Choi Ji-man (32, Pittsburgh) failed to join the World Baseball Classic (WBC), which he desperately wanted due to the opposition of the club, and Park Byung-ho (37), the oldest member of the baseball team, had a heavier burden on his shoulders.

On the 6th, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced that they had received news from the WBC Organizing Committee that Choi Ji-man could not compete in the WBC, and selected outfielder Choi Jae-hoon (26, SSG) as a replacement.

Concerned about Choi Ji-man’s injury, the Pittsburgh Pirates refused to participate in the tournament.

Choi Ji-man, who underwent surgery to remove a bone fragment in his elbow last November, showed confidence last month, saying, “I can improve my physical condition so that there is no problem with participating in the WBC.” put on the list

However, Choi Ji-man could not get the consent of the Pittsburgh club. Choi Ji-man, who had never been selected for the adult national team, wanted this WBC more desperately than anyone else. Regarding the team’s decision, Choi Ji-man swallowed regret by conveying his feelings of “very disappointing.”

Now, the only first basemen left on the WBC final roster are Byung-Ho Park and Baek-Ho Kang. When thinking of Choi Ji-man’s role and weight, Park Byung-ho’s role is more important. Among active first basemen who can participate in this tournament right now, there is no resource that can replace Park Byung-ho in terms of slugging power and defense.

The key players in this WBC attack are Ha-seong Kim (San Diego) and Jung-hoo Lee (Kiwoom), but expectations are high for Byung-ho Park, who can change the game with one shot. A shot by Park Byung-ho, the “eldest brother,” who overcame the evaluation of the “aging curve” and left a resonance in the KBO League with his performance beyond expectations last season, has a different meaning from the shots of other players.

It is a very meaningful event for me personally.

Park Byeong-ho, who first joined the adult national team at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, strangely never played in the WBC. Even after becoming the home run king in 2012, he was not selected in the 2013 tournament, and he did not come out due to injury during the 2017 WBC. 스포츠토토

Park Byung-ho, who has always said about the WBC, “It is a tournament I really want to attend,” said in front of reporters after being selected, “(This WBC) will be the final stage for the national team. Previously, I had a lot of self-reflection because I couldn’t play the role of a central hitter (national team), but this time I want to come back with good results.”

Park Byeong-ho had a batting average of 0.179 (5 hits in 28 at-bats) without a home run in the 2019 Premier 12 tournament. In the same tournament in 2015, he was disappointed with a batting average of 10% in 7 games until the final, and then hit a home run in the final against the United States to lead the victory. However, it is true that ‘National Representative Park Byung-ho’ was less than the weight given by ‘Home Run King Park Byung-ho’.

Given his age, the WBC he never thought would come again is right in front of Byung-Ho Park. He is motivated to properly show off the majesty of the home run king on the final stage as a national representative. Park Byeong-ho, thinking that he should improve his condition quickly, arrived at the training ground ahead of the KT players of his team and is building his body according to the WBC schedule.

Now he is in a position to lead the national team beyond the resurrection. Baseball fans are anticipating whether they will be able to ignite the final flame with a thrilling home run on the final stage of running with the Taegeuk mark.