Ji-man Choi (23) of the Pittsburgh Pirates of the US Major League (MLB) failed to participate in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC). Choi Ji-hoon’s vacancy will be filled by SSG outfielder Choi Ji-hoon (26, photo).

On the 6th, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said, “Choi Ji-man was not allowed to play in the WBC due to opposition from his team. Therefore, Choi Ji-hoon was selected as a substitute player.” Choi Ji-man was included in the final 30-man list of the national team as a first baseman, but Pittsburgh informed the WBC Organizing Committee of their intention to oppose participation, citing Choi Ji-man’s surgery history. Choi Ji-man underwent surgery to remove bone fragments in his right elbow in Korea last November.

The WBC organizing committee held an injury review committee to deliberate on whether or not to allow Choi Ji-man to participate in the WBC, and delivered the results to the KBO on the 5th. The national team plans to submit the final entry including Choi Ji-hoon to the WBC Organizing Committee on the 8th. 카지노

The KBO Technical Committee’s selection of outfielder Choi Ji-hoon to replace Choi Ji-hoon is analyzed as a way to reinforce utility resources. Choi Ji-hoon is fast-footed and has excellent defense that can cover all areas in the outfield, so he can be used in a variety of ways, such as runners and great defense. It seems to have taken into account the fact that Park Byeong-ho and Kang Baek-ho are existing first baseman resources. Technical Committee Chairman Beom-Hyun Cho said, “Jae-Il Oh (Samsung) and Eun-Sung Chae (Hanwha) were also nominated as alternative resources to Choi Ji-man, but Choi Ji-hoon was selected after discussion with coach Lee Kang-cheol and coaches.”

Choi Ji-hoon, who joined SK in 2020, has been a starting pitcher since the first year of joining, and has grown into a top-class outfielder with a batting average of 0.304, 10 homers, 61 RBIs and 31 steals last year, which was his third year. Choi Ji-hoon said, “I still don’t feel it,” and said, “I will play responsibly as much as I was selected for an honorable position.”