Six SSG veterans will choose and go to Japan instead of the United States. Why?

Jan 08, 2025

SSG 최정. Sports Chosun DB

Veteran players were given a choice of camp location. Six players head to Japan, not the United States.

SSG Landers are scheduled to leave for Florida, USA, the first spring camp site for the first team squad, on the 23rd. The list of camp participants has already been almost confirmed. However, six of the key players were excluded from the list. Head coach Lee Soo-yong, first-team coaching staff, captain Kim Kwang-hyun and most of the main players will go to Florida, but six players, including Choi Jung, Kim Sung-hyun, Lee Ji-young, Kim Min-sik, Han Yu-sum and Oh Tae-gon, will not board the flight to Florida.

There is a reason. The Jackie Robinson Sports Complex in Vero Beach, Florida, which SSG has long enjoyed as a camp site, is equipped with the best facilities and athletic environment. However, there is only one drawback. It's the distance and time difference. There are no direct flights from Korea to Florida, and the flight time is enormous. Usually, SSG teams travel to Atlanta, take a layover flight to a nearby airport. After arriving at the airport, it also takes an additional time to travel to Vero Beach accommodation by car. It takes about 20 hours to travel alone.

Han Yu Island. Sports Chosun DB

There is also a 14-hour time difference here. It is the best condition for athletes to exercise once they arrive. All the facilities are conveniently well-equippedWhile praising ", I have felt a great burden of travel time. Therefore, SSG also thought about moving the camp site, but after owner Jung Yong-jin visited Jackie Robinson himself, he said, `I don't think there's a better environment.' The club is well aware of the burden of moving, but this is why it has extended the facility use contract because it is difficult to find a better place.

However, this time, coach Lee Sung-yong gave senior players a choice. At a meal with coach Lee Sung-yong and senior players during the off-season "I'll give you a choice about this camp site." It will be implemented separately in the United States or Japan." Choi Jung, Kim Sung-hyun, Lee Ji-young, Kim Min-sik, Han Yu-seom, and Oh Tae-gon chose to go to Japan among the senior fielders. There was a disagreement among pitchers. Kim Kwang-hyun chose to go to the U.S. to be with other players as captain this year, and Noh Kyung-eun chose to go to the U.S. because her personal performance was good after the Florida camp. So only six fielders decided to build themselves in Kagoshima, Japan.

이숭용 감독. Sports Chosun DB

These players are building up in Kagoshima, not Florida, and can train together when the second-tier squad joins in mid-February. Last year, all the players played in the U.S. camp together as it was Lee's first season in charge, but some players decided to do dualization this time as they felt difficulty in 'the condition returns to square one when they return to the U.S. due to the burden of travel distance and time difference'. In addition, as the camp decided to take fielders' training intensely, veteran players whose baseball has already been established are considered to build their bodies in a relatively less burdensome place.

Of course, you shouldn't loosen up your exercise just because you're going to Japan, not the United States. Coach Lee Sung-yong also emphasized a heavy responsibility to veterans, saying, `You build your bodies elsewhere, but you take responsibility for the results.'

After the first camp in Florida, SSG will play the second camp in Okinawa, Japan, focusing on actual games. At that time, the full force will gather.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.