Yang Hyeon-jong (35, KIA Tigers) and coach Lee Kang-cheol (57, kt wiz), who first met as new players and pitching coaches in 2007, 바카라 reunited as the national team’s ‘veteran’ and command tower after 16 years. They meet as enemies during the Korean Professional Baseball (KBO) league season, but this time they wore uniforms with ‘KOREA’ engraved on them to participate in the World Baseball Classic (WBC).
Hyeon-Jong Yang, who took on the role of leader of the national team’s pitching team along with lefty Kim Gwang-Hyun (SSG Landers) of the same age, pitched in the bullpen for the first time after joining the national team in training held at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, USA on the 19th (Korean time).
Director Lee energized his pupil by saying “It’s good” and “I think I made my body quickly” whenever Yang Hyeon-jong threw the ball while examining the contents of the pitch from behind. Yang Hyeon-jong, a ‘newcomer’ who joined the KIA 16 years ago, grew into a left-handed pitcher representing the league while receiving intensive training from manager Lee, who was a pitching coach at the time. At the same time, Yang Hyeon-jong also surpassed the records of director Lee, who was the ‘legend’ of Haitai-KIA. Last season, he won his 159th personal career, surpassing manager Lee (152 wins) and ranked 3rd in KBO League history, and with a total of 1814 strikeouts, he surpassed manager Lee (1751) and ranked 2nd in individual career strikeouts.
Yang Hyeon-jong, who reunited after 11 years of separation in 2012 when Lee went to the head coach of Nexen Heroes at the time, said, “The director said he had grown up a lot. He said, “When I was pitching in the bullpen, I felt like I was back in my rookie days.”
Although the position in the national team has not been decided, Yang Hyeon-jong said, “Whether it is a starter or an intermediate one, everything is ready. I will do my best in the given role,” he said. “The director ordered me to prepare in December of last year because I can throw as a middle pitcher.”
Eight helpers, including a bullpen catcher and a batting ball pitcher, joined the team on the same day, and started pitching training in earnest. During training in preparation for the overtime game, he paid attention to security by asking reporters and fans to refrain from filming. Players used their tablet PCs to analyze game videos of opponents to watch out for, such as Australia and Japan.
The national team will have its second practice match against KIA at the Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium on the 20th. Director Lee said, “Nine pitchers, excluding Yang Hyeon-jong, will take the mound and throw 25 pitches per inning.” The first pitcher to pitch is left-hander Chang-mo Koo (NC Dinos). KIA also plans to hire left-hander Kim Ki-hoon and rookie Yoon Young-chul one after another.