Korean nationwide baseball group supervisor Ryu Ji-hyun revealed Wednesday half-Korean star Tommy Edman had turned down a possibility to symbolize the nation of his mom’s delivery on the 2026 World Baseball Traditional (WBC) two months in the past.
With the nationwide group additionally gauging curiosity amongst different U.S.-born Main League Baseball (MLB) gamers of Korean descent, Ryu mentioned he expects extra readability on that entrance in January, two months earlier than the match.
Edman, utility participant for the Los Angeles Dodgers, may have proper ankle surgical procedure subsequent week, normal supervisor Brandon Gomes instructed reporters on the MLB GM Conferences in Las Vegas on Tuesday (native time).
Edman, born to a Korean mom and an American father, performed for Korea on the earlier WBC in 2023, changing into the primary participant of combined heritage to compete for the nationwide baseball group right here. Korea did not make it out of the preliminary spherical, nonetheless, and Edman batted simply 2-for-11.
Though Gomes mentioned Edman, the 2021 Nationwide League Gold Glove winner at second base, could possibly be prepared for spring coaching in February, the participant had instructed Ryu in September that he would not have the ability to play on the upcoming WBC in March.
“I met Edman in September, and he instructed me he was going to have ankle surgical procedure after the season. He did not need that data out within the media, and so I had stored quiet on that till now,” Ryu instructed reporters at Gimpo Worldwide Airport in Seoul earlier than touring to Tokyo for a pair of pre-WBC tuneup video games towards Japan. “He mentioned he actually needed to redeem himself this time after not enjoying in addition to he’d hoped in 2023, however mentioned he will not have the ability to play due to his ankle. He mentioned he would like to play when he will get one other alternative.”
Ryu and his workers have additionally spoken with different gamers of combined heritage, with Jahmai Jones of the Detroit Tigers being a robust candidate.
Jones, 28, additionally has a Korean mom. The correct-handed hitting outfielder is contemporary off his greatest MLB season, with a .287/.387/.550 line in 72 video games. On a Korean group heavy with left-handed hitters, Jones can supply some punch on the appropriate facet of the plate.
Ryu mentioned earlier this month that Jones had expressed a robust need to play for Korea when the 2 met in September, although the supervisor insisted it will likely be in the end as much as the Tigers whether or not Jones will likely be out there.
“We’re doing all we are able to to carry good gamers over right here, however it’s tough to say with any certainty at this level which gamers will be a part of us,” Ryu mentioned. “We’ll submit our provisional roster in December after which MLB groups will likely be notified of our picks. And we should always have higher concepts by January.”
