South Korea names 24-man roster for Asian Games baseball
The 2024 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) MVP Kim Do-yeong has been selected to South Korea's national baseball team for the upcoming Asian Games, as announced Thursday by manager Ryu Ji-hyun. Kim, who plays for the Kia Tigers, was one of 24 players picked for the tournament, which will be held in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, with Nagoya serving as the main host.
South Korea will aim for its fifth consecutive gold medal in baseball at the Asian Games, a run that began with a victory in 2010 in Guangzhou, China. Manager Ryu Ji-hyun, who is attending his fourth consecutive Asian Games, having previously served as a coach, said he expects nothing less than the top prize.
"If we don't win the gold medal at the Asian Games, the competition doesn't really mean anything to us," Ryu said at a press conference in Seoul. "On paper, we have some young players with little experience. But if everyone can come together as a team and pursue the same goal with the national flag on their chests, then I think those players will exceed expectations."
Coverage comparison
All reporting on this story comes from Yonhap News — English, which provided consistent details across its coverage. The wire service emphasized South Korea's historical dominance in the baseball tournament, noting that Japan has not sent its top professionals and that Chinese Taipei has consistently failed to get past South Korea. The reports also highlighted the selection of Kim Do-yeong and the KBO's roster composition strategy.
One report focused on manager Ryu's confidence and his comments about the team's prospects, while another centered on Kim Do-yeong's inclusion and his background. A third combined both angles, providing a comprehensive overview of the roster announcement.
Key claims
According to Yonhap News — English, the Asian Games will run from September 19 to October 4, with the baseball tournament scheduled for September 21–27. South Korea's 24-man roster includes 11 pitchers and 13 position players, all from KBO clubs.
The KBO, which governs professional baseball, has shifted toward younger selections since the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, after years of criticism for picking older players who were seen as undeserving but could earn military service exemption through an Asiad gold medal. This year's roster includes 21 players under 25, plus three "wild card" players in the 25–29 age bracket.
Kim Do-yeong, 22, did not make the 2023 Asian Games team and will now have a chance to earn his military service exemption. He had a historic 2024 season, becoming the youngest player to join the 30-30 club with 38 home runs and 40 stolen bases. After an injury-plagued 2025 season, he has bounced back this year, tying for first with 19 home runs and ranking third with 52 RBIs through Wednesday's action.
Manager Ryu, who has won gold at three previous Asian Games as a coach, acknowledged the high expectations from fans. "I understand fans will have high expectations for our team this year," he said. "I've seen firsthand how our players' mental fortitude got the team over the hump, and I am counting on much the same this time. These players are all very talented. Barring major surprises, I think we will bring home great surprises."
Cho Kye-hyeon, head of the KBO's national baseball competitiveness enhancement committee, explained that the KBO was forced to assemble the team more than three months ahead of the competition, as the KBO regular season will continue during the Asian Games, and a limit of three players from each of the league's 10 clubs was imposed to minimize disruption to the pennant race.