Choo Shin-soo recently appeared on DKNET, a Korean radio station in Dallas, Texas, and criticized the slow generational change in Korean baseball.
The main point was the absence of a new face. Choo Shin-soo said, “In the case of Japan, there are so many new faces when international competitions are held.” “If it were me, I would have seen the future. It is true that many players would not go if they had looked at the future rather than the current results. There should have been more players to be selected,” he said, pointing to the selection of players by the KBO Technical Committee. 메이저놀이터
At the same time, “How long are Kim Gwang-hyun (SSG) and Yang Hyeon-jong (KIA)? In Japan, there is an article saying that there is another Kim Gwang-hyun. From my experience (in the KBO league), there are an enormous number of talented players. “Why can’t such players do it?” “When I participate in international competitions when I am young, the emotions and mindset I feel change tremendously. These players have things to do in Korean baseball in the future.”
The players Choo Shin-soo missed the most were Moon Dong-ju (Hanwha) and Ahn Woo-jin (Kiwoom). He said, “In the case of Moon Dong-ju, it is said that he lacks control, but from what I saw, there is no pitcher who throws that much. The same goes for Ahn Woo-jin.” That part is regrettable.”
Then, as Choo Shin-soo said, did the KBO Technical Committee not see the real future? Looking at the 2023 WBC national team entry announced on the 4th, a total of 30 people, from Park Byeong-ho (KT) born in 1986 to Lee Eui-ri (KIA) born in 2002, were honored with the Taegeuk mark. The average age is 29.4 years old, and it is true that it is higher than in the late 2000s, the golden age of Korean baseball.
However, in the case of the mound, there are many young guns that can be responsible for the next 10 years. From Koo Chang-mo (NC) born in 1997 to Ko Woo-seok (LG) born in 1998, Jung Cheol-won born in 1999, Gwak Bin (Ideal for Doosan), Jung Woo-young (LG), Kim Yun-shik (LG) born in 2000, Won Tae-in (Samsung), So Joon So-jun (KT) born in 2001, Among the 15 pitchers, including Lee Eui-ri, born in 2002, nine pitchers are under the age of 26. This is the reason why Shin-soo Choo’s remarks, “How long are Kim Gwang-hyun and Yang Hyeon-jong?” It is fielders, not pitchers, that raised the average age.