By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, March 3 (Yonhap) — If he will indeed play the World Baseball Classic (WBC) opener for South Korea next week, pitcher Ko Young-pyo has prepared well on Friday.
The right-hander went three hitless innings and struck out four, as South Korea beat minor league affiliate SSG Landers 10-2 in their final scrimmage at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.
South Korea’s Ko Young-pyo throws against SSG Landers during a scrimmage for the World Baseball Classic at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on March 3, 2023. (Yonhap)
In an informal game designed to give the national team pitchers enough work to do, Ko ended up recording six outs after facing seven batters in the third inning. He was so effective that he ended up throwing just 37 pitches to get his 12 outs.
South Korea’s first Pool B match is Thursday against Australia at the Tokyo Dome. With his unusual delivery and ability to unbalance hitters with a range of pitches, Ko is a logical choice for the starting task in this crucial tournament opener.
He will go on a regular five-day rest, if he takes the mound against the Australians.
“I think I’m going to have to pitch like I always have,” Ko said when asked about his approach to the possible opening assignment. “If I set the bar too high, I might start to feel some pressure. I’m going to take one hitter at a time, try to throw strikes and stay focused on the things I’m doing well.
One thing Ko has done well throughout his Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) career is inducing ground balls. He had a league-leading 1.92 ratio last season.
And behind Ko will be one of the best defensive midfielders in the tournament, with Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres at shortstop and Tommy Edman of the St. Louis Cardinals at second base. Edman won the National League Golden Glove at second base in 2021, and Kim was a runner-up at shortstop last year.
South Korean outfielder Lee Jung-hoo (L) and starter Ko Young-pyo punch after finishing first in the first inning against SSG Landers during a scrimmage for the World Baseball Classic at the Gocheok Sky Dome of Seoul on March 3, 2023. (Yonhap)
“It’s going to be reassuring to know that I have two great major league defensemen behind me,” Ko said to those guys and keep throwing my two-seam fastballs to get ground balls. Let’s hope they catch them all, even if they might run out on the pitch.
WBC first-round pitchers will be limited to 65 pitches. Most starters won’t be able to pitch past the fifth or sixth innings, which favors the relief pitch.
Ko said he tried to keep that in mind when preparing.
“First and foremost, I have to keep the other team off the board. Even if I increase my pitch count, I know I have great pitchers behind me,” Ko said. tried to be a little aggressive today, and I have to be a little sharper with my commands.
South Korea’s Ko Young-pyo throws against SSG Landers during a scrimmage for the World Baseball Classic at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on March 3, 2023. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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