Director Ibata appeared in Daegu with 'Ryu Joong Il-ho Premier 12 Opponent'...Who will they pay attention to?

Oct 25, 2024

Japanese national team coach Hirokazu Ibata is watching the stadium in Game 3 of the Korean Series between KIA and Samsung at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 25th. Daegu = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.10.25/

Coach Hirokazu Ibata, who will face South Korea in Group B of the 2024 WBSC (World Baseball Softball Federation) Premier 12, visited Daegu.

Coach Ibata visited Daegu Lions Park in person on the 25th, where Game 3 of the 2024 Korean Series between the KIA Tigers and Samsung Lions will be held. Coach Ibata, who settled down at the table early before the game, quietly watched the training of the Samsung and KIA teams.

Coach Ibata has already faced South Korea once.

At the APBC (Asia Professional Baseball Championship) held in Japan last year, he won two consecutive games against South Korea in the preliminary and final respectively. In particular, he cheered by winning 4-3 against Ryu Joong-il after a close game in extra time in the final. Ibata, who won his first competition as the coach of the Japanese national team, has renewed his contract until the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Japan is more likely to win Group B in the first round of the Premier 12.

'Monster Pitcher' Roki Sasaki (Chiba Lotte Marines), Kensuke Kondo, and Hotaka Yamakawa (Softbank Hawks), the Pacific League home run king, were excluded, but a large number of key Yomiuri Giants players, including Kazuma Okamodo, Shosei Togo, and Daisei Ota, who won the Central League this year, joined. In addition to them, next-generation Japanese professional baseball stars such as Hiroto Saiki, Shota Morishita (both Hanshin Tigers) and Juusei Manami (Nihonham Fighters) and players who played in APBC last year will participate.

Among the Kia and Samsung players in the Korean Series, a total of 11 players were called by Ryu Joong-il. In KIA, pitcher Jung Hae-young, former Sang-hyun, Kwak Do-gyu, Choi Ji-min, catcher Han Jun-su, infielder Kim Do-young and outfielder Choi Won-jun were included. In Samsung, pitcher Won Tae-in, infielder Kim Young-woong and outfielder Koo Ja-wook and Kim Ji-chan joined.

Manager Ibata is expected to watch only Game 3 of the Korean Series on the 25th. Originally, he was scheduled to watch until Game 4, but the plan was broken due to rain.

Among the players of both teams playing in the Korean Series, Koo Ja-wook is not able to play due to injury. Won Tae-in, who was a starter in the first leg, is also scheduled to start the fourth leg on the 26th. Kim Do-young, who is playing as a key player in KIA's batting lineup, and Kim Ji-chan and Kim Young-woong, a fielder resource that Samsung boasts, are expected to catch Ibata's attention. KIA's bullpen, which will take the mound depending on the game situation, is also likely to include manager Ibata's checklist.

ppark@sportschosun.com

Director Ibata appeared in Daegu with 'Ryu Joong Il-ho Premier 12 Opponent'...Who will they pay attention to?

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