National Team โCoach Ryu Reveals Prior Knowledge ofโฃ Edman‘s Injury, Shifts Focus to Versatile Song Seong-Moon
TOKYO, JAPAN – November 12, 2023 – Korean national baseball team manager Ryu Ji-hyun disclosed today thatโฃ he was aware of Tommy edman’s โankle surgeryโข since September, a revelation that โฃcomes after recent reports surfaced regarding the infielder’s condition. The disclosure coincided wiht increased training for utility player Song Seong-moon at second base, signaling a potential shift in the team’s roster strategy aheadโ of upcoming competitions.
Ryu revealed he โฃlearned โof Edman’s surgery during a meeting with the player in the United States prior to departing for Japan. “I knew about Edman’s ankle surgery last September,” Ryu โstated in โฃan interview. “I’m only telling you now after the โreports came out. At that time, when I went to the โUnited States to meet Korean players, I also metโค Edman, and he told me about the surgery.”
according โฃto Ryu, Edman was already experiencing critically important discomfort at the time.”At that time, Edman’s ankle was in a very bad condition. He said he had to endure it and go to the postseason and didn’t want the media to no about it. โHe didn’t โคperformโฃ as well as he had hoped in the last competition, so he wanted to playโ this time. But he was alsoโ very sad โขbecause he โwasn’t in good shape. He said he would definitely participateโค if โthere was a chance next time.”
The revelationโ regarding Edman’s injury explains the recent focus on Song Seong-moon’s versatility. The Kiwoom Heroes third baseman has been receiving dedicated training at second base during national teamโ practice, which began on November 2nd. Song Seong-moon enjoyed a stellar 2023 season, โposting a .315 batting average (181 hits in 574 at-bats), 26 home runs, 90 RBIs, 103 runs, 25 stolen bases, โa .387 on-base percentage, a.530 โslugging percentage, โand a .917 OPS.
While the national team boasts several strong candidates โat third base – including noh Si-hwan (Hanwha Eagles) with 32 home runs and 101 RBIs, โคMoon โคBo-kyung (LG Twins)โ with 24 home runs, โฃKim Young-woong (Samsung Lions) with 22 home runs, and Han Dong-hee (Armed Forces Athletic Corps) with 27 home runs and โฃ115 RBIs – Song seong-moon’s โขdefensive capabilities at second base and offensive potentialโฃ make him a valuable asset.
Currently, Shin Min-jae (LG Twins) is the only confirmed professional second baseman on the roster. With Edman and Kim Hye-seong (LA Dodgers) facing uncertain participation, Song Seong-moon has emerged as a crucial option to bolster the team’s offensive lineup.
ryu also addressed the ongoing uncertainty surroundingโ the participation of other Korean majorโข leaguers, stating, “I wish (major league players’ joining the national team) would be decided quickly,โฃ but the situation is not favorable. There are several โฃcandidates, but itโข is not โyet time to make a decision. Iโค think it will be announced to some extent in January.โ We are preparing and will move accordingโฃ to the procedures.”
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