Premier 12 Preliminary List Submitted, but why isn't Kim Hye-sung and Kang Baek-ho available?

Sep 12, 2024

Kium Kim Hye-sung and KT Kang Baek-ho. Sports Chosun DB

The baseball team submitted a preliminary list of 60 people for the Premier 12. However, key hitters, KT Wiz's Kang Baek-ho and Kiwoom Heroes' Kim Hye-sung, were missing. What happened.

The KBO Power Enhancement Committee submitted a preliminary list of 60 players 'premier12' to the WBSC (World Baseball Softball Federation). As this announcement is a preliminary list, additional replacements can be made even after submission. Until the final entry is confirmed, it can be changed according to WBSC regulations. Therefore, players who are not included in the preliminary list submitted this time can also be selected for the final list in the future.

The Power Reinforcement Committee has set up preliminary entries mainly for young players in their 20s. Hanwha Eagles Moon Dong-ju and Roh Si-hwan, who showed their willingness to join the national team for the first time in their lives, and Samsung Lions ace Won Tae-in, who is seeking to win the league's most wins, were named, centering on KIA Tigers Kim Do-young, who is likely to be the MVP of the KBO League this season. Among the new players who joined this year, two were Doosan Bears' Kim Taek-yeon and SSG Landers' Park Ji-hwan.

The Power Enhancement Committee has made a preliminary list of young athletes in their 20s who are expected to play at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) and the 2028 LA Olympics. Following last year's Hangzhou Asian Games and APBC, young players who should lead Korean baseball in the future aim to strengthen their competitiveness in international competitions at a higher level through Premier 12, he explained the background of the entry. However, in the future, we will continue to consider replacing players other than the preliminary list in positions that need to be strengthened by comprehensively considering the final performance of the KBO League and the analysis of the opponent's power.

However, the names of Kiwoom Kim Hye-sung and KT Kang Baek-ho are missing among the players who were likely to board. The two are regular players on board for the national team. It's a bit of a surprise that it's not even included in the preliminary entry.

There was a reason. Kang Baek-ho and Kim Hye-sung received special military service benefits when they won gold medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games. In addition to the two, all of the players who received military service benefits at the time are meeting the requirements by filling mandatory hours such as volunteer work. However, players who benefited from the Asian Games should receive basic military training this year. Kang Baek-ho and Kim Hye-sung have to enter the training center on the date designated by the Military Manpower Administration, and they have to train during the Premier 12 tournament. No other players are applicable, but the participation in the tournament was canceled due to the overlapping service periods of only two players. It is impossible to change the admission date.

The game between Doosan and Kiwoom at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 10th, Kiwoom Song Sung-moon and Kim Hye-sung are talking. Gocheok = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.09.10/

In particular, it is a regrettable result for Kim Hye-sung. Kim Hye-sung is planning to challenge Major League posting after the end of this season after consultation with his team, Kiwoom Heroes. Several major league clubs are already interested in recruiting Kim Hye-sung. No wonder the more he plays in international competitions, the higher the ransom goes. Premier 12 is the only international tournament to be held just before posting. However, as he was not allowed to participate in this competition, he suffered a lot of damage.

Meanwhile, the deadline for submitting the final entry for Premier 12 is October 11. The Korea Power Reinforcement Committee and the national team's coaching staff will closely examine the competitiveness of each player, including those outside the preliminary list, to confirm the team Korea entry to participate in the Premier 12.

The Korean national baseball team joins Japan, Taiwan, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Australia in Group B and will play the first round in Taipei, Taiwan, from Nov. 13-18. The Super Round, in which the first and second places in each group compete, will be held in Tokyo, Japan from November 21. The date of call-up of the national team selected for the final entry of Team Korea and the departure schedule for Taiwan will be confirmed later.

youll@sportschosun.com