“If I stand on the pitcher’s mound again at the Tokyo Dome in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) next March, I will be well prepared and throw beautiful pitches.”
Cho Byung-hyun (SSG Landers) has his sights set on the 2026 WBC.
Cho Byung-hyun, the No. 28 overall pick in the second and third rounds of 2021, was named by SK Wyverns (currently SSG). He is a right-handed pitcher who can throw a powerful fastball that exceeds 150 kilometers. In a total of 148 games (147 innings), he achieved 9 wins and 10 losses, 42 game saves, 12 game saves, and an average ERA of 2.88.
Especially recently he has been performing very well. He participated in a total of 76 games (73 innings) in the 2024 season, achieving 4 wins, 6 losses, 12 successful saves, 12 successful saves, and an average ERA of 3.58. This year he participated in a total of 69 games (67.1 innings) and achieved 5 wins and 4 losses, 30 saves, 79 strikeouts, and an average earned run average of 1.60, firmly locking SSG’s back door. Among the pitchers who achieved double-digit saves, only Cho Byung-hyun had an ERA of about 1 point.
On the 16th of this month, the match between the professional volleyball men’s Korean Air Team and Hyundai Capital was held at Gyeyang Gymnasium. The reporter met Cho Byung-hyun after the kickoff. He said, “I am glad that I have had a good year this year. SSG substitute pitchers Noh Kyung-eun, Kim Min, and Lee No-woon pitched well, and my results have also improved.” “Everything I have has been shown this year.”
His role model is Oh Seung-hwan, the best finishing pitcher in Korea’s history. He emphasized, “My goal in life is to continue to achieve good results like Oh Seung-hwan senior,” and “I must achieve at least the results of this year next year. This is my short-term goal.”
After the season, he accepted a call from the Korean National Baseball Team led by coach Ryu Ji-hyun and completed the NAVER K-BASEBALL SERIES (K-Baseball Series) schedule. The match is in preparation for the 2026 WBC, which will be held in March next year. In the first game against the Czech Republic, Cho Byeong-hyun allowed one hit, no outs, two strikeouts, and no runs in one inning. In the second game against Japan at the Tokyo Dome, Japan, Cho Byeong-hyun had no hits, three walks, one strikeout, and two runs in one inning, which was somewhat shaky.
He made up his mind, “If you play without recovering your strength, you won’t be able to control the ball, and the power of the ball will not be good.” “If I stand on the pitcher’s pedal of the Tokyo Dome again in the WBC next March, I will be well prepared and throw beautiful pitches.”
He continued: “Although you can only participate in the (WBC) if you are selected for the (national team), you are training according to the WBC schedule. In the past, pitching in the alternate pitching training area started in mid-February, but this year I plan to pitch early.”
In order to prepare for the WBC, training will be transferred to Saipan next month. Zhao Bingxuan is on the list with dignity and dignity. In particular, “Korean Monster” Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha Eagles) will also participate in this training.
Cho Byung-hyun said, “Ryu Hyun-jin is a pitcher who represents the Republic of Korea.” “I didn’t have the opportunity to ask before. I plan to ask and learn from Ryu Hyun-jin more during training in Saipan.”
[MK体育记者 李汉柱]
