SEOUL, Some of South Korea’s top young baseball players from the gold medal-winning run at the Asian Games will return for an under-24 regional tournament next month.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) on Tuesday unveiled its 26-man roster for the Asia Professional Baseball Championship (APBC), scheduled to run from Nov. 16 to 19 in Tokyo.

In this file photo from Oct. 7, 2023, South Korean starter Moon Dong-ju celebrates after retiring the side in the bottom of the first inning during the Asian Games baseball gold medal game against Chinese Taipei at Shaoxing Baseball and Softball Sports Centre in Shaoxing, China.

The team includes a pair of Hanwha Eagles teammates who helped South Korea to its fourth consecutive Asiad gold medal in China earlier this month: pitcher Moon Dong-ju and third baseman Roh Si-hwan.

The APBC will feature South Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei and Australia. The countries will each field a team of players born on Jan. 1, 1999, or later, or players who began their professional careers in 2021 or later. Each team will be able to carry up to three overage players — those who were born on Jan. 1, 1994, or later.

Other Asian Games members include Lotte Giants outfielder Yoon Dong-hee, KT Wiz reliever Park Yeong-hyun and Kiwoom Heroes infielder Kim Hye-seong.

Ryu Joong-il, who managed South Korea at the Asian Games, will be back at the helm for the APBC.

Ryu will open training camp on Nov. 6 in the southeastern city of Daegu, though players who will be competing in the Korean Series, the KBO’s championship round set to begin Nov. 7, will report to the national team after the conclusion of their postseason.

Per tournament rules, South Korea will have a reserve roster of 20 players, and Ryu will be able to select players from there in case of injuries.

The deadline to make roster changes is Nov. 14.

Teams will play each other once in round robin from Nov. 16 to 18, and the top two teams will clash in the final on Nov. 19.

Source: Yonhap News Agency