South Korea announced their official roster for their second appearance at the Asia Professional Baseball Championship, which will take place from November 16-19 at the Tokyo Dome.
The Asia Professional Baseball Championship will also have Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Australia participating in the event.
The APBC is a U-24 event and is also considered an international senior tournament, as each team can carry three players on the roster between the ages of 24 and 29. The APBC roster eligibility requires that players have three years or less of service time in professional baseball. This is the only U-24 event operated by the WBSC.
The Premier 12 tournament will start on Nov. 10, 2024 after the regular seasons in Major League Baseball, Liga Mexicana de Beisbol, Nippon Professional Baseball, the Korean Baseball Organization, and the Chinese Professional League in Taiwan.
South Korea is No. 4 in the World Baseball Rankings and won the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, beating No. 5-ranked Chinese Taipei in gold medal game 2-0 in early October.
Manager Ryu Joong-il, who managed South Korea at the 19th Asian Games, will return as the national team manager for the APBC.
The remaining coaching staff for the 19th Asian Games will return for the APBC, including bench/third base coach Ryu Ji-hyun, pitching coach Choi Il-eon, hitting coach Jan Jong-hoon, and first base coach Dongsu Kim. Bullpen coach Hyunwook Kim is the only new member of the South Korea coaching staff.
South Korea went 2-2 in Pool B at the Tokyo Dome at the 2023 World Baseball Classic last March and did not qualify for the quarterfinals.
Outfielder Kang Baek-ho, outfielder Choi Ji-hoon, pitcher Won Tae-in, pitcher Jung Woo-young, pitcher Lee-Eui Lee, and pitcher Gwak Been are on the active roster for the APBC and played in the 2023 WBC.
The South Korea national team roster will consist of players that have played in the KBO Futures League and players that are on the active rosters of the main teams in the KBO listed on the roster for the APBC.
Catcher Kim Dong-heon, catcher Kim Hyung-jun, infielder Moon Bo-gyung, infielder Roh Si-hwan, infielder Kim Ju-won, outfielder Choi Ji-hoon, outfielder Yoon Dong-hui, pitcher Won Tae-in, pitcher Choi Ji-man, pitcher Gwak Been, and pitcher Jung Woo-young are the only players returning from the 19th Asian Games to play in the APBC.
2023 South Korea APBC Official Roster
Pitchers (Team)
Jung Woo-young (LG Twins)
Park Young-hyun (KT Wiz)
Jung Hae-young (Kiwoom Heroes)
Won Tae-in (Samsung Lions)
Choi Jun-yong (Lotte Giants)
Gwak Been (Doosan Bears)
Moon Dong-ju (Hanwha Eagles)
Oh Won-suk (SSG Landers)
Lee Eui-lee (Kia Tigers)
Choi Ji-man (Kia Tigers)
Kim Young-gyu (NC Dinos)
Choi Seung-yong (Doosan Bears)
Catchers (Team)
Kim Dong-heon (Kiwoom Heroes)
Kim Hyung-jun (NC Dinos)
Song Sung-bin (Lotte Giants)
Infielders (Team)
Kim Hye-sung (Kiwoom Heroes)
Kim Hwi-jib (Kiwoom Heroes)
Moon Bo-gyung (LG Twins)
Kim Do-young (Kia Tigers)
Kim Ju-won (NC Dinos)
Roh Si-hwan (Hanwha Eagles)
Outfielders (Team)
Choi Ji-hoon (SSG Landers)
Kang Baek-ho (KT Wiz)
Kim Sung-yoon (Samsung Lions)
Yoon Dong-hui (Lotte Giants)
Park Seung-gyu (Sangmu Phoenix/Korea Armed Forces Athletics Corps/KBO Futures League)
2023 Asia Professional Baseball Championship Schedule
All Games Will Be Played At The Tokyo Dome
Wednesday, November 15
11 p.m. EST – Korea vs. Australia
Thursday, November 16
6 a.m. EST – Chinese Taipei vs. Japan
11 p.m. EST – Australia vs. Chinese Taipei
Friday, November 17
6 a.m. EST – Japan vs. Korea
11 p.m. EST – Australia vs. Japan
Saturday, November 18
6 a.m. EST – Korea vs. Chinese Taipei
10 p.m. EST – Bronze Medal Game
Sunday, November 19
5 a.m. EST – Gold Medal Game