'The Miracle of Czech Baseball' Outfielder who hit a double at Sasaki 163 km fastball joins Yomiuri
Sep 26, 2024
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On the 25th (Korea time), the Czech Baseball Association and Japanese media announced that "Marek Schlupp, the outfielder of the Czech baseball team, will join the Yomiuri Giants as a nurturing player.'
As a result, Schlupp became the first Czech national to join a professional baseball team in history. It's a one-year nurturing player contract, so I can't guarantee a formal player conversion or additional contract yet, but I'm going to look at the possibility after joining the team.
Baseball is an unfamiliar sport in the Czech Republic. At the World Baseball Classic (WBC) held in March last year, the Czech national team, which participated in the finals for the first time, became a big topic when it was revealed that most of them were playing baseball as a hobby while earning a living from other jobs. It was a team that gathered with passion, such as working as a public relations staff when a player who plays as a member of the national team lacked proper equipment or support. It is said that less than 10,000 people enjoy baseball in the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic has a population of about 10.5 million.
However, the Czech Republic surprised the world of baseball at last year's WBC. There were players who showed potential, not at the level of taste. In particular, the Japanese baseball community was very interested in the Czech national team. They are continuing their exchanges by providing various support to Czech baseball and inviting the national team to Japan.
In the WBC Japan match, Schlupp made a strong impression by hitting a 163-km fastball from NPB's top pitcher, Roki Sasaki, and hitting a double on the left-field line. In the WBC preliminary round, he hit .352 with a two-homer slugging percentage of 0.706, and also played in the finals in Tokyo with a .471 slugging percentage of .333. Schlupp told the media after his double against Sasaki that it was his happiest moment on the WBC. I wanted to show that I am also playing excellent baseball in Europe"It became a hot topic.
Schlupp, who was selected as a member of the European team in an exhibition match between the European team and the Japanese team in March this year, has been playing for Lake Country Doghouns in the U.S. independent league since July last year.
Schlupp will join the team ahead of next season and get a chance to achieve his dream of becoming a professional baseball player in the Yomiuri Giants.
youll@sportschosun.com
