“No, coach, I’ll bet everything”

Japanese national team coach Hideki Kuriyama, who won the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) championship, told the story behind the tournament.

On the 22nd (Korean time), Japan won the championship after winning 3-2 in the final against the United States at the 2023 WBC held at Londipo Park in Miami, Florida, USA. Japan lifted the WBC championship trophy 14 years after the 2006 and 2009 tournaments.

Japan in this tournament gave birth to many touching stories. The showdown between Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout (USA), which was voted the best scene ever by the WBC, after two outs in the bottom of the ninth also generated a lot of buzz, and Lars Nuthba, the first foreign national team player who spread the pepper grinder ceremony, also received attention.

However, there is another player who made coach Kuriyama cry. Shortstop Genda Sosuke, the starting pitcher, 롤배팅 suffered a fractured little finger while playing base on the 10th against Korea. After that, he missed two matches in the group stage. However, Genda played full-time in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals, showing amazing defensive power.

Coach Kuriyama appeared on the WBC Asahi news program on the 23rd and shared the conversation he had after Genda's injury while talking about winning. Director Kuriyama said, "After Genda returned to the dugout, someone told me about 'his finger was fractured'. He tries to talk to Genda, but he's already run out."

Manager Kuriyama said, "I was going to call Genda the next day and ask for a replacement, but Genda said, 'No, coach. I will bet everything on this WBC.' So I thought, 'I will bet on Genda this tournament.' I think the players will be like that,” revealing his feelings at the time and arousing the impression of the panelists read more who appeared.

Genda became one of the concerns surrounding the Japanese national team as he received harsh criticism for his lack of hitting ahead of this tournament. However, he showed 'injury fighting spirit' in the national team and became an opportunity to unite the national team players.

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