Could it be that the player leading the major league in home runs is afraid of playing for the Korean national team? Japanese media reported that Ryu Ji-hyun, the head coach attending the press conference for the Korea-Japan national teams evaluation match, abruptly criticized the omission of Tommy Edman (Los Angeles Dodgers) from the list of candidates for the national team.

On the 17th, Japanese baseball media outlet Fullcount raised the question, "Is the Korean national team not calling up Tommy Edman to the World Baseball Classic (WBC)? Coach Ryu Ji-hyun mentioned Korean players Kim Hye-sung and Jang Hyun-seok from the Los Angeles Dodgers but did not mention Edman's name."

On that day, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated that he would actively support players like Shohei Ohtani in relation to the WBC scheduled for March next year.

Fullcount noted that "Japan national team coach Ibatta Hirokazu expressed gratitude upon hearing the news from the morning and showed his joy, but Coach Ryu Ji-hyun made no mention of Edman, who has a Korean mother and represented Korea in the 2023 WBC."

According to Fullcount, Coach Ryu Ji-hyun said, "I believe the WBC is a tournament where the best players gather. It's a joyful occasion that many famous players participate worldwide," adding, "Among the Korean players are Kim Hye-sung from the Dodgers and Jang Hyun-seok in the minor leagues. I was glad to hear Roberts' perspective." While Edman's name was omitted, it does not seem like he is being excluded from consideration.

Fullcount even attempted to downplay Edman. The media stated, "Edman had a disappointing performance in the last tournament, with 2 hits in 11 at-bats over 3 games. He went hitless in 4 at-bats against Japan and made a critical error in defense. Korea faced elimination in the first round for three consecutive tournaments, and Korean media identified Edman as a contributing factor," recalling the painful past.

It also noted, "Coach Ryu Ji-hyun visited the Dodgers' spring camp in Glendale, Arizona, last March and mentioned, 'It will be a stage where the world's best players gather. I want to create the strongest team through harmony between veterans and newcomers.' But is it really true that such a powerful player, currently tied for first in the National League in home runs, will not be called up?" showing great interest in Edman's selection.

The Korea Baseball Organization, which had previously adhered to nativism, drastically changed its regulations for the WBC in 2023, allowing nationality to be determined based on the bloodline of parents or grandparents and place of birth, leading to Edman's selection as a national representative.

Edman is a Korean-American player born as the second of three children to Korean mother Gwak Kyung-ah and baseball coach father John Edman in 1995. His full name is Thomas Hyun-soo Edman, incorporating his Korean name Hyun-soo as his middle name. Edman showcased his Korean identity by having the initials TH inscribed on his uniform in the format of TOMMY HYUNSOO before the name EDMAN.

During the 2023 tournament, Edman, who was with the St. Louis Cardinals, has been active this year in his second season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, posting a .263 batting average with 6 home runs, 14 RBIs, and 13 runs scored in 20 games, while boasting a .553 slugging percentage and leading the National League in home runs. This is why Japanese media has taken a keen interest in whether he will be called up to the Korean WBC team.

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