Seoul:The national baseball team has appointed veteran coach Choi Won-ho as the manager for an upcoming regional tournament. Choi will lead the team at the Asia Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) scheduled to take place from November 12 to 15 in Tokyo, featuring teams from Japan, Australia, and Taiwan.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Choi's appointment follows the vacancy left by Ryu Ji-hyun, who was recently hired as the new skipper for the Hanwha Eagles, a Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club. Choi, 53, has previously managed the Eagles and has extensive experience with the national team, having served in various coaching capacities at international tournaments. His roles included quality control coach at the World Baseball Classic in March and pitching coach at the Asian Games in September, where South Korea won the gold medal.
The KBO expressed confidence in Choi's leadership and understanding of international competitions, which they see as vital for the team's success at the APBC. Choi is set to meet the national team at the start of their training camp on November 2.
The APBC allows participation from players aged 24 or younger, with each team permitted to include up to three players aged between 24 and 29, or those with no more than three years of professional experience. The inaugural APBC was held in 2017, and after a pandemic-induced cancellation in 2021, the tournament resumed in 2023, with Japan defeating South Korea in the final on both occasions.