Choi Ji-hoon on the last train of the WBC “They say there is a certain person to save the country… Play with the Taegeuk mark”
SSG outfielder Choi Ji-hoon (26), who took the last train to the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) team, pledged to play an active role worthy of the national team. The weight of the Taegeuk mark was more important than the idea that he was a replacement for Choi Ji-man (32), who was not allowed to participate in 바카라사이트the WBC due to opposition from the Pittsburgh club.
Choi Ji-hoon met with reporters on the 11th at SSG spring camp in Vero Beach, Florida. We have to show it,” he said. He emphasized, “It’s a good experience, and there are many things to learn from going there, but I’m also a player representing my country, so I will work with the mindset of winning rather than the mindset of learning.”
Choi Ji-hoon, who contributed greatly to SSG’s wire-to-wire championship in the 2022 season in all areas of attack, defense, and running, played 144 games full-time, recording a batting average of 0.304, 10 homers, 61 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. In his national team, he is likely to play the role of ‘joker’ at a crucial moment. This is why WBC coach Lee Kang-cheol and the technical committee chose center fielder Choi Ji-hoon instead of the vacant position of first baseman Choi Ji-man. SSG coach Kim Won-hyeong, the head of Choi Ji-hoon’s team, congratulated him on being selected for the national team and joked, “Just practice bunts.”
Choi Ji-hoon said, “It would be great if there was a scene where I could change the atmosphere, whether it was a great runner or a great defender.” When facing Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels), who can start in the match against Korea and Japan in the final round, when asked if he would be able to do well if a bunt sign came out, he said, “You have to do well. I have a lot of worries because I have to do well,” he said.
I thought of the advice of SSG senior Kim Kang-min because of the pressure that felt as much as the excitement. Choi Ji-hoon said, “(Kim) Kang-min senior said, ‘The people who will save the country are fixed anyway, so if you do what you do comfortably, you will do well’” and laughed, “It was fun to say that.” It is said that the family even shed tears of joy at the Taegeuk mark for the first time in his life.
Choi Ji-hoon’s joining the national team drew attention from Japan as well. Tokyo Sports, a Japanese media, reported that ‘Choi Ji-hoon’s strong patriotism could become a threat to Japan’ and ‘Choi Ji-hoon’s vigorous spirit could make the atmosphere on the bench boil.” Choi Ji-hoon also came across this article. He said, “I have never expressed patriotism like the Japanese media reported, but the article came out like that. Actually, I am patriotic. He said that he is vigilant in Japan, so he gains confidence.”