‘Major Leaguer’ Choi Ji-man (Pittsburgh Pirates)’s participation in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was ultimately unsuccessful.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced on the 6th that “Choi Ji-man has been banned from participating in the WBC due to the opposition of his team.” Soon after, Choi Ji-hoon (SSG Landers) was selected as a substitute.
Originally, the KBO Technical Committee included Choi Ji-man in the final list of 30 members of the national team to compete in the WBC. However, Pittsburgh informed the World Baseball Classic Inc (WBCI), the organizing committee of the WBC, for the reason of Choi Ji-man’s surgical history.
At the request of Pittsburgh, the WBCI held an injury review committee to deliberate on whether or not to allow Choi Ji-man to participate in the WBC, and Pittsburgh raised their hand.
Last year’s elbow injury surgery… Pittsburgh concerned about recurrence Pittsburgh
seems to be concerned about the recurrence of the injury of Choi Ji-man, who received surgery to remove the right elbow bone piece last year. Also, Choi Ji-man, who was newly recruited this season, is hoping to join the team as soon as possible to match the existing players.
In addition, Choi Ji-man is facing Pittsburgh over the salary for the 2023 season. Choi Ji-man asked for an annual salary of 5.4 million dollars, while the club offered 4.65 million dollars, failing to reach an agreement until the negotiation deadline, and adjustments are underway.
It is bad news for the Korean national team. On the 27th of last month, national team coach Lee Kang-cheol left for the US spring camp to prepare for the WBC, saying, “It is the best scenario for Choi Ji-man to join.”
It was expected that he would be of great help to the national team because of his excellent skills and rich experience in facing pitchers from around the world in the major leagues, and Choi Ji-man strongly wanted to join the national team, but unfortunately he promised the next one.
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KBO said, “We have prepared for a difficult situation in which Ji-man Choi will join,” and “we selected Choi Ji-hoon as an additional player through review.” 먹튀검증
Choi Ji-hoon played in 144 games in the KBO League in the 2022 season and recorded a batting average of 0.304, 10 homers, 61 RBIs and 93 points. He combined batting, defense, and quick feet to serve as SSG’s main outfielder, helping to win his first combined championship.
Nevertheless, Choi Ji-hoon was not included in the national team list due to Kim Hyun-soo, Lee Jeong-hoo, Na Seong-beom, Park Hae-min, and Park Kun-woo. However, as Choi Ji-man failed to join, he took the opportunity to show his skills on the international stage as he was given the Taegeuk mark.
In particular, it is expected that the management of the national team’s outfield will be much easier as he can digest all positions in the outfield in defense.