"It's the most ideal environment to build the body.".
Park Hae-min (outfielder), who played a major role in last year's KBO League LG Twins' overall championship, has been given the important duty of being the hitters' captain for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) team. Determined to shake off the disappointment of being eliminated in the first round three consecutive times, he vowed to advance to the quarterfinals and head to the United States.
Met at the Olleai Sports Complex, where the team's first Saipan camp was set up on the 10th, Park Hae-min said, "I'm very satisfied to be able to train in such a warm place in early Jan., and the team atmosphere is very good. It's the most ideal environment to build the body."
He added, "Because the weather is good, we don't huddle up from the cold and we work up a sweat, so it definitely helps. With the best players gathered in one place for training, concentration is also higher. It's much better for getting in shape than when I'm training individually."
After playing in last year's Korean Series, Park Hae-min had a busy schedule even after the season ended, including being selected for the 2024 K-Baseball Series national team. Regarding his current physical condition, he explained, "I think I've recovered well. I felt the preparation period for next season was much shorter than in other years, but I rested well, and because I have been preparing continuously with trainer Kim Yong-il, there are no issues with my condition."
Confirming the bright future of Korean baseball through the K-Baseball Series last Nov. was also a meaningful experience for Park Hae-min. He said, "Being with the younger players, I felt a lot that the future of Korean baseball is bright. I asked some players their ages and they were much younger than I thought. I felt that if they gain more experience, they will become truly good players."
He also remembered that some pitchers such as Won Tae-in, Moon Dong-ju and Son Ju-yeong were unable to take the mound at that time due to the postseason aftereffects. Park Hae-min said, "They looked really eager to pitch. Seeing that made me expect that they would definitely be able to show good performances at the WBC."
The presence in this national team of the 'eldest brother' Noh Kyung-eun and former major leaguer Ryu Hyun-jin added gravity to the atmosphere. Park Hae-min laughed and said, "Normally, (Choi) Jae-hoon and I would have been the longest-serving members of the national team, but with Kyung-eun hyung and Hyun-jin hyung here, it's really reassuring and we can rely on them."
His resolve to put an end to three consecutive first-round eliminations is firm. He said emphatically, "I don't yet know whether I will make the final roster, but I'm preparing with the mindset that I'm definitely going, not whether I can go to the United States."
Although there remain tasks to sharpen his game sense, Park Hae-min expected they could be sufficiently resolved through the practice games in the second camp to be held in Okinawa.
Boasting the league's best outfield defense, he clearly recognizes his role on the WBC stage. He emphasized, "While I have a strong desire to match up against the world's best players, getting through the first round is the most important thing."
He added forcefully, "(Lee) Jeong-hoo is likely to take center field, but if I'm selected as a starter I'll of course do my best, and even if not, I have to do my part well from behind. Right now, I only want to be a help to the team."
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