The Korean National Baseball Team, led by head coach Ryu Jung-il, will play the final game of the 2023 Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) against Japan at the Tokyo Dome in Japan on April 19.
Korea's starting lineup is Kim Hye-sung (second base), Kim Do-young (third base), Yoon Dong-hee (right fielder), Noh Si-hwan (first base), Kim Hwi-jip (designated hitter), Kim Joo-won (shortstop), Kim Hyung-joon (catcher), Moon Hyun-bin (left fielder), and Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder).
Compared to the second qualifying game against Japan (1-2 loss) on Sept. 17, Kim Hwijip started and Park Seung-gyu was dropped.
Two days earlier, South Korea's starting lineup was Kim Hye-sung (second base), Kim Do-young (third base), Yoon Dong-hee (right field), Noh Si-hwan (first base), Moon Hyun-bin (designated hitter), Kim Hyung-joon (catcher), Kim Joo-won (shortstop), Park Seung-kyu (left field), and Choi Ji-hoon (center field). South Korea was down 0-2 with two outs in the top of the ninth inning when pinch-hitter Kim Hwi-jip hit a solo home run. 먹튀검증
Kim also had a good performance against Chinese Taipei the previous day (Aug. 18), going 1-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and a walk, reaching base three times.
South Korea will face right-hander Tatsuya Imai (Seibu Lions) today. Imai, who boasts a fastball that tops out at 159 kilometers per hour, has appeared in 19 games this season, posting a 10-5 record with a 2.30 ERA.
Japan's starting lineup is Kyota Fujiwara (designated hitter), Kaito Kozono (shortstop), Shota Morishita (left field), Shugo Maki (first base), Shogo Sakura (catcher), Chusei Mannami (right field), Makoto Kadoki (second base), Teruaki Sato (third base), and Yuki Okabayashi (center field).
For South Korea, starting pitcher Kwak Bin will make his first appearance of the tournament.