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South Korea Announces WBSC Premier12 Roster

 Alex Ortiz - World Baseball Network  |    Oct 11th, 2024 8:00pm EDT

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South Korea becomes the latest team to reveal their roster for the upcoming WBSC Premier12 Tournament. They will be led by manager Ryu Joong-il. Here is who will be joining South Korea this upcoming November:

PITCHERS:

• –  You Young-chan (LG Twins)
• –  Son Ju-young (LG Twins)
• –  Ko Young-pyo (KT Wiz)
• –  Park Yeong-hyun (KT Wiz)
• –  So Hyeong-jun (KT Wiz)
• –  Um Sang-back (KT Wiz)
• –  Jo Byeong-hyeon (SSG Landers)
• –  Gwak Been (Doosan Bears)
• –  Kim Taek-yeon (Doosan Bears)
• –  Lee Young-ha (Doosan Bears)
• –  Choi Seung-yong (Doosan Bears)
• –  Jung Hai-young (Kia Tigers)
• –  Jeon Sang-hyun (Kia Tigers)
• –  Kwak Do-gyu (Kia Tigers)
• –  Choi Ji-min (Kia Tigers)
• –  Won Tae-in (Samsung Lions)
• –  Kim Seo-hyeon (Hanwha Eagles)

CATCHERS:

• –  Park Dong-won (LG Twins)
• –  Kim Hyung-jun (NC Dinos)
• –  Han Jun-su (Kia Tigers)

INFIELDERS:

• –  Moon Bo-gyeong (LG Twins)
• –  Shin Min-jae (LG Twins)
• –  Park Seong-Han (SSG Landers)
• –  Kim Whee-jip (NC Dinos)
• –  Kim Ju-won (NC Dinos)
• –  Kim Do-yeong (Kia Tigers)
• –  Na Seung-yeup (Lotte Giants)
• –  Kim Young-woong (Samsung Lions)
• –  Song Sung-mun (Kiwoom Heroes)

OUTFIELDERS:

• –  Hong Chang-ki (LG Twins)
• –  Choi Won-jun (Kia Tigers)
• –  Yoon Dong-hee (Lotte Giants)
• –  Koo Ja-wook (Samsung Lions)
• –  Kim Ji-chan (Samsung Lions)
• –  Lee Ju-hyoung (Kiwoom Heroes)

The most notable bat that will headline South Korea’s lineup will be Kim Do-yeong. The 21-year-old infielder put up a 30/30 season in his third KBO season with the Kia Tigers. Playing in 141 games this season, Kim crushed 38 home runs, 109 RBIs, and hit for a .347 batting average while stealing 40 bases. He also made his first All-Star team this season and hit for the cycle on July 23.

Looking to lead South Korea’s rotation will be Won Tae-in. Won, 24, is in his sixth professional season in the KBO pitching with the Samsung Lions. He had a solid season, going 15-6, posting a 3.66 ERA in 28 starts, striking out 119 batters in 159.2 innings. Won was also a member of South Korea’s 2023 World Baseball Classic team.

One more player to keep an eye out this November is outfielder Koo Ja-wook. The Lions 31-year-old had his best season by far in his KBO career. Playing in 129 games, Koo hit .343, blasting a career-high 33 home runs and driving in 115 RBIs. He was very solid defensively, mainly playing left field, with a .995 fielding percentage.

Everyone on Korea’s roster has experience playing in the KBO (Korean Baseball Organization). South Korea’s first game in the Premier12 will take place on November 13, where they will face off against Chinese Taipei. The game will be played at the Taipei Dome in Taipei, Taiwan. The first pitch is set for 5:30 am EST.

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WBN KBO: https://worldbaseball.com/league/south-korea/

Photo Credit: South Korean players tosse the manager Ryu Joong-Il into the air during the victory ceremony. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)