The top South Korean baseball league finalized the 35-man national baseball team roster that will face two Major League Baseball (MLB) clubs in exhibition games later this month. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) made nine changes from its provisional roster for "Team Korea," with 17 pitchers, three catchers, nine infielders and six outfielders. The team includes All-Star second baseman Kim Hye-seong, who will be posted by the Kiwoom Heroes for MLB teams after this season, and Hanwha Eagles right-hander Moon Dong-ju, the 2023 KBO Rookie of the Year. There are also several carryovers from the under-24 national team that won the gold medal at last year's Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, including Lotte Giants outfielder Yoon Dong-hee and NC Dinos shortstop Kim Ju-won. Many of the players also competed at the under-24 Asia Professional Baseball Championship in Tokyo in November. They will face the San Diego Padres at 7 p.m. on March 17 and then the Los Angeles Dodgers at 7 p.m. on March 18. The Padres and the Dodgers will then face each other in a two-game series, to be played on March 20 and 21, to open the 2024 MLB regular season. These will be the first MLB games to be played in South Korea. All games will take place at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. Among KBO clubs, the SSG Landers and the Lotte Giants lead the way with five representatives each. Managed by Ryu Joong-il, Team Korea mostly features players 25 or under, with the KBO, which oversees national team operations at professional events, looking to give young talent a chance to develop with an eye on the World Baseball Classic in 2026. The KBO cut players from the provisional team after they suffered injuries or exhibited poor form during spring training. Lotte Giants pitcher Na Gyun-an, on the other hand, was dropped due to off-field issues. Na's wife has claimed that the pitcher struck her and has been having an affair, while Na has denied all charges. The two are going through a divorce. Source: Yonhap News Agency