Former Baseball Star Lee Dae-hyung Reveals Inside Stories on WBC

Former baseball player turned commentator Lee Dae-hyung has shared intriguing stories related to the World Baseball Classic (WBC).

On the 20th, the official YouTube channel of 'KBS Sports' released an episode of 'Sugeun Sugeun Recent Baseball' featuring the 'hit duo' commentators Park Yong-taek and Lee Dae-hyung. Host Shim Soo-chang revealed his connection with the two commentators, expressing excitement for the baseball talk, noting, "This is the first time Shim Soo-chang, Park Yong-taek, and Lee Dae-hyung are filming together."

The trio analyzed the roster announced by WBC national team manager Ryu Ji-hyun. Park Yong-taek commented, "I've known Manager Ryu Ji-hyun for over 20 years, and he likes to plan. It seems he has assembled a team that fits his strategy. Usually, national teams are selected based on past team members or top-performing players, but this time, there's a clear plan for who will be the starters, who will replace them if needed, and who will be the pinch runners and defensive substitutes."

Lee Dae-hyung, who participated as a member of the KBO's power enhancement committee, added, "Everything has been prepared from A to Z. It's the best composition," revealing some internal secrets. When Park Yong-taek mentioned veteran pitchers like Ryu Hyun-jin and Noh Kyung-eun, Lee Dae-hyung agreed, saying, "The top priority in pitcher selection was game management and stability," and shared more insights into the selection lineup.

Regarding the chemistry between 'Pele-taek' Park Yong-taek, whose predictions often go awry, and 'Shaman Man' Lee Dae-hyung, who seems to hit the mark, announcer Lee Dong-geun, who will join as a caster, commented, "It's a synthesis of opposites," hinting at the dynamic process of their collaboration.

Park Yong-taek warned, "Even if I say something positive, many dislike it. So let me say, we must be cautious in the first game. This isn't baseless. Since 2013, we've lost the first games against teams like the Netherlands, Israel, and Australia, whom we thought we'd beat. We think we'll win against the Czech Republic in the first match, but we must be careful," emphasizing the importance of not underestimating opponents. The video featuring Park Yong-taek and Lee Dae-hyung quickly surpassed 20,000 views, with fans commenting, "Excited for the WBC," "The meeting of Shaman Dae-hyung and Pele-taek is like a battle of spear and shield," and "The commentary team's balance makes me look forward to KBS."

Meanwhile, Park Yong-taek, Lee Dae-hyung, and Shim Soo-chang discussed notable players not included in the roster and predicted starting lineups for the Korean national team. This analysis can be rewatched on the 'KBS Sports' official YouTube channel. The upcoming episode of 'Sugeun Sugeun Recent Baseball,' airing on the 27th, will feature Park Yong-taek and Lee Dae-hyung analyzing Korea's opponents.

The WBC, a prestigious baseball tournament where top-tier players compete for national pride, will take place from March 5 to 18.

Reporter Kim Se-ah, TenAsia haesmik@tenasia.co.kr