MLB.com, the official homepage of the US Major League, picked Korea’s Jung-Hoo Lee (Kiwoom Heroes) and Japan’s Rocky Sasaki (Chiba Lotte Marines) as a ‘dream match-up’ to note in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC). .
On the 5th (Korean time), MLB.com mentioned the names of Lee Jeong-hoo and Sasaki Rocky while selecting 12 noteworthy matchups that are likely to unfold at the 2023 WBC.안전놀이터
MLB.com said, “Lee Jung-hoo and Sasaki are international stars and prospective big leaguers. Lee Jung-hoo won the regular season MVP with a batting average of 0.349, 23 home runs, and 113 RBIs in the KBO League last year.” aiming for,” he explained in detail.
Regarding Sasaki, he said, “As one of the best pitchers in Japan, he has achieved a perfect game in the 2022 season. He throws a fastball with a maximum velocity of 164 km.”
Lee Jung-hoo has already been mentioned as a key player in the Korean WBC national team in major American baseball media, including MLB.com. Lee Jung-hoo’s presence once again draws attention ahead of the 2023 WBC final round 1 Group B match to be held at Tokyo Dome, Japan on the 9th.
Sasaki is currently one of the best pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) along with Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Orix Buffaloes). Although his reputation is somewhat hidden by seniors who command the major leagues, such as superstar Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels) and veteran Darvish (San Diego), it is evaluated that his skills and potential are not inferior.
However, it is unlikely that Sasaki will face Korean hitters in the first round of the 2023 WBC. Japanese local media are predicting that Darvish, who has a lot of experience, will be the starting pitcher for the match against Korea on the 10th.
In addition to the composition of ‘Lee Jeong-hoo vs. Sasaki’, MLB.com also expressed expectations on whether Ohtani and the current top hitter in the big leagues, Mike Trout, who are eating one pot rice at the Los Angeles Angels, will be successful.
In addition, the matchup between left-hander Munetaka Murakami (Yakult), who broke the record for the most home runs in a single season by Japanese NPB players last year, and Edwin Dias (New York Mets), Puerto Rican closer, and Yamamoto and Paul Goldschmidt (St. Louis) of the United States was selected as an interesting matchup.