The South Korean baseball team, aiming for a fifth consecutive gold medal, will begin its quest on September 21 with a match against Taiwan. Attention is focused on infielder Kim Do-young's potential military service exemption.
The team will face Taiwan in the first match of the B group at 6:30 p.m. at Okazaki Central Park Baseball Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Taiwan is considered South Korea's strongest rival in this tournament, featuring a roster of overseas players from Major League Baseball's minor leagues and top domestic league talent. They are viewed as a stronger team compared to Japan, which has fielded a squad of amateur players. In the previous Hangzhou tournament, South Korea also lost its opening game to Taiwan.
In response, the South Korean team has promised a full effort. Ace pitcher Kwak Bin will start, with all other pitchers ready in the bullpen. Taiwan will counter with a surprise starter, Lin Yi-wei, which may pose challenges for South Korean batters early in the game.
Particularly noteworthy is the speculation surrounding Kim Do-young's military service exemption. He is the only player to hit 40 home runs in the KBO League this season and is in a competitive race for the MVP award alongside LG infielder Austin Dean.
Moreover, Kim Do-young has reportedly attracted interest from multiple Major League Baseball teams, showcasing his powerful hitting and speed, which have caught the attention of scouts. Some analysts suggest that if he receives a military service exemption and maintains his current performance, he could secure a contract exceeding $113 million over six years through the posting system, similar to outfielder Lee Jung-hoo's deal with the San Francisco Giants.
Additionally, the roster includes 16 players who have yet to fulfill their military service, including Kim Do-young, Kim Young-woo, Moon Hyun-bin, Jo Hyung-woo, Jung Jun-jae, Bae Chan-seung, Lee Jae-hyun, So Hyung-jun, Oh Won-seok, Choi Jun-yong, Kim Jin-wook, Seong Young-tak, Park Jae-hyun, Choi Min-seok, Park Jun-soon, and Kim Geon-hee. These players are also key members of their respective teams.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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