[News Figures] WBC Korea National Team Infielder Tomi Edmeon

Mother Immigrated to US in Childhood 'Korean-American'
Multi-Position Player in St. Louis
2021 National League Second Baseman Gold Glove Honor

Tommy Edmon [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Korean-American major leaguer Tommy Edman (27, St. Louis) has joined the South Korea World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team. Edman became the first Korean-American player to wear the Taegeuk mark.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced the final roster of 30 players for the 2023 WBC on the 4th. The roster includes 15 pitchers, 2 catchers, 8 infielders, and 5 outfielders. Edman will showcase his solid defense as an infielder alongside Kim Ha-seong (San Diego), Choi Ji-man (Pittsburgh), Choi Jeong (SSG Landers), Kim Hye-sung (Kiwoom Heroes), Oh Ji-hwan (LG Twins), Park Byung-ho, and Kang Baek-ho (kt wiz). Choi Ji-man is still awaiting his club's approval.

Edman was able to be included in the South Korean WBC team because, according to WBC regulations, players can choose the country they represent based on their parents' or grandparents' lineage or place of birth, regardless of nationality. This choice can be made up to the grandparent generation on both paternal and maternal sides.

As a result, baseball officials led by KBO Commissioner Hur Koo-yeon emphasized the necessity of including Korean-American major leaguers, and in September last year, Yeom Kyung-yeop, then KBO Technical Committee Chairman and current LG manager, met Edman in the United States to discuss his participation.

Edman also expressed a positive stance, and finally, with the approval of the St. Louis club, Edman's inclusion was finalized. Technical Committee Chairman Cho Beom-hyun explained, "Last year, then Technical Committee Chairman Yeom Kyung-yeop visited the U.S., met with the players, and received a firm confirmation from Edman that he wanted to participate, which led to the decision."

Edman is the second son among two brothers and one sister, born to John, a former college baseball player and high school baseball coach, and Gwak Kyung-ah, who immigrated to the U.S. during Edman's childhood. Perhaps due to genetic influence, Edman, who attended Stanford University in the U.S. and joined St. Louis in 2016, was honored with the National League Gold Glove Award for second basemen in 2021. Last year, he was also selected as a multi-position winner at the 'Fielding Bible Awards,' which evaluate purely defensive records.

On the offensive side, he demonstrated strong performance with a .265 batting average, 13 home runs, 95 runs scored, 57 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases over 153 games. Overall, he is a versatile player capable of delivering both solid defense and sharp offense on the WBC stage.

Edman has consistently emphasized his Korean identity publicly. When Kim Kwang-hyun (35, SSG) joined the St. Louis spring camp in 2020, Edman greeted him first in Korean with "Annyeonghaseyo" and introduced himself by saying, "I am Korean too." Regarding his taste preferences, he jokingly told a media outlet, "Kimchi and galbi are the most delicious."

South Korea national team manager Lee Kang-chul expressed high expectations for Edman, saying, "He is a multi-position player, but his main position is second base. He won the Gold Glove two years ago and played abroad with Kim Ha-seong, so we will utilize them as a keystone combination and plan to use him as a starter."