The World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team led by head coach Lee Kang-cheol entered Japan.
The national team arrived in Osaka via Kansai International Airport in Japan on the afternoon of the 4th. A training camp in Tucson, Arizona, USA, and major leaguers Kim Ha-seong (San Diego) and Tommy Hyun-soo Edman (St. Louis) joined at Gocheok Dome in Seoul, and conducted a ‘complete training’ for two days on the 3rd and 4th. 스포츠토토
On the 3rd, the national team completed their final training by playing a practice match against the SSG Landers Futures team at Gocheok Dome. On this day, he entered Osaka and started the official training schedule for the competition from the 5th. Ha-seong Kim and Edman, who were unable to participate in a practice match against SSG due to WBC rules, will play their first real match in Osaka.
Arriving at the Osaka airport, Director Lee Kang-cheol smiled and said, “I’m finally here.” Director Lee said, “I feel an infinite sense of honor, responsibility and weight before leaving the country at Incheon Airport. He will prepare well so that he can bring good results.”
The players, including the coaching staff, took their own personal luggage and went through customs declaration and entered the country.
Director Lee was the first to pack his personal belongings. Director Lee said, “I went through immigration first and came to collect my luggage, but no one came, but our luggage was already collected separately. I was surprised. I guess they treat me well because it’s a WBC tournament,” he said with a laugh.
While the national team players were going through entry procedures, their luggage was gathered in one place. The national team arrived in Osaka by Korean Air, and local Korean Air employees picked up the luggage as soon as it came out before the national team players arrived and put it in the space near the luggage belt.
Five or six employees lined up the players’ baseball bags and carriers with ‘KOREA’ written on them. After checking in, the athletes came to the luggage belt and could easily pack their luggage.
Of course, it took time for players who sent a lot of personal luggage separately to find it. Major leaguers Kim Ha-seong and Edmund’s luggage were larger than other players. There was not enough space to load them all on one cart.
After leaving the airport, the national team took a bus prepared by the WBC Organizing Committee and headed to a hotel in downtown Osaka.
Except for Choi Jeong, who is slightly out of shape, the players of the national team are in good shape. Regarding Choi Jeong, coach Lee said, “I have to see how well I am tomorrow and see if I can participate in the practice game on the 6th.”
The national team will train (an hour and a half) at Buffalo Stadium Maishima on the 5th, and play an evaluation match against Orix and Hanshin at the Osaka Kyocera Dome on the 6th and 7th. On the evening of the 7th, they move to Tokyo, the location of the final battle.