Lee Jung-hoo (27, San Francisco Giants) is drawing attention as he made his own remarks on the formation of the Korean national baseball team. In particular, Lee emphasized the need for experienced veterans in international competitions.
After the spring camp training held at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona on the 16th (Korea time), Lee Jung-hoo met with Korean reporters and said, "Personally, I hope the national team will be harmonized now. We need young players who are determined and energetic, but we also need veteran seniors who will take the center stage. I don't think the national team is going to gain experience."
Recently, the Korean national baseball team is striving for the 2026 World Baseball Classic and 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games under the banner of a generational change. Already, a large number of young players have been selected since the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games that took place in 2023. At the Hangzhou Asian Games, the team won the gold medal, which it had targeted. However, it was the first time to fail the preliminary round at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier 12 tournament held in November last year.
Lee Jung-hoo expressed regret over not being able to play with Kim Ha-sung (30, Tampa Bay Rays) and Kim Hye-sung (26, LA Dodgers) in the big league and said, "We can meet in the national team later. (Kim) Ha-sung and (Kim) Hye-sung will definitely go to the national team, and there are so many players who are good in the outfield that I just need to be selected because I am good."
"If I become a member of the national team, it honestly doesn't matter which position I play defense and which number I hit in batting order. Rather, our national team's performance so far has not been good. What I felt after coming to the U.S. was that U.S. players are now determined to win the 2026 WBC, and I wonder what Korea will be like. I think we should prepare well from now on, and I hope not only the players but also the KBO will prepare well," Lee said.
The U.S. defeated Japan in the final at the 2023 WBC competition to become the runner-up. As a result, the team is determined to make good performances again at the 2026 WBC and avenge the situation.
"I don't think the national team should be comprised of too young players," Lee said. "Young players are good to be in the mood, but when the team is down, no one can lead the team. I think a team can become a good team only when veteran players and energetic young players are combined. However, if all the veteran players are suddenly excluded, it can be a burden to the player who takes over the position," Lee said.
"The national team is not a place to go to gain experience," he said. "It is a place where the players who showed the best performance in that year fight for the honor of our country. However, it is not right for a young player to play instead of a senior who showed the best performance in the name of a generational change. Of course, a young player can do well, but I think it would be good if both young players and veterans go."
Finally, after joining the Major League, Lee said, "My thoughts on the national team have changed a lot. I want to continue playing baseball as long as I can because I play baseball with some of the best players in Korea. The most important thing is to play well so that I can be of help. I want to do well this season and join the national team with good results."
Recently, Korean baseball has also been stepping up efforts to prepare for the 2026 WBC tournament. Last month, Ryu Ji-hyun took the helm of the national team. In addition, former head coaches Kang In-kwon, Lee Dong-wook, and Heo Sam-young, who were former head coaches in the KBO league, will assist Ryu as members of the power reinforcement committee. Ryu and the power reinforcement committee will depart for Taiwan on the 20th to analyze their performance in the WBC qualifying round. The WBC qualifying round, which will be held at Taipei Dome in Taiwan, will be held in a round-robin format with four countries: Taiwan, South Africa, Nicaragua, and Spain. He will return home on the 26th after completing the analysis of his performance by the 25th. The top two teams that will pass the qualifying round will be a good match to qualify for the WBC finals in March 2026.
"I feel an infinite sense of responsibility and duty. Ryu Joong-il has enhanced the competitiveness of young national team players over the past three years," Ryu told Star News after his appointment as coach of the national team. He has shown many possibilities for young national team players by focusing on promising players and young players. "I sincerely thank you for that. Based on that, I think we should produce good results." 메이저사이트
As Ryu said, young players' experiences in recent international competitions will greatly contribute to the national team. Attention is focusing on whether a veteran will join the national team or not, as Lee Jung-hoo said. The most likely candidate is Ryu Hyun-jin (38) of the Hanwha Eagles. Ryu is one of the living legends representing Korean baseball. He has never announced his retirement from the national team yet. Rather, he has expressed his will to join the national team. "As a player, I think (greed) is natural," Ryu said of the national team before returning to Hanwha early last year. "I don't know if you will select me (for the Premier 12 national team), but in that regard, I would like to go to the national team one more time and play as a player representing Korea."
If Ryu joins the national team, he will likely have a significant impact on younger players not only in terms of skills but also in terms of mental performance. Of course, in order to become a member of the national team, he needs to be armed with the best skills that anyone can understand. Will Ryu be able to wear the national flag again? Attention is focusing on the formation of the first Ryu Ji-hyun team.