Next, I want to achieve good results in the WBC and Premier 12.”
Jang Hyun-seok (18, Masan Yongma High School), who was selected to the national team as a high school student for the first time in the Asian Games, proudly announced that he would participate in international competitions at the next opportunity.
After returning to Korea with the national team through Incheon International Airport on the 8th, Jang Hyun-seok said in an interview with reporters, “Of course I want to go to an international competition. Being a member of the Korean national team is definitely a position worth feeling proud of. If you are called enough, I can respond. “I have a desire to go out to the WBC or Premier 12 with my seniors and achieve good results,” he said.
Jang Hyun-seok, the No. 1 high school pitcher, announced his intention to advance overseas instead of the KBO League and signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Afterwards, there was controversy over injury as he did not pitch in practice ahead of the national team call-up, but he was selected for the national team by proving his health by throwing a fast ball 150 km away in a practice game. At the Hangzhou Asian Games, he appeared in his first qualifying match against Hong Kong and the Super Round against China.
On the 1st, against Hong Kong, he came on the mound in the top of the 7th inning with a 3-0 lead, and gave up a ball that hit the leadoff hitter, but after that, he allowed no hits and no runs, including 2 strikeouts. On the 6th, against China, he came on the mound in the bottom of the 8th inning with an 8-0 lead, and pitched for the first time. He was hit by a hitter and allowed a triple with two outs, resulting in one run. Jang Hyun-seok scored Korea’s only goal that day.안전놀이터
Regarding his pitching in the Asian Games, Jang Hyun-seok said, “I would like to give him about 80 points,” and “I gave him a score in the game against China, and there were some disappointing points in the first game as well.”
Working with pros at the Asian Games opened my eyes. Jang Hyun-seok said, “I felt a lot,” and added, “When I watched the professional pitching, I felt that amateur pitching was just amateur pitching. The professional world was different again. From warming up to weight training, everything was different. Watching the seniors do it, I felt like I was in America. “I went and thought about what to do,” he said.
Jang Hyun-seok said, “It’s amazing that my brothers were selected even though they are amateurs, and they praised me a lot for being brave and pitching well. They also told me that they all worked hard and encouraged me to work hard and move up to the major leagues and do really well in the United States.” He stated his goal: “I want to go to the big leagues as soon as possible.”
Jang Hyun-seok, who has not yet announced a schedule for when he will go to the United States, said, “I want to visit my elementary and middle school teachers and spend time with friends I haven’t seen before.”