Korea’s Kim, Japan’s Ohtani named starting pitchers for Premier12 Game 1 Sunday
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<p>SAPPORO, Japan — The starting pitchers of Sunday night’s (8 Nov.) Game 1 of the inaugural WBSC Premier12 at the Sapporo Dome have been revealed by the managers of the National Teams of Japan and South Korea.</p>
<p>First pitch is scheduled for 19:00 local time and will be broadcast in nations around the world as well as streamed live on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/WBSCo" target="_blank">WBSC YouTube Channel</a>.</p>
<p>World No. 1 Samurai Japan will hand the ball to 21-year-old flamethrower Shohei Ohtani (Nippon Ham Fighters — NPB), manager Hiroki Kokubo revealed.</p>
<p>Manager Kim In-sik said that South Korea, currently No. 8 in the world rankings, will begin the new global baseball tournament with left-hander Kim Kwang-hyun (SK Wyverns — KBO) on the mound.</p>
<p>Kim, 27, helped South Korea capture the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games, the last time baseball was featured at the Games.</p>
<p>Ohtani represented Japan at last year’s Japan vs. Team MLB Series, in which the Samurai won the first three games, one of which a no-hitter, to win the series. Ohtani, considered one of the top young players in the world, has a fastball that has been clocked as high as 100.6 mph (162 km/h).</p>
<p>Ohtani also pitched and played outfield for Japan at the WBSC 2012 U-18 Baseball World Cup, helping his nation finish second in the world.</p>
<p>Following the special opener, Japan and South Korea will join the other Top 12 nations in Taiwan to continue the Opening Round.</p>
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