05/09/2024 1 Minute Read

Korea to field roster loaded with professionals at WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024

The second-place finishers of the 2022 edition will rely on top KBO prospects. Manager Tae-Won Choi is giving the final touches to his 24-player group.

Manager Tae-Won Choi is still working on Korea's roster for the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024. He will have to cut to 24 the following 28-player squad.

PITCHERS (13) Hyunseok Choi, Jiheon Han, Wonpyo Hong, Seungbin Ju, Mingoo Kang, Baeksan Kim, Dobeen Kim, Taehyun Kim, Hyungwon Lim, Kiho Park, Juhwan Son, Jaeyoung Song, Jaehun Yang
CATCHERS (4) Donghyun Kim, Jaemin Kim, Siang Kim, Hyeonjun Ryu,
INFIELDERS (6) Daein Hing, Daeson Jeong, Doohyun Kim, Junghyun Lee, Sanfgwoo Lim, Hojung Song
OUTFIELDERS (5) Sungmin Choi, Anseok Jeong, Hyunjong Kim, Jinhyung Kim, Sangjun Park

The core of the roster will consist of players under contract with teams in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) league.

The highest profiles are right-handed pitcher Ju-Hwan Son, who was drafted by the NC Dinos in 2024 and has already made his KBO debut. Right-handed pitcher Hyun-Seok Choi (SSG Landers) appeared in the KBO Futures All-Star Game 2024. The Landers took right-handed pitcher Ki-Ho Park as No. 30 overall of the 2024 draft. The 19-year-old helped Korea win bronze at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2023.

The roster will include at least seven University players.

Hard-throwing left-hander Tae-Hyun Kim (Gwangju Jeil High School) will be the only high school player on the roster.

Manager Choi has been the Kyung Hee University head coach since 2023. Born in 1970, he had an 11-year KBO career as an everyday second baseman, becoming a utility player in his final years. He appeared in 1,284 games and posted a 268 career batting average and a .341 on-base percentage. Choi coached at the KBO level from 2005 to 2022.

Choi's staff will include Jaeok Ji, Sang-Yeop Kim and Han-Kyu Seo.

World No. 6 Korea finished second at the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2022. They will compete in Group B and face No. 3 Chinese Taipei, No. 5 Venezuela, No. 7 Netherlands, No. 17 Nicaragua and No. 31 South Africa.

Group A will include No. 1 Japan, No. 10 Puerto Rico, No. 11 Colombia, No. 15 Australia, No. 18 Great Britain and No. 24 China.