Why Did Korean Pitchers Become Easy Targets in the WBC?

Lack of Experience and Criticism of Failed Generational Change
Manager Lee Kang-cheol: "Good Results Will Come If We Wait"
KBO Apologizes, "We Will Prepare Mid- to Long-Term Measures"

The 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) Korea-Japan match is referred to among baseball fans as the "Tokyo Disaster." In particular, there has been widespread criticism regarding the management of the pitching staff following the WBC game results. The management of the pitchers was neither meticulous nor effective, and the pitchers who were brought in were all criticized for being powerless.

Korea's national team manager Lee Kang-chul has been criticized for not properly managing the pitching staff due to the burden of the upcoming game against Japan the very next day after the match against Australia on the 9th. Kim Kwang-hyun started in the game against Japan on the 10th and pitched perfectly through the second inning, but collapsed in the third inning due to fatigue from being on bullpen standby during the previous day's game against Australia. Only the manager knows why the "ace pitcher" was saved, but some speculate that Kim Kwang-hyun was only brought to the mound for the Japan game out of concern for the backlash that would follow if they lost to Japan. Kim Kwang-hyun's performance in this WBC was 2 innings pitched, 3 hits allowed, and 4 runs given up.

Experts also criticized the management of the pitching staff. On the 14th, Lee Soon-chul, a baseball commentator who appeared on YTN's "News King Park Ji-hoon," analyzed, "The pitchers seemed to be chased by anxiety during the game, and since many pitchers had little experience on the national team, they couldn't pitch their own style, which caused control issues and such tendencies." Baseball critic Satozaki Tomoya, a former member of the Japanese national team, pointed out, "In the Korean league, most of the main pitchers are foreign players," and criticized, "The KBO League does not try to develop domestic pitchers."

On the afternoon of the 12th, the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool B first-round game between Czech Republic and Korea was held at Tokyo Dome, Japan. In the top of the 7th inning, Lee Kang-chul, the manager of the Korean national team, is heading to the dugout after a pitching change.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Foreign media evaluations were similar. MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball (MLB), pointed to the pitching staff as the reason for Korea's loss to Japan. MLB.com stated, "Early in the game, starter Kim Kwang-hyun pitched well and the offense performed, giving Korea the lead, but the pitchers collapsed and the game slipped away. Korea used 10 pitchers, but none could handle the Japanese lineup." The Japanese sports media outlet "Full Count" analyzed, "Kim Kwang-hyun, who was scheduled to be a relief pitcher, started because there was no one else to rely on." There is criticism that the Korean pitching staff has failed in generational change.

The result of the collapsed pitching staff management was disastrous. In the game against Australia on the 9th, Korea gave up 5 walks (a combined figure of 'walks' and 'hit by pitch'), and in the following day's game against Japan, they allowed as many as 9 walks. Over 17 innings against Australia and Japan, the Korean pitchers gave up 21 runs, with an earned run average (ERA) of 11.12, ranking last among the 10 countries in Groups A and B. Ultimately, Korean pitchers failed to throw strikes properly.

In the Japan game, Kwak Bin, Jung Cheol-won, Kim Yoon-sik, Koo Chang-mo, and Lee Eui-ri took the mound but all gave up runs and faltered. Kim Yoon-sik, who came in during the 6th inning with no outs and runners on third base, showed control problems by issuing 2 walks and hitting a batter before being pulled. In contrast, Japan, which won all 4 games in this tournament, had Sasaki Roki start against the Czech Republic, striking out 8 batters over 3⅔ innings, allowing 2 hits and 1 run (unearned), pitching excellently.

On the afternoon of the 10th, the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool B first-round game between Korea and Japan, held at Tokyo Dome in Japan, ended with Korea's 4-13 defeat. Korean pitchers wore somber expressions after the game. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the collapsed mound, manager Lee Kang-chul briefly stated that there will be good results in the next international tournament. In an interview upon returning on the 14th, Lee said, "Young players could not demonstrate their abilities. If young players like So Hyeong-jun and Lee Eui-ri had just thrown their own pitches, good results would have come." He was not criticizing the two players. Lee added, "I am disappointed too, but they themselves are even more disappointed. Since they have gained experience, if the public waits for them, I believe they will achieve good results." In response to criticism about the frequent use of pitchers like Kim Won-joong, Jung Cheol-won, and Won Tae-in being "overused," he retorted, "I wish people would check how many pitchers are used in the Korean Series before making such comments."

Meanwhile, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) officially apologized for the poor performance of the baseball national team, which was eliminated in the first round for the third consecutive WBC. On the 16th, the KBO issued an apology statement, saying, "We sincerely apologize to the citizens and baseball fans who supported us for the national team's performance and results that did not meet expectations." They added, "The KBO and the 10 teams deeply feel responsible for the WBC results and will humbly accept various criticisms. We will prepare mid- to long-term measures to enhance the competitiveness of the league and the national team."