WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL B - CZECH REPUBLIC VS KOREA

March 12, 2023

Kunwoo Park

Tokyo Dome

Team Korea

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Tell us about your thought for today's contest against Czech Republic.

KUNWOO PARK: Yes, what I'm thinking right now is nothing but win. That's all I can say right now. Couldn't trait to get a win.

Q. The past two games, your offense, especially for the top of the lineup, is not as well, and you have a lot of pressure. What is in your mind right now when you have an at-bat?

KUNWOO PARK: For the lineups, the hitting order is not as important much -- well, I am going to be the leadoff guy for today but I'm not a too aggressive offense guy, so I'm trying to be who I am right now.

Q. Among the players, including the team staff, you played two games. Did you talk a lot, and what conversation have you had previously with your teammates?

KUNWOO PARK: Yes, we were defeated two games, that's a fact. Our captain, Kim Hyun Soo, he apologized to us, and that hurt. It's not something who did well, who did not do well, but we play as one time. What I heard is my teammates apologized to the team, but it's not something in team sport -- we play as one team, and it's not only for the offensive guys, and it's not only for the defense, the pitching staff's fault. It's the whole team's effort.

Q. Throughout the exhibition games, you're hitting well. You hit well. You swing hard. What's your condition right now?

KUNWOO PARK: Yes, at the WBC, well, as soon as the WBC is over, my regular season starts pretty much soon. Before the tournament started, I was told by the skipper that I'll be the bottom of the lineup or on the bench.

So I didn't expect -- well, I didn't expect that I have a lot of at-bats at the WBC tournament, so in order to be prepared for both WBC and the regular season, I worked out by myself, and I did a lot work training by myself. These things worked out well, and from now on, I want to be well-prepared, as well.

Q. A lot of baseball fans in Korea are watching you and pushing you up, cheering for you. Do you feel a lot -- well, as representing Team Korea, do you have a message to the Korean fans, please tell us.

KUNWOO PARK: This is Game 3. Game 3 has not started yet, but all I can say is get the win. Each individual player plays hard, and we trust in each other. All I could do for others is just trust, and once again, I repeat: I will win today.