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Hyundai Unicorns Begin its First Training on Jeju Island

Hyundai Unicorns Begin its First Training on Jeju Island

Posted February. 15, 2008 03:00,   

한국어

“Ah, what happened to Hyundai? It seems to have gone down to the level of the college league,” sighed Hyundai Unicorns players.

They said so, after they visited the training camp prepared by Centennial Investment that plans to create the 8th professional baseball team.

The Kangchanghak Baseball Park in Seogwipo, Jeju Island.

○ An Open Baseball Training Field

The Kangchanghak baseball park on Jeju Island faces the southern sea, and is surrounded by palm trees. A player who trained in Florida last year said jokingly, “It looks like Florida.”

But the field used for amateurs was not good enough for professional players to train themselves.

At a corner of the outfield, players changed their clothes because there was no locker room. There were no sunshades and the strong wind scattered the red dust on the mound into the air. With no restroom in the field, a player slipped behind the fences during a break.

It was cold. The temperature went up to six degree Celsius during the day thanks to sunshine, but the wind was strong. Players wore a thick jumper and zipped it up to their chin. Some players wore woolen caps. Others complained that only the scenery is like Hawaii.

But they seemed to be refreshed because it was their first outdoor training. So far, they had been training themselves indoors in the Wondang ballpark in Gyeonggi Province. They began warming up at 2 p.m. and practiced catching and throwing balls for two hours.

○ “Combination Comes First,” Says Coach

Jeon Joon-ho, a player, said, “It’s windy but I like here because it is warmer than I thought.”

However, as there is no indoor training place, the bad weather is likely to limit the training. Moreover, there is no gym for weight training in their lodging, so they cannot continue the practice they usually did in the overseas training sessions that include ground training during the day and weight training at night.

Hyundai began training a month later than other teams.

Coach Lee Gwang-hwan said, “I will not make a dramatic plan. My goal is to go without any injury until the exhibition game. Above all, combination comes first for this newly created team.”

Lee wore the cap and jumper of the Korea Baseball Organization, and Hyundai players wore training uniforms emblazoned with “Unicorns.” New uniforms are due next week.

They will train on Jeju Island by the end of February, and those who will play in the exhibition game will move to Namhae on Mar. 2, and those who belong to the second division will complete their training in Jeju.



hic@donga.com