Narrow Victory Against Israel: Kim Kyung-moon's Team Faces Tough Challenge from the USA Too

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Beware of Home Runs... Batter-Friendly Stadium with Wind Blowing

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The baseball national team, which defeated Israel after an extended battle, will play their second group stage match against the United States at Yokohama Stadium in Kanagawa Prefecture at 7 p.m. on the 31st. Another tough contest is expected. The U.S. team features many players from Major League Baseball Triple-A and Nippon Professional Baseball. This includes Triston Casas, who is expected to be Boston's future first baseman, Simeon Woods Richardson, mentioned as a potential Toronto starting pitcher, and Nick Allen, an Oakland infield prospect. Veterans with extensive big-league experience such as pitchers Edwin Jackson and David Robertson, and infielder Todd Frazer have also joined, making the U.S. a favorite to win alongside Japan.

The primary players to watch are Nick Martinez (SoftBank) and Scott McGough (Yakult), who are active in Nippon Professional Baseball. Familiarity with Yokohama Stadium allows them to comfortably take the mound. Their skills are also outstanding. Martinez has performed with an 8-3 record and a 2.03 ERA over thirteen games this season. McGough recorded a 2-1 record with 16 saves, 14 holds, and a 2.39 ERA in thirty-nine games. In the batting lineup, outfielder Tyler Austin (Yokohama) plays in Nippon Professional Baseball. This season, he has posted a .314 batting average with 19 home runs and 49 RBIs over sixty-eight games. Manager Mike Scioscia said, "He will play an important role in our offense."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The national team must also be cautious about giving up home runs. Six home runs were hit in the game against Israel. Balls that seemed catchable near the warning track were carried lightly over the fence by strong winds. Yokohama Stadium is a hitter-friendly ballpark. The distance from home plate to the left and right foul poles is 94 meters, and even to the center field fence, it is only 118 meters. After experiencing home runs, Oh Ji-hwan said, "I thought it was a fly ball, but many balls went over." Oh Seung-hwan, who has experience in Nippon Professional Baseball, said, "I knew this stadium often yields home runs," and added, "We need to think more about how to prevent long hits."