SSG Landers Choo Shin-soo (41) regretted that Hanwha Eagles Moon Dong-ju (20) was not selected for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team.
On the 21st (Korean time), Choo Shin-soo appeared on ‘DKNET’, a Korean radio broadcast in Dallas, Texas, USA and said, “If you look at the future, it is true that many players do not go, and new players had to be selected.” pointed out the problem of generational change.
On the 4th, the KBO announced the final list of 30 players for the WBC national team. Young players such as Eui-ri Lee (KIA), So-Jun Sohn (KT), Woo-Seok Ko, and Woo-Young Jeong (above LG) were also selected, but veteran players such as Gwang-Hyun Kim (SSG), Hyeon-Jong Yang (KIA), and Hyun-Soo Kim (LG) were the main players. achieved
Choo Shin-soo said, “In the case of Japan, there are many new faces when international competitions are held. We have many veterans, including Kim Hyun-soo. Of course, it becomes a skill to go out. However, I think I would have looked at the future rather than the current results. Until when are Kim Gwang-hyun and Yang Hyeon-jong? Articles say that there is another Kim Gwang-hyun in Japan,” he emphasized the need for a generational change. 스포츠토토
The player Choo Shin-soo felt particularly sorry for was Moon Dong-ju. Moon Dong-ju, who received the first pick in the 2022 rookie draft, raised great expectations last season, but only recorded a rather disappointing result with an average ERA of 5.65 with 1 win, 3 losses and 2 holds in 13 games (28⅔ innings). However, he consistently threw the ball at over 150 km/h, and his pitching was recognized, and in the second half, he showed improvement with 3 games (15 innings), 1 win, 2 losses, and an ERA of 3.00.
Choo Shin-soo, who said, “From my experience, there are many good young players,” said, “Why can’t those players? When you participate in international competitions such as the WBC from a young age, the feelings and mind itself change. For example, Moon Dong-ju is said to be lacking in control, but he doesn’t have that much pitching ability. The same goes for Ahn Woo-jin. It is also what Korean baseball should do to create opportunities for such players to compete in international competitions.”
There was a story that Moon Dong-ju could steadily board the WBC national team. However, his lack of completeness and failure to show steady performance caught his ankle. Nevertheless, the fact that Moon Dong-ju’s selection for the national team continues to go up and down is proof that Moon Dong-ju’s potential is high.
Attention is focusing on whether Moon Dong-ju, who unfortunately failed to achieve his dream of becoming a national team member, will resolve his regret in the upcoming 2023 season.