The role of the catcher, the team’s field commander, is very important even in international competitions. It is necessary to analyze the data of unfamiliar hitters and lead the best results with the pitcher lead accordingly. That’s why you have to be faithful to your original role as a catcher.
This is why attention is focused on the representative catchers of Korea and Japan who will participate in the first round Group B match of the 5th World Baseball Classic (WBC), which opens on the 9th. Yang Eui-ji (36, Doosan Bears) and Guy Takuya (31, Softbank Hawks), catchers representing the KBO League and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), also have heavy shoulders. One way to enjoy this tournament is to watch the league’s representative catchers compete with their brains.
Yang Eui-ji is the best catcher in the KBO League. With a career record of 0.307 batting average, 228 home runs, 944 runs batted in, and an on-base percentage of 0.389 recorded in 1585 games, there is no doubt about his offensive power. He’s not just aggressor. He is also good at the role of taking the lead that steals the opponent’s batter’s timing and the role of taking care of young pitchers who are psychologically shaken. This is why Doosan expected the growth of young pitchers by recruiting Yang Eui-ji, who became a free agent (FA) ahead of this season. This WBC is an opportunity to prove one’s ability, so he is eagerly awaiting the day of the showdown more than ever.
Among the three catchers in Japan, two are good at defense, including Kai and Yuhei Nakamura (Yakult Swallows). Like Japanese baseball, which does not miss even the smallest details, it always used defensive catchers in international competitions. Even if his batting average for the season was only around 20%, he was selected without hesitation if he was good at his original role as catcher. 바카라
The main catcher is Ga. His career batting average is mediocre with a batting average of 0.221, 47 homers, 203 RBIs, and an on-base percentage of 0.307. However, he was recognized for his defensive skills by winning the Golden Glove for six consecutive years. His excellent blocking and catching ability gives pitchers a sense of stability, and his pop time of only 1.7 seconds is a testament to his ability to keep runners in check. Restraining runners from advancing is a way to reduce runs. Although the accuracy of his hitting is lacking, his charm is that it is not easy to play head-to-head because he has long-running power, such as recording double-digit home runs for three consecutive years.
