We have to do better than the World Cup national team.”
Doosan Bears’ new ace, Kwak Bin, was included in the final 30-man roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) Korean national team announced on the 4th, enabling him to play an active role as an adult national representative for the first time in his life.
Armed with a fastball over 150 km and a curveball with a huge drop, Kwak Bin played 27 games in the 2022 season, recording 8 wins and 9 losses with an average ERA of 3.78. In particular, in the second half, he went 5-2 with an ERA of 2.98 and even defended Doosan’s starting mound, which Lee Young-ha had left.
National team coach Lee Kang-cheol also acknowledged the value of Kwak Bin. He was included in the newly structured national team mound and selected as the main character to lead a new era.
In a phone interview with MK Sports, Kwak Bin said, “When I heard the news before the announcement of the final entry, it was not confirmed, so I was grateful if I was selected and tried to use it as a stepping stone to grow even if I was not selected.” The wonder of being able to go to a big competition called “I am proud” and the glory coexist.”
“Isn’t the WBC the flower of the World Baseball Championship? It’s really amazing. I also played for the youth team, but it was also a dream to play for the adult national team. Thank you very much,” he added.
Regarding his current physical condition, he said, “I am raising my body from a level that is not overdoing it. He plans to enter Australia earlier than other players and build up his body. He will 메이저놀이터 get better if he pitches in a warm country,” Kwak Bin explained.
He got the highest honor. Nevertheless, it was Kwak Bin who showed humility. In the second half of the season, he showed off his superpowers and performed as well as the national team, but he said that he was still lacking. “Honestly, I was lucky,” said Kwak Bin. It was just luck,” he said.
The KBO gave the WBC official ball in advance to players who are likely to join the national team. Kwak Bin also received it, and said, “Unlike the KBO official ball, it felt a little slippery.” Rosin is doing well these days, so I don’t think it will have a big impact.”
It is the first adult national team that will be unfamiliar with everything, and it is also the WBC participation with a lot of pressure. But no big worries. Kwak Bin is with Kang Baek-ho, who ate a pot of rice as a youth representative, and Jeong Cheol-won, who worked together in Doosan. They are the generation that grew up watching the golden age of Korean baseball as ‘Beijing Kids’.
Kwak Bin said, “Born in 1999, ‘Beijing Kids’ being able 토토 to go out together at the WBC means that they have grown that much. I feel that way again. I hope we can work together to achieve good results. I don’t know how far I will go, but I am looking at a higher place.”
Then, what is Kwak Bin’s goal for this WBC? He said, “As a team, I think we have to do better than the World Cup national team (laughs). I will try to make baseball more popular,” he said. “Personally, I want to come back with a good experience rather than winning a few wins. It’s okay to hit a hit or a home run. I will throw well without getting hurt and come back.”