(WBC) S. Korea makes lineup changes for defensive purposes

By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, March 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korean manager Kim In-sik made lineup changes Monday for defensive purposes for the team's opening game at the 2017 World Baseball Classic (WBC).

Against Israel later in the tournament opener Monday, Kim decided to bench struggling slugger Choi Hyoung-woo in favor of Min Byung-hun in left field. At third base, Park Sok-min, dealing with some right elbow issues, will take a seat, with Hur Kyoung-min getting the start instead.

Choi and Park had been regulars in exhibition games leading up to the tournament at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. But hours before taking on Israel to open the first round action in Pool A, Kim said he wanted to shore up the defense on the left side of the field.

"We have a left-handed starter (in Chang Won-jun) and we needed to have a strong defense at third and in left field," Kim said at his pre-game press conference. "Both Hur and Min have some international experience."

Choi won the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) batting title last year for the Samsung Lions with a .376 average, and finished second in the MVP voting. But he was just 2-for-22 in seven games in the build-up to the WBC, even as Kim moved him out of the cleanup spot to lift some pressure.

Min doesn't hit for as much power as Choi -- the 16 homers in 2016 were Min's career-high, while Choi has four 30-homer seasons -- but is a plus defender with speed. What he lacks in power, Min has more than made up with his ability to put the ball in play. He's a career .298 hitter and has batted .300 or better in each of the past four seasons.

South Korea will also lose some power at hot corner. Park is a virtual lock to hit 20-plus home runs and drive in 90-plus runs every year, but Hur, while a superior defensive player, has only hit nine homers in 533 career KBO games.

The manager hinted that compromising offense may only be temporary, saying Choi could get into the starting lineup in a later game.

The rest of the lineup stayed virtually intact. Speedy centerfielder Lee Yong-kyu will bat leadoff, followed by another pesky player, second baseman Seo Geon-chang.

Kim Tae-kyun will bat third as the designated hitter, and former Seattle Mariners first baseman Lee Dae-ho will hit cleanup while manning the first base.

Son Ah-seop, a right fielder who has been wielding a hot bat, has moved up a spot to No. 5. Min is in the sixth hole, followed by catcher Yang Eui-ji, Hur and shortstop Kim Jae-ho.

From the starting lineup, Lee Yong-kyu and Yang Eui-ji are each dealing with lingering elbow and back problems.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)