Korean pitcher to miss World Baseball Classic

Veteran left-handed pitcher Bong Jung-keun will miss the World Baseball Classic (WBC) next year because of shoulder problems, Korean national team officials said yesterday.

Bong, a 32-year-old closer for the LG Twins in the Korea Baseball Organization, will undergo up to four months of rehab on his left shoulder, according to Yang Sang-moon, the national team’s bench coach.

Bong, who previously pitched for the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds in Major League Baseball, has represented Korea at the first two editions of the WBC, in 2006 and 2009.

“We were counting on Bong to play an important role at the upcoming WBC,” Yang said. “Now, we’re faced with some problems as far as operating our bullpen.” At the inaugural WBC in 2006, Bong pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in three games out of the bullpen.

He had his star turn at the 2009 tournament, where he made three starts against Korea’s archrival, Japan, and won two games, with a 0.51 ERA.

Yonhap