Is this a practice game? Lotte's first experience of ML-style pitch clock → check limit...WBC's sincerity mode is meeting Taiwan.

Feb 10, 2025

photo courtesy of Lotte Giants

Taiwan Taipei Dome. Reporter Song Jeong-heon songs@sportschosun.com

Taiwan's desire to win is more than expected. It's literally a 'sincere mode' ahead of the WBC (World Baseball Classic).

Lotte Giants will play a practice game against Taiwan's WBC national team at Taipei Dome in Taiwan over two days from the 12th to the 13th.

From Lotte's point of view, the performance was prepared to enhance the sense of actual matches ahead of the opening of the season. However, preparations for the game are more serious than expected.

A week before the game, he had a media day with the head coaches and star players of both teams, and the rules of the game were also in line with WBC.

Above all, Lotte, which was the team that violated the most Peach Clocks last year, experienced a proper match with Peach Clocks. Furthermore, it is a much tighter regulation than the KBO League. There was a reason why head coach Kim Tae-hyung repeatedly said, `It will be a good experience ahead of the new season.'

The KBO League has relatively room for pitch clock regulations compared to the Major League. There is no restriction on the departure of the pitching board, and unlike Major League Baseball (15 seconds when there is no runner, 18 seconds when there is no runner), pitches are made within 20 seconds when there is no runner and 25 seconds when there is no runner. The batter's time is also twice (one time in the Major League). Initially, the KBO League also considered restricting the departure of the pitching board (three times allowed, four times allowed, two times allowed in the major league) but it was not introduced in 2025.

photo courtesy of Lotte Giants

However, the WBC is a competition hosted by the MLB Secretariat. All regulations are in line with MLB. The same goes for the pitch clock and the pitchboard departure limit (2nd inning). For Lotte, it will have its first experience against Taiwan's WBC national team, which had a momentum right after winning the Premier 12 in the pitch clock environment of the Korean baseball standard 'worst' ahead of the opening.

In the case of official balls, Taiwanese pitchers use official balls in the WBC qualifying round, and Lotte uses official balls in the KBO.

Lotte Captain Jeon Jun-woo "Taiwan training facility is so good. From early work to night training. I'll prepare well and play the practice game well. I want to show good results this year" expressed his determination.

Kim Jin-wook also said "Taiwan training facilities are so good that I built my body efficiently. I'm looking forward to the game from the 12th to the 13th. I think it will be a good experience. I'll do my best"I vowed.

photo courtesy of Lotte Giants

Lotte will move to Taipei Dome on the 11th to train for local adaptation. Taipei Dome is the latest domed stadium in Taiwan, which opened in December 2023. More than 40,000 spectators can enter.

While Taiwan's local fans are expected to cheer, Lotte will also hold a cheering stage led by Jo Ji-hoon, the head of the cheering squad, along with the Taiwan Spring Camp fan attendance team. Team leader Mok Na-kyung and Choi Hong-ra and Park Dam-bi Oh Hyo-jung will be the cheerleaders.

The Lotte-Taiwan WBC national team friendly match will be played at 6:35 p.m. local time. The time difference with Korea is an hour. Now, both days will be broadcast from 7:35 p.m. on Lotte's official YouTube (Giant's TV). The broadcast team consists of caster Kim Dong-hyun and commentator Shin Bon-ki.

Lotte is also planning to send a fan observation team to the upcoming Miyazaki Spring Camp.