Korean big leaguer Kim Ha-seong (28, San Diego Padres) has made a firm determination to overcome the competition for the main team in the team and advance in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC).
Ha-seong Kim said at Incheon International Airport on the 27th before departing for the United States, “I prepared very hard this winter.” did.
Kim Ha-seong, who left Korea that day, plans to concentrate on technical training with Choi Won-jae’s personal coach in Los Angeles, California, and then join the American Professional Baseball Major League (MLB) San Diego club’s spring camp held at the Peoria Sports Complex in Arizona.
After returning to Korea on March 1, he will participate in jet lag adaptation and recovery training for the WBC Korean national team, which will be held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on March 2 and 3.
He will not be able to attend the WBC national team training in Tucson, Arizona.
Following the decision of his team, San Diego, in February, he focused only on team training.
Kim Ha-seong said, “Although I will not be able to participate in the WBC national team’s spring camp held in the United States, there will be no major problems because I worked well with my teammates when playing in the KBO league.” said.
He continued, “After participating in several MLB exhibition games in the United States, I will join the national team. It seems not bad to play in the WBC after learning the ball of fastball pitchers.”
Regarding breathing problems with St. Louis Cardinals’ second baseman Tommy Hyeon-soo Edmon, who will play as a keystone combination in the WBC national team, Kim Ha-seong said, “If we both get a lot of outcounts, it will be of great help to the pitchers.” “Edmon is a very good player. “I’m not worried about the breathing problem at all,” he said.
He said, “The WBC is a short-term match, and all matches must be played,” and promised, “I will do my best to win the match against Japan.”
Ha-seong Kim also recalled the WBC in 2017, when he participated as the youngest member of the national team.
At the time, Kim Ha-seong put the Taegeuk mark on behalf of infielder Kang Jeong-ho, who withdrew due to a drunk driving hit-and-run accident.
The results were not good. At that time, the national team lost to Israel and the Netherlands and was eliminated in the first round of the finals.바카라
Ha-seong Kim said, “At that time, I took the WBC without knowing anything.” “Now that I am a mid-level player in the national team, I feel a sense of responsibility. I will prepare hard and achieve good results.”
Ha-seong Kim said that he would do his best to prepare for the WBC, but in fact the environment he was placed in is not so easy.
Right now, Ha-seong Kim has to compete fiercely within the team.
San Diego recruited league-leading shortstop Sander Bohartz this winter, and star Fernando Tatis Jr., who left last season due to injury, is also returning.
Local media also reported that Ha-sung Kim is likely to trade.
Regarding this, Ha-seong Kim said, “Any team must compete internally,” and “I competed every moment right after entering the MLB.”
In addition, he said, “Recently, San Diego’s AJ Preller said that the frequency of second baseman’s participation will increase in the new season, and I also agreed.”
MLB establishes a new regulation banning defensive shifts for the 2023 season. Kim Ha-seong, who took on the role of second baseman for the new season, has to adapt to the changed rules.
He said, “If I go to second base, the defense will be more comfortable,” he said.
He also emphasized, “I think it will be more helpful for hitting if the defensive shift is gone.”
On this day, Ha-seong Kim also expressed his opinion about Jung-hoo Lee, a junior in the Kiwoom Heroes of his parent team aiming to advance to the MLB after the 2023 season.
Lee Jung-hoo recently signed an agency contract with Scott Boras, a big agent in the US.
Kim Ha-seong said, “(Lee) Jeong-hoo asked me a lot of questions before signing the agent contract, but he had nothing to say.” was encouraged.