Ryu Ji-hyun, head coach of the Korean national baseball team, expressed his position on the absurd public opinion that Tommy Edman (LA Dodgers) has given up.토토사이트

KBO agreed to hold a national team warm-up match at Tokyo Dome in Japan on November 15 and 15. KBO President Hu Jie-yeon and Korean national team coach Ryu Ji-hyun visited Tokyo on the 17th and officially announced the hosting of the warm-up match with Japan's NPB President Sakakibara Sadayuki and Ibata Hirokazu.

However, the controversy took place in the wrong place. A press conference was held on the spot because Japanese media reported that they might have given up on recruiting Edman over Ryu's comment.

At the press conference on the day, Japanese reporters asked the coaches of the two countries about recruiting Dodgers players. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he would support Dodgers players to participate in the WBC. Japan is sensitive to the issue as superstar Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Rocky Sasaki are members of the Dodgers.

The problem is that Ryu mentioned Dodgers players, only Kim Hye-sung and Jang Hyun-seok, and left out Edman. Therefore, Japanese media interpreted that Edman's transfer was virtually difficult, so they did not mention it. It can be speculated that Edman's stock price has become difficult to bring in as he signed an extension contract with the Dodgers for a five-year favorite of $74 million last season on the NLCS MVP. Edman, who participated in the 2023 WBC as the Korean representative, has already hit six home runs this year, becoming the center hitter of the Dodgers.

Ryu returned home on the 18th after a busy schedule, including watching the Yomiuri Giants and Chiba Lotte Marines home games, in addition to attending a press conference. "There is no need to respond to Edman's story," Ryu said with a smile. "On the topic of Dodgers, I was just saying that I was also watching Kim Hye-sung and Jang Hyun-seok, who are active in minor stages. The reason I didn't talk about Edman is because he is a player who should be joined if he is available."

Ryu visited the U.S. before the opening of the season to meet all mixed-race players. "They're all similar. I can't say for sure right now," Ryu said. "However, I received an answer that I would consider participating positively if it were possible," he explained. In particular, he added that since Edman and Riley O'Brien all have Korean mothers in common, he hopes to participate as a filial piety to his mother. However, since he is a professional player, he cannot say "I will go out unconditionally" from now on because he has to weigh his body, contract status, and whether the team allows him or her at the time of the tournament. He said that all Japanese players playing for the Dodgers are in the same condition.

Finally, coach Ryu explained, "Edman has a lot of affection for the Korean national team. However, there were injuries and sluggishness during the 2023 tournament, so we have to be cautious from the player's point of view."

Still, the prospects are bright. As mentioned above, most players in the U.S. are favorable to players' participation in the WBC next year. Unless something unexpected happens, Ohtani will also likely participate. With Lee Jung-hoo from San Francisco set on fire, most of the main players of the Korean national team will participate without any intention to refuse to join the team, and thus the strongest team will be formed. Edman will naturally be interested in such a competition. Unless you are worried about the situation of being called by the U.S. national team.