South Korea to Face Japan in First 'Real Test' Led by Starting Pitcher So Hyeongjun

[Anchor]

After crushing weaker opponents in their first two group-stage matches, the national baseball team will face host nation Japan tomorrow, September 25, in their opening Super Round game. Pitcher So Hyeongjun is set to make his career-first Asian Games appearance, determined to lead the team to the finals.

Reporter Yu Byeongmin has the story from the scene.

[Reporter]

Back in 2019 at the U-18 Baseball World Cup, So Hyeongjun served as the national team's ace, starting against Japan in a showdown with Roki Sasaki, who currently plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers. So pitched brilliantly, allowing just two runs until two outs in the 7th inning, and became the driving force behind the victory.

Seven years later, he is stepping back onto the mound for a Korea-Japan clash.

Having earned the nickname "big-game pitcher" by recording a postseason ERA in the 1.00s for his club KT, he is determined to show the same fearless grit against Japan.

So participated in voluntary training today, meticulously inspecting the mound at the Toyohashi Stadium battlefield to complete his preparations for the start.

[So Hyeongjun / National Baseball Team Pitcher : My body and arm feel light. If I can just get through the early innings smoothly, I think I will be able to put on a good pitching performance.]

The Japanese national team is anchored by players from the Toyota Motor Corporation baseball team based in Nagoya, the powerhouse of Japanese corporate baseball, and intense support from home fans is expected.

[Ryu Ji-hyun / National Baseball Team Manager : Toyota is the team with the most solid roster in Japanese corporate baseball. In particular, it is a team with exceptionally high proficiency in their pitchers' breaking balls.]

The preparations are complete.

The national team is resolved to defeat Japan and virtually secure their advancement to the finals.

Meanwhile, the national football team will clash with Vietnam in the quarterfinals tomorrow, with the opposing side missing manager Kim Sang-sik and key players who are out for A-match duties.

(Photo courtesy of Yonhap News)
(Reported by Park Jin-ho | Video editing by Park Sun-soo)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.