"I want to be the first female baseball player to represent Korea."
Female baseball player Park Joo-ah, 19, made her name known to baseball fans through the JTBC baseball entertainment program "Strongest Baseball," which aired in April. As a group of prominent male players tried out for the team, Park Joo-ah was the only female applicant and made a splash. Park wowed fans with a 66-meter long toss that day, and said she wanted to show that anyone can do it, regardless of gender.
Park grew up in the harsh environment of women's baseball in South Korea. She started playing baseball in middle school with boys in little league. In high school, she almost quit the sport. Little League rules only allow girls to play through the third grade, and there was no elite girls' baseball after high school. Park was even offered a softball team, but she couldn't give up baseball.
In 2020, Park heard that a women's social baseball team had been founded in Changwon, so she traveled to Changwon and joined the Changwon Changmi Baseball Team (Changmiya). The team was only open to residents of Changwon, but Park went to the Changwon Baseball and Softball Association to try out for a uniform. Since her high school days, Park has been traveling back and forth between Seoul and Changwon to pursue her dream.
For Park, 2023 was an unforgettable year. She started with a challenge to become the strongest baseball player and led her team, Changmiya, to three domestic titles (Seondeok Queen Ship, Iksan Mayor's Cup, and Korea Professional Baseball Players Association Long-Term President). She played as the national team's starting shortstop and center fielder at the Asian Baseball Confederation (BFA) Women's Asian Cup in Hong Kong in May and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) 2024 Baseball World Cup Qualifier in Canada in August. She also received the Women's Baseball Outstanding Player Award at the 2023 Baseball and Softball Night on April 18.
"It was a year where I was able to focus on baseball," Park said. "When I first became a national team member four years ago, I was unable to participate in international competitions due to COVID-19. This year, I learned a lot from the national tournament." "I saw potential at the Asian Cup (third place), but the US-Canada team I met at the World Cup was different. The ball was faster and the strength was definitely different. I don't think we showed our full potential. I think we can do better in the future if we improve our skills."토토사이트
It was also a good experience to be coached by the 'strongest coaching staff'. This year, the women's baseball team was coached by coaches Jung Geun-woo, Dong-hyun, Heo Il-sang, Jung Yong-woon, and Yoo Won-sang, all former professional players, led by head coach Yang Sang-moon. Park Joo-ah was a "protégé" of Jung Geun-woo, who is considered the best second baseman in KBO history. "I did well in international competitions because I was with good coaches, and it was an honor to be coached by them," she reflected.Park Joo-ah dreams of becoming a "female beast representing Korea. Pitchers representing women's baseball include Kim Ra-kyung (23), Park's role model. But there is no beast yet. Like Kim, Park also dreams of making it to the Japanese Nippon Professional League, the world's strongest women's baseball league. "There is a precedent for pitchers in women's baseball (Kim Ra-kyung), but there is no beast yet. I want to fulfill my dream and become an inspiration for my peers."