Korean players of note in the World Baseball Classic

One of the things I really love about Korea is baseball. The Korean Baseball Organization, (KBO), is going to start exhibition games later this month and starts in early April. So I, as usual, am pumped about my favourite team, the Kia Tigers', chances this year again. I might do a rundown of the Kia Tigers staff on here but for now I will bring all you folks up to date on the players you'll be seeing soon since they made it through today to the second round. They have a rematch with Japan tomorrow which I think they might lose but probably not as badly as they lost the first game to them. They'll likely start a better pitcher. And with any luck they'll make some adjustments to the lineup that I think they should make. Almost all these guys are players in the KBO who I get to watch all season long. I'm looking forward to it.

Pitchers

Bong Jung Keun -LG- Played in the majors. One of many pitchers to have shoulder surgery, lose velocity, then come home to Korea to pitch in the KBO. He had 140 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.66 in '08. For LG that's VERY respectable. Pitched 4 disastrous innings in Beijing vs. Taipei. 9 hits, 6 runs and 3 walks. But pitched 3 innings vs. Taipei in W.B.C. and gave up 2 hits, no runs.

Jeong Dae Hyeon -SK- Won 20 games in '05. Submarine style. There are better pitchers not in Japan. I don't know why he's there. He may not be used at all. Maybe he's there to pitch against a big name player who hates submariners. ???

Hwang Doo Sung -Woori- He was spectacular qualifying for Beijing but left off the roster. Pitched 5.1 innings got 8 strikeouts and gave up no runs. He might be the starter for Japan/Korea II. If not he'll be available if the starter gets shelled early.

Im Tae Hoon -Doosan- Rookie of the year in '07 but struggled a bit near the end of '08 and was replaced by Yoon Suk Min, a better pitcher, for the Olympic team. Pitched 2 innings vs. Taipei and gave up 2 hits and 2 walks but didn't give up a run and struck out 3.

Jang Won Sam -Woori- I like his number, 13, it's one sam like his name. (Sam is Korean for 3). '06 KBO Rookie of the year runner up and 2nd in strikeouts with 142. Shut out China for 4 innings and threw a complete game shutout vs. Holland in Beijing. W.B.C. vs. Japan he pitched 2.1 innings and gave up 4 hits, 3 runs and 3 walks. But he did strike out 2.

Jong Hyun Wook -Samsung- He was the only one who didn't give up runs every inning he pitched against Japan. Cleaned up the "Japan Killer"'s mess in the 3rd and got two solid outs in the 4th before the coaches decided he was pitching too well so they yanked him. 1 and 2/3 innings pitched, 0 runs, 1 strikeout.

Kim Kwang Hyun -SK- '08 strikeout title, gold glove, pitcher of the year, 1.26 E.R.A. Young and handsome. No question he is the golden boy of Korean baseball. His nickname is the "Japan Killer" for his efforts in Beijing. No question he did well but people seem to forget he was losing his first game against Japan when he left. It was Yoon Suk Min, a better pitcher, who got the win in that one. But people still give him credit for the win. However he DID pitch 8 strong innings for the win in Korea/Japan II. The thing is he's an inconsistant pitcher for SK. He's young! So it didn't surprise me much when Japan shelled him at the W.B.C. 1.1 innings pitched, 7 hits, 8 runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts.

Lee Jae Woo -Doosan- This is who replaced Jong in the game vs. Japan and he looked pretty ugly. 2 innings pitched, 3 hits, 3 runs including a homer to Johjima.

Lee Seung Ho -SK- He was rookie of the year in 2000. Now he's just a relief pitcher. He threw an inning vs. Taipei and got a strikeout without giving up a run.

Lim Chang Yong - Plays for the Yakult Swallows in Japan. In '08 he had 33 saves and a 3.00 E.R.A. with 50 K's in 51 innings. He'll be the closer. He was brought in very cheekily when Korea had a 14-0 lead over China and two out in the final inning. He got the out. Korea's not making any friends doing crap like that.

Oh Seung Hwan -Samsung- Gets a lot of saves. 40+ saves in '06 and '07. Save vs. Cuba in Beijing. I think he'll be a set-up man for Lim. Haven't seen him yet.

Ryu Hyun Jin -Hanhwa- '06 Rookie of the year. '06/'07 strikeout king. May have been Korea's best pitcher in Beijing. 17.1 innings pitched, 2 runs, 13 strikeouts and 2 wins including a complete game 1-0 shutout vs. Canada, (that I hated watching), and 8 1/3 solid innings vs. Cuba for the gold. He might be back for Korea/Japan II cuz he only pitched 3 innings against Taipei giving up 1 hit and 2 walks while striking out 3.

Son Min Han -Lotte- He's a solid pitcher. He won't pitch any gems and he'll give up runs but he'll get wins. I like him for long relief.

