Korea to lean on young stars at WBSC Premier12

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Korea to lean on young stars at WBSC Premier12

Published: 11 Nov. 2024, 10:18

Kim Do-yeong cheers after drawing a walk in Game 5 of the Korean Series at Gwangju Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on Oct. 28. [YONHAP]

Armed with some of the brightest young stars and top closers in its domestic league, Korea will eye a berth in the final four at the upcoming international baseball tournament in Taipei.

Starting Wednesday, Korea will compete in the third edition of the WBSC Premier12. Managed by Ryu Joong-il, Korea will open Group B action against Chinese Taipei at Taipei Dome on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. local time, or 7:30 p.m. in Seoul.

Korea will then play Cuba on Thursday, Japan on Friday, the Dominican Republic on Saturday and Australia on Monday.

The top two teams after round-robin play will qualify for the Super Round, up against the top two from Group A, whose teams are the host country Mexico, the United States, Venezuela, Panama, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands.

For this year's tournament, Ryu put together a young roster of 28 players from the KBO, as Korea tries to give its youngsters some international exposure and build up for the 2026 World Baseball Classic and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Only four of the 28 players are over 30 years of age, and 18 players are 25 or younger.

Leading the youthful core is Kia Tigers third baseman Kim Do-yeong, the presumptive winner of this year's KBO regular-season MVP award.

Kim, who turned 21 in October, took the league by storm in his third season. He launched 38 home runs and stole 40 bases, becoming the youngest player in league history with a 30-30 campaign and falling two homers shy of only the second 40-40 season in the KBO. Kim also set a single-season record with 143 runs scored, and batted .347 with 189 hits, ranking third overall in both categories.

Kim led the league in slugging percentage with .647 and on-base plus slugging (OPS) with 1.067.

Doosan Bears closer Kim Taek-yeon is the youngest Korean player at the tournament at 19. He is regarded as a shoo-in for the Rookie of the Year award this season after recording 19 saves, the most ever in a season by a rookie pitcher coming straight from high school.

Kim Taek-yeon appears for Korea during a practice game with Taiwanese club Wei Chuan Dragons at Tianmu Baseball Stadium in Taipei on Sunday. [YONHAP]

Kim and four other relievers are closers for their respective KBO clubs, a group that includes Tigers ninth-inning man Jung Hai-young, who led the league with 31 saves this year.

Manager Ryu has decided to go with a four-man rotation for the five games in the preliminary round. Whoever starts the first game against Chinese Taipei will get the nod against Australia in the final game on four days' rest.

Ryu said last Tuesday that he had decided on the starter for the opening game but chose not to disclose the name.

His four starters are: Im Chan-kyu of the LG Twins, Ko Young-pyo of the KT Wiz, and two Bears teammates, Gwak Been and Choi Seung-yong. Im and Ko are also the only two pitchers older than 30.

Ryu's hands were tied due to injuries to a trio of 25-or-under starters — Won Tae-in of the Samsung Lions, Moon Dong-ju of the Hanwha Eagles and Son Ju-young of the Twins — who would have otherwise made the team.

In addition to the quintet of closers, the national team features two key relievers from the Tigers, the 2024 Korean Series champions, in left-handers Choi Ji-min and Kwak Do-gyu. They are also the only two left-handed relievers for Korea.

Lee Young-ha of the Bears and So Hyeong-jun of the Wiz are both former starters who can eat up multiple innings out of the bullpen in a pinch.

Kim Seo-hyeon pitches for Korea during a practice game with Taiwanese club Wei Chuan Dragons at Tianmu Baseball Stadium in Taipei on Sunday. [NEWS1]

Kim Seo-hyeon of the Eagles is the wild card in the bullpen. The second-year pro is one of the hardest throwers in the KBO but has experienced control issues over the past two seasons, as attested by 55 walks in 60 2/3 innings. If the 20-year-old can harness his fastballs and mix them with sliders, he can be a valuable option in high-leverage situations.

On offense, Kim Do-yeong is the obvious power threat. But only two others finished this KBO season with more than 20 homers: Infielder Moon Bo-gyeong and catcher Park Dong-won, both of the Twins.

A couple of Lotte Giants players, infielder Na Seung-yeup and outfielder Yoon Dong-hee, are intriguing talents. Na had an excellent finish to his season, batting .370 with a .940 OPS in his final 24 games. Yoon enjoyed the best season of his three-year career in 2024 with 14 home runs, 85 RBIs and a .293/.376/.453 line, all of them new personal highs. Yoon homered twice in three tuneup games for Korea.

Kiwoom Heroes third baseman Song Sung-mun has been named team captain. The 28-year-old is fresh off his most productive campaign with a .340/.409/.518 line, 19 home runs and 21 steals.

Yonhap