The Korean national team, which will participate in the World Baseball Classic (WBC), which opens in Japan on the 8th of next month, lost one of its key players. Choi Ji-man (31) of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Major League was banned from participating due to opposition from the club. National team coach Lee Kang-cheol selected SSG Landers outfielder Choi Ji-hoon (26) as a substitute for Choi Ji-man. Choi Ji-hoon played in all regular season games (144) last year, his third year as a professional, and recorded a batting average of 0.304 (173 hits in 569 at-bats) with 10 homers, 61 RBIs and 31 stolen bases.
Director Lee Kang-cheol has high expectations for Choi Ji-hoon. This is because Choi Ji-hoon has the ability to perform various roles in karate. SSG coach Kim Won-hyeong also said, “Choi Ji-hoon has enough skills to be selected for his national team,” and “especially detailed play, such as bunts and base runs, is his strength.” SSG coach Lee Jin-young, who became the ‘national right fielder’ in the 2006 WBC, also said, “Choi Ji-hoon is particularly good at defense. He will help the team win.” 온라인카지노
Rival Japan, who will face off in Group B of the group stage, is also wary of Choi Ji-hoon. Tokyo Sports recently commented, “Choi Ji-hoon is the best young outfielder in the KBO, with excellent patriotism and ability to attack, defend, and run.”
Choi Ji-hoon, whom we met on the 11th at Vero Beach Spring Camp in Florida, USA said, “I saw that article. It feels rather good to hear that the Japanese team is wary of me. He gained confidence,” he said.
Choi Ji-hoon participated in the 2018 Under-23 Baseball World Cup while attending Dongguk University and recorded a batting average of 0.333 (12 hits in 36 at-bats). And after 5 years, he put on the Taegeuk mark again and went to the WBC, where the world’s best players compete. Choi Ji-hoon said, “The WBC is a tournament with a different class. After twists and turns, I joined the national team as the last train, but I am preparing with a new mindset.”
When Choi Ji-hoon graduated from Gwangju Il High School in 2017, he was not nominated for a professional team. However, he honed his skills in college and was selected by the SK Wyverns (predecessor to SSG) in 2020. Choi Ji-hoon moves to Tucson, Arizona on the 14th to join his national team camp. Choi Ji-hoon said, “Senior Kim Kang-min playfully gave me advice, saying, ‘The person who saves the country is fixed anyway, so don’t feel pressured and just do what you feel comfortable doing. He wants to play even a small role in winning the national team at the WBC, the best stage.”