I finally seized the opportunity that injury prevented. NC Dinos native left-hander Chang-mo Koo (26) is preparing for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March with excitement.
Koo Chang-mo, who was named on the 30-man final list of the 2023 WBC national team announced on the 4th, showed extraordinary determination.
In a phone call with Newsis on the 5th, Gu Chang-mo said, “It is an honor to wear the Taegeuk mark. important,” he stressed.
With his injury history and WBC appearances in mind, he started off-season training earlier than usual. He is in order to get ready. 스포츠토토
Gu Chang-mo said, “In the past, I did physical training in December, and I did catch ball training from the beginning of January the following year. But this time, I started playing catch ball from mid-December.” I also progressed to the extent of throwing a mid-distance catch ball,” he explained.
He is expected to be the next left-handed ace of the Korean national team to succeed Kim Kwang-hyun (SSG Landers) and Yang Hyeon-jong (KIA Tigers).
Gu Chang-mo, who stood out in 2019 with a record of 10 wins and 7 losses and an ERA of 3.20, achieved a phenomenal record of 9 wins and an undefeated ERA of 1.74 in 15 games before suffering a left arm injury in 2020.
However, due to an injured evil spirit, he was unable to establish a relationship with the Taegeuk mark. This year’s WBC is the first time Koo Chang-mo has been named to the adult national team with no age limit.
Koo Chang-mo once participated in the 2017 Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) as a national team member. This tournament is for players under the age of 24 only.
Afterwards, Chang-mo Koo boarded the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier 12 team in 2019, but returned the Taegeuk mark due to a back injury.
Even at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held in 2021, Koo Chang-mo was unable to join the national team due to rehabilitation due to inflammation and stress fractures in the forearm of his left arm.
Coach Kim Gyeong-moon, who was the national team’s commanding tower at the time, expressed regret, saying, “As a coach, the absence of Koo Chang-mo is the most heartbreaking.”
After recovering from a left arm injury, Gu Chang-mo, who took the mound again in May of last year, played an active role with an average ERA of 2.10 with 11 wins and 5 losses in 19 games, and succeeded in putting the Taegeuk mark proudly.
After a long wait, Koo Chang-mo, who won the Taegeuk mark, said, “I’m looking forward to it and I’m very excited.”
Since the WBC is a tournament led by the Major League Baseball (MLB) Secretariat, world-class stars are all out there.
The U.S. captain Mike Trout (LA Angels), Mookie Betts, Clayton Kershaw (LA Dodgers), Bryce Harper, Trey Turner (Philadelphia Phillies), Pete Alonso (New York Mets), Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt (Above) The St. Louis Cardinals) and other top-notch major leaguers formed the national team.
The faces of the Japanese national team, including Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels), Yu Darvish (San Diego Padres), Seiya Suzuki (Chicago Cubs), and Lars Nutba (St. Louis), are also spectacular.
Koo Chang-mo said, “There are so many great players in the WBC this year, so I was more eager to participate,” and said, “I want to play against Ohtani once.”
Having a tournament with the best players in the KBO League is also something Koo Chang-mo looks forward to. In particular, playing on the same team as left-handers Kim Kwang-hyun and Yang Hyeon-jong, who represent Korea, also excites him.
Gu Chang-mo said, “I will seek advice from seniors Kim Gwang-hyeon and Yang Hyeon-jong. International competitions have a different atmosphere from the regular season. I want to ask how they are different.” said.
Starting the 2023 season with the WBC, Chang-mo Gu’s shoulders are heavier than ever. Gu Chang-mo signed a multi-year contract with NC in December of last year for 6+1 years, a total of 13.2 billion won.
Koo Chang-mo said, “I received a lot of money, so my sense of responsibility has increased. There is a burden, but if I manage it well, I will be able to show what the club wants.”
“I regret that I could not fill the required innings last year (due to injury). I have never played as a full-time starting pitcher, so I feel like I am half way through it,” he said. “Next year, I will prove myself as a starting pitcher. Grades will naturally follow.”