a fair higher pitching employees.”
Amongst older gamers that might be known as as much as coaching camp in January is the Hanwha Eagles left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin, who might be nearing his thirty ninth birthday at the beginning of the WBC. The previous Nationwide League All-Star and Main League Baseball ERA champion helped South Korea win the 2008 Olympic gold medal and has pitched in his share of massive worldwide video games.
The supervisor stated he was usually happy with the efficiency of his place gamers, particularly that of outfielder Ahn Hyun-min. A number one candidate for the KBO Rookie of the Yr award this fall, Ahn homered in each video games in Tokyo Dome whereas additionally drawing three walks and scoring thrice from the No. 2 spot.
“We felt he can be an ideal match as our No. 2 hitter earlier than these video games and he had a very good efficiency,” Ryu stated. “With the boldness he is gained from these video games, I’m certain he’ll play properly on the WBC.”
