masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles apparently will have a fourth player leave spring training to participate in the World Baseball Classic.
Hyun Soo Kim is part of South Korea’s 28-man roster, with confirmation coming via Yonhap News Agency. Manager Kim In-sik provided the list of names and the Orioles outfielder is included among four major leaguers.
Center fielder Adam Jones (USA), third baseman Manny Machado (Dominican Republic) and second baseman Jonathan Schoop (Netherlands) also will play in the fourth…

The Orioles apparently will have a fourth player leave spring training to participate in the World Baseball Classic.

Hyun Soo Kim is part of South Korea’s 28-man roster, with confirmation coming via Yonhap News Agency. Manager Kim In-sik provided the list of names and the Orioles outfielder is included among four major leaguers.

Center fielder Adam Jones (USA), third baseman Manny Machado (Dominican Republic) and second baseman Jonathan Schoop (Netherlands) also will play in the fourth installment of the WBC. Jones and Schoop also participated in 2013.

hyun-soo-kim-gray.jpgKim could use a more normal spring training after his struggles last year led to the controversy over his refusal to accept an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. All was forgiven after Kim batted .302/.382/.420 in 95 games, leading the team in average and on-base percentage.

Being acclimated to life in the U.S. and a major league team’s spring schedule should lessen the impact of Kim’s departure from Sarasota. He can more afford to miss part of camp.

The WBC will be held from March 9-22 and the deadline to submit the final roster is in February, leaving open the slight possibility that Kim will be removed. Also, teams must give their approval for players to participate.

Manager Buck Showalter has stated that he won’t stand in the way.

“The ones we’ve selected have told us they’d like to play,” Kim In-sik said in the article. “We’ll have to speak with their clubs. In the past, we selected major league players and the KBO later sent official documents (for their release). These players told me some of their teammates have already told the club that they’d like to play at the WBC.”

South Korea will first play Israel on March 6, the Netherlands on March 7 and Chinese Taipei on March 9.

Kim figures to resume his role in left field next season, getting the bulk of his starts against right-handers.