Korea manager Ryu Ji hyun attends a press conference ahead of the World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Wednesday, in this photo distributed by The Yomiuri Shimbun. Yonhap
TOKYO — With his team's first game of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) just around the corner, Korea manager Ryu Ji-hyun said Thursday he wants the players to take pride in their abilities.
Korea will begin Pool C play against Czechia at Tokyo Dome at 7 p.m. Thursday. The national team has had a long buildup, with Ryu first running a preliminary camp in January in Saipan before taking his final group of players to the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa for another camp. Korea then played two exhibition games in Osaka and arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday.
"I've spent a long time with them, and along the way, I tried to create an atmosphere where the players can feel proud of being part of the greatest national team ever," Ryu said at his pregame press conference. "And things have been building up consistently to this point."
Ryu said this was time for him to stay in the background and let coaches deliver whatever message that needs to be shared with the players.
"I just have to keep faith in my players going forward," the manager added.
To that end, Ryu is sticking to the same lineup that defeated the Orix Buffaloes 8-5 in Korea's final exhibition game on Tuesday.
Kim Do-yeong, who homered in that game, will lead off, followed by Jahmai Jones and Lee Jung-hoo. Ahn Hyun-min, who blasted a no-doubter of a solo shot against the Buffaloes, will bat cleanup.
Moon Bo-gyeong, Shay Whitcomb, Kim Hye-seong, Park Dong-won and Kim Ju-won will follow.
Lee, captain of the national team entering his third season with the San Francisco Giants, is widely considered Korea's top contact hitter who can also offer some gap power. Ryu said he expects Czechia to be careful with Lee, and he wanted to surround the outfielder with right-handed power hitters in Jones and Ahn.
Source: Korea Times News
