When the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) Hangzhou Asian Games (AG) Technical Committee was formed in February of last year, it had one rule for the final roster (24 players). As requested by the Korea Baseball and Softball Association (KBSA), the final roster should include an amateur player, but the player should not have any intention of going abroad. The idea was that the military service benefits for winning the AG gold medal should be used to develop the KBO. With Japan and Chinese Taipei not fielding professional players, AG baseball is one of the favorites to win a fourth straight gold medal.
The KBO’s technical committee’s final roster composition principles were never put into practice. The tournament was postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In November of last year, technical committee chairman Yoon Kyung-yeop took over as manager of the LG Twins, so changes were inevitable. In April, the KBO reorganized its technical committee and created the Power Enhancement Committee. The name and composition of the committee changed, and so did the direction of the final roster. Jang Hyun-seok (Masan Yongmago), a top amateur baseball prospect, was named to the final AG roster without any conditions on the selection of amateur players.카지노사이트
Ryu Jung-il, head coach of the Asian Games baseball team, walks into a press conference at the Baseball Hall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to announce the roster of the baseball team for the Hangzhou Asian Games on Monday afternoon. Photo by Yonhap
“The AG is an amateur competition, and (the selection of Jang Hyun-seok) is a way to give dreams and hopes to young players for their development,” said Cho Gye-hyun, chairman of the Power Enhancement Committee, after the roster announcement, adding, “(Jang Hyun-seok) received the highest scores in pitching, speed (fastball) and game management among amateur players.” National coach Ryu Joong-il said, “He can start and play long innings as the second pitcher. We will utilize him depending on his condition.”
The KBO has been accepting applications for the 2024 rookie draft since March 28. Jang Hyun-seok is open to both Major League Baseball (MLB) and the KBO. “Right now, it’s about 5-5 or 6-4,” he told reporters at the 78th National High School Baseball Championship in Qinglong on Nov. 19, declining to say where his heart is leaning. Receiving military service benefits from Hangzhou AG will give him momentum in his MLB career.
However, the KBO’s rookie draft closes at 3 p.m. on May 31. He will have to decide where to live before the AG tournament. Both inside and outside of baseball, there are mixed opinions on Jang’s move. Proponents say it opens up opportunities for the best amateur players, while detractors argue that what does the KBO gain by declaring him for the big leagues? Even if a player is the best amateur, his role in the national team (12 pitchers) is limited. If his performance during the tournament is insignificant, the gift of military service as a result could be taken too far.
The game between Masan Yongmago and Gwangju Jeongango at the Cheongnyonggi National High School Baseball Championship and Weekend League Wangjoongwang at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the morning of the 18th. Masan Yongmago’s Jang Hyun-seok pitches in the third inning. Photo by Yonhap
A baseball official said, “In the past, when amateur players were selected for the (AG) national team, university students were targeted, but this time, high school students were selected. It can be interpreted as a decline in the level of college baseball.” The previous amateur players to make the AG roster were all college students, including Jung Jae-bok (Hanyang University) in 2002, Jung Min-hyuk (Yonsei University) in 2006, Kim Myung-sung (Chung-Ang University) in 2010, and Hong Seong-moo (Dong-A University) in 2014.
MLB teams are interested in Jang Hyun-seok. In the 19th game alone, scouts from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks, and other teams watched him pitch. How will the ‘hot potato’ Jang Hyun-seok’s fate be decided? One thing is for sure, his ‘happy worry’ has begun as the AG has been delayed by a year. If last year’s technical committee was any indication, Jang’s chances of making the national team were slim.