Tokyo: South Korean second baseman Kim Hye-seong has expressed his admiration for Japanese superstar and Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Shohei Ohtani, except when they face off as opponents. The anticipated showdown between the two is set for Saturday night at Tokyo Dome, marking both countries' second Pool C game in the World Baseball Classic (WBC).
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea began the tournament with an 11-4 victory over Czechia on Thursday, while Japan, the reigning champion, dominated Chinese Taipei with a 13-0 win on Friday. Ohtani's performance included a grand slam and five RBIs, a display Kim enjoyed watching as a spectator.
"He's so great and it is always fun to see him when we don't play against him," Kim stated at a pregame press conference on Saturday. "When we are together on the Dodgers, I always root for him and want him to do well. But for today, when he hits anything in my direction, I am going to try to catch it and get him out. And I will be cheering on our pitchers to strike him out, too. He is an incredible player but I will regard him as just one of the players on the other team."
This marks Kim's second appearance in the WBC, though he did not play against Japan in the previous tournament in 2023. When asked about his motivation for the upcoming game due to his past absence, Kim replied with a smile, "I think the only difference between then and now is my age."
"My mindset is the same for every game. I want to win every game that I play," Kim added. "I want to play hard and leave everything out on the field. Japan is a title contender here and it's an honor to be in the same group with them. And it will also be a great experience to play against such a team."
Kim reflected on watching South Korea's memorable battles against Japan in earlier WBC tournaments, which fueled his excitement. "In baseball, no one knows what can happen until the final out," Kim said. "If we stay determined and battle hard, then I think we can win this game. Everyone on the team has the same mindset."