23 October 2018 was one of the most humiliating days in South Korean baseball history .After winning gold at the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, coach Sun Dong-yeol was grilled by lawmakers as a witness in a national audit over controversial player selection .In the end, Sun voluntarily relinquished the reins less than a month later, and former KBO president Chung Un-chan, who had made politically palatable remarks in support of the manager, suffered a major leadership blow. The baseball world remembered the controversy when the team replaced left-handed pitcher Koo Chang-mo, who was not fully fit due to an injury, with left-handed pitcher Kim Young-kyu (NC Dinos) in the final roster for the Hangzhou Asian Games.The Korean Baseball Softball Association (KBSA) Performance Enhancement Committee and the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) Power Enhancement Committee announced on 21 November that they had removed injured outfielders Lee Jung-hoo (Kiwoom Heroes) and Goo Chang-mo from the roster and added outfielders Kim Sung-yoon (Samsung Lions) and Kim Young-gyu to the final 24-man roster .A ‘healthy’ Koo Chang-mo will undoubtedly be the pitcher in charge of Korean baseball. Whether it’s against arch-rivals Japan or four-time defending Asian Games gold medallists Chinese Taipei, he can be counted on to start. The problem is that he hasn’t taken the mound since 2 June against the LG Twins in Jamsil due to a muscle injury in his left forearm (between the elbow and wrist).As talk of replacing him surfaced, Koo made a belated comeback in the second team .On the 19th, he pitched two scoreless innings against KT WIZ in the Futures (2nd Division) League. He threw 27 pitches and reached a maximum speed of 145 kilometres per hour .Koo Chang-mo was determined to compete in the Hangzhou Asian Games even as a bullpen pitcher, but Ryu Jung-il, head coach of the Korean Baseball Organization, and Cho Kye-hyun, chairman of the KBO’s Power Enhancement Committee, decided to replace him because he was not fully fit and could be injured again .Rather than risking Koo Chang-mo, who is not fully fit due to his long injury layoff, the team opted for Kim Young-gyu, who will actually help the team in Hangzhou .Kim has been a key part of the NC bullpen this year, going 2-4 with a 3.34 ERA in 59 appearances and 21 holds. The Asian Games is a dream come true for any professional baseball player who is facing military service .Eighteen months of military service during the prime of a player’s career is priceless. Unlike previous editions of the Games, where the Korean Baseball Organization has made noise over the inclusion of players who have not completed their military service in the Asian Games roster, the Hangzhou edition of the Games has been focused on keeping controversy at bay .The KBO announced the replacement of Lee Jeong-hoo, whose season was cut short by an ankle injury in August, saying, “If we determine that any other representative player’s performance has deteriorated due to injury, we will make additional replacements .”In addition to Koo Chang-mo, there are other players whose physical condition makes it difficult for them to play well in Hangzhou .Korea’s first match of the tournament is against Hong Kong on 1 October. 안전놀이터 The deadline for substitutions was 30 September.