Yoon Suk Min -Kia- I may be biased but I think this is the best Korea has to offer when it comes to pitching. If Ryu wasn't Korea's best in Beijing, Yoon was. He got wins vs. the U.S. and Japan. He got a save against Taipei, a hold vs. Cuba, and he got a save in Japan/Korea II. So his stats against Japan are better than the "Japan Killer"'s! I spent last season watching him pitch gem after gem only to get the ball taken away and given to a crappy relief staff on Kia who lost a lot of his games for him. STILL he managed to win 14 games and come 2nd in E.R.A. in the league last year with 2.33. Today in the W.B.C. he routinely shut out China for 6 innings giving up 2 hits and striking out 5. He's undervalued.

Catchers

Kang Min Ho -Lotte- I think he's the better catcher at the plate. He really works the pitcher and gets a lot of walks. 2 plate appearances so far and one walk.

Park Kyung Oan -SK- His name should be spelled "Wan" not "Oan". Maybe he calls a good game cuz he's not impressive at the plate. 1/7 with 2 strikeouts, a walk and one RBI.

Infielders

Choi Jeong -SK- The only non-pitcher we haven't seen yet.

Jeong Keun Woo -SK- He's an average second baseman. I hate him because he got the homerun that beat Canada 1-0 in Beijing but I still think they could have found a better 2B. 3/9 4 runs, 2 RBI, a walk and a strikeout.

Kim Tae Kyun -Hanhwa- This guy's a monster. '08 he got 31 homers in the KBO, which lead the league. He also had a .324 avg. I didn't like it when he swung on a 3-0 pitch in the first Japan game of the W.B.C., but he got a 2-run homer so... 3/8 4 runs, 5 RBI, 3 walks.

Ko Young Min -Doosan- Being used sparingly. He's 0/2 so far.

Lee Bum Ho -Hanhwa- He's only had three at bats but might get more. 1/2 2 runs, 3 RBI, walk.

Lee Dae Ho -Lotte- Another monster! I like him better than Kim Tae Kyun. Even though he kills the Tigers. Won the KBO triple crown in '06. That's avg., homers and RBI. He was .360 with 3 HR 5 runs and 10 RBI in Beijing. 3/6 1 run, 2 RBI and 2 walks so far. But he'll get more.

Park Ki Hyuk -Lotte- I think he looks, (and hits), like a little boy. There must be 10 better shortstops in the KBO. 2/10 1 run, 3 RBI and a strikeout.

Outfield

Choo Shin Soo -Cleveland- "Big League Choo". He plays in Cleveland and was player of the month of September in '08. So he might turn out to be a good Korean major leaguer. He's only the DH in the W.B.C. and not doing so well. 1/7 3 runs, 1 walk and a strikeout.

Kim Hyun Soo -Doosan- Most hits, (168), and best average, (.357) in the KBO in '08. Hit .370 in Beijing and is doing awesome in the W.B.C. so far too. But like a lot of the Koreans he's playing with a bit too much swagger. He swung on a 3-0 pitch and got out vs. China and tried to stretch a single into a double vs. Japan. If he hadn't, Kim's homer would have tied the game. 5/11 3 runs, 1 RBI, 2 walks and a strikeout.

Lee Jin Young -LG- This guy is me! He hits a ton but very level so watch for some screaming line drives when he's up. He's in RF cuz he used to be a pitcher and has a rocket for an arm. He gets lots of assists. Hit .333 in Beijing. Got a grand slam in Korea's opening game vs. Chinese Taipei in the W.B.C. 3/8 2 runs, 5 RBI, 1 walk.

Lee Jong Wook -Doosan- Blazing speed. Playoff MVP 2 years in a row for Doosan. He gets lots of runs and lots of stolen bases. But can't do either if he's not hitting. And he's NOT. I think he needs to be replaced by Lee Yong Gyu. 2/9 3 runs, 2 RBI, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts.

Lee Taek Keun -Woori- One of my favourite players. I once saw a weekend series where he went 5/5 on Saturday and 3/4 on Sunday against the Tigers. The colour commentator on MLBTV is in love with his swing. I've seen him play short. I'd swap him for Park Ki Hyuk next game. MUCH better bat. Only had one at bat so far and lined out.

Lee Yong Gyu -Kia- The only other Tiger. He is the best position player on Kia. I think he's just as fast as Lee Jong Wook. Another overlooked contributor to Beijing. He made a difference in almost every game. Hit a measley .481 and scored 8 runs. He's just been subbed for fielding and running so far. Hasn't hit yet but has scored a run. He just has an effect every time he plays. Put him in, coach!

So that's the lineup this year. There are glaring omissions like Lee Seung Yeop, Park Chan Ho, Seo Jae Eung, Lee Jong Beom and cases could be made for many others. But it's like that everywhere I'm sure. I was told that negotiations to get TV rights to show these games on Korean TV broke down. Imagine Korea/Japan negotiations breaking down. So anyways I have to watch really crappy streams of them. But I've seen most of all the games. And I'm looking forward to seeing these guys in real life when the pre-season games start at the end of this month! Can't wait. See you at the ball park sports fans!