Moon Dong-ju has been participating in training for the Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) 2023 at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu since the 6th. Ahead of the first practice match against Sangmu on the 8th, he warmed up briefly and checked his condition.
Moon Dong-ju, who entered his second year as a professional this year, played at the Hangzhou Asian Games early last month, recording 1 win, 1 loss and a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings in two games. He faced Taiwan on both occasions, and he contributed significantly to the national team's fourth consecutive victory in the tournament, showing much better pitching in the final (6 scoreless innings) than in the group stage (two runs in four innings). At the time, coach Ryu Joong-il also praised Moon Dong-ju along with "captain" Kim Hye-sung (Kium Heroes) as the MVP of the national team.
Moon Dong-ju, who successfully finished the Asian Games with the consideration of his team Hanwha, took a month off after the end of the tournament.
After training on the 7th, Moon Dong-ju said, "I want to show you a lot, but I am worried because I rested too well. Still, I hope the results come out as good as I rested well. Also, even before going to the Asian Games, I prepared well because I missed it separately, but this time I took a rest and prepared well. I don't think I'm afraid of anything because I think I can do well, he said.
The national team plans to enhance its sense of practice by holding two practice games against Sangmu on the 8th and 11th, and Moon Dong-ju and Kwak Bin (Doosan Bears) will take the starting mound in the first game. In the case of Moon Dong-ju, he is about to make his first appearance since the Asian Games.
Moon Dong-ju said, "I don't think I'll know the sense until tomorrow (the 8th). I'm also curious about how I would feel because it's only been a month since the Asian Games final (October 7). Still, I don't want to be more noticeable that each team will know me and come out because they will analyze their power. Still, I think it's true that I want to get good results," he said.
"Since it's been a while since I've thrown, I think I should pitch as I think, even if not everything is perfect, rather than focusing on any part. I think we should throw it as close to 100% as possible, even if it's not 100%," he added.
Like the Asian Games, players of similar age groups formed the national team, so there is no big problem in adapting. "I also prepared for APBC little by little, but I think I rested well," Moon Dong-joo said. "I personally think the atmosphere is better than I thought because I am joining the national team (after getting good results in the Asian Games). In particular, I think I'm training well because I have a lot of friends of my age and close older brothers," he said, conveying the atmosphere of the national team.
Moon Dong-ju, who wants to revive the memory of the Asian Games, also expressed his ambition to stand on the mound at Tokyo Dome, where the stands are full. "I haven't heard anything about Tokyo Dome, but I honestly want to throw it in front of a packed crowd. I don't know if the Tokyo Dome will be packed in the game I took the mound, but I want to throw it at the Tokyo Dome, which is full of spectators, he said. "But it's not something I can do, and if I have a recognition, I hope the spectators' seats will be full."
He has never thought of starting in a match between Korea and Japan, but he is Moon Dong-ju who wants to faithfully play a given role in any game. He said, "[If I were to step up] a day ago." At that time, I think I have to put everything into it and I think I have to throw more desperately than when I throw in the Asian Games final," he said.
