Young KBO stars to test mettle vs. world No. 1 Japan in Tokyo

Up-and-coming stars in the Korean baseball league will get to test their mettle against the mighty Japan this weekend as the two countries renew their rivalry in exhibition games in Tokyo. Korea and Japan will go toe-to-toe at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and again at 7 p.m. Sunday, both times at Tokyo Dome. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) scheduled these games, along with two earlier games against the Czech Republic in Seoul, to help the national team gear up for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March next year. Korea, Japan and the Czech Republic will all play in Pool C in the preliminary round, with Australia and Chinese Taipei being the two other nations in the group. Korea handled the Czechs with ease, beating them 3-0 while striking out 17 batters and then pounding them 11-1 behind 17 hits. But Japan, the 2023 WBC champion and world No. 1, will present a whole different challenge for Korea and its manager, Ryu Ji-hyun. Korea has lost nine consecutive games against Japan in pro-vs.-pro competitions, including the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and 2023 WBC. Ryu has repeatedly said this week thaWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times