The Pittsburgh Pirates finally denied Choi Ji-man’s participation in the WBC (World Baseball Classic). Instead of Choi Ji-hoon, SSG Landers outfielder Choi Ji-hoon joins.
On the morning of the 6th (hereafter Korean time), the KBO (Korea Baseball Organization) announced, “Choi Ji-hoon will join the WBC national team. I have been told that I cannot participate.”
The Pittsburgh club expressed its medical objection to the WBCI, citing Choi Ji-man’s surgical history. Accordingly, the WBCI held an injury review committee to deliberate on whether or not to allow Choi Ji-man to participate in the WBC, and decided as such. According to the WBCI’s final judgment, SSG Choi Ji-hoon was selected by the WBC national team’s Technical Committee, Cho Bum-hyeon, technical committee, and national team coach Lee Kang-cheol. Technical Committee, including Technical Committee Chairman Beom-Hyeon Cho, coach Kang-Cheol Lee, and coaching staff prepared for a situation in which only Choi would be difficult to join at the entry stage, and prepared for the selection of additional players through in-depth review.
The national team submits the final 30-man entry to the WBCI on February 8th.
Choi Ji-man, an active major leaguer, has continuously expressed his will to participate in the WBC national team. The National Team Technical Committee and coach Lee Kang-cheol also communicated with Choi Ji-man to check his condition, and he was also listed in the final entry. If Choi Ji-man gets on board, he planned to use him as the main first baseman. Choi Ji-man, who has faced various high-level pitchers in the major leagues, was the best card. Even after his surgery, Choi Ji-man quickly digested his rehabilitation training in Korea, and took into account the WBC schedule and left for the United States earlier than usual. He showed his will to that extent. However, in a situation where salary negotiations with his team, Pittsburgh, were not yet resolved, the Taegeuk mark was misfired as the club did not allow him to participate in the WBC. Choi Ji-man had never been selected for the senior national team. 메이저사이트
Meanwhile, Choi Ji-hoon, who is currently attending SSG’s spring camp schedule in Florida, is planning to move from Florida to Arizona with his teammates Choi Jeong and Kim Kwang-hyun, who were also selected for the national team, in line with the WBC team convocation schedule.