Oh added to team Korea's roster for WBC
St. Louis Cardinals closer Seung Hwan Oh has been officially added to Korea's 28-man roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, according to Yoo Jee-ho of Yonhap News Agency.
Hwan Oh wasn't part of the team's plans at first due to legal trouble as he was fined by a South Korean court in January of last year on illegal overseas gambling charges.
"Oh Seung-hwan is a player we absolutely need," team Korea's manager Kim In-sik said. "So we decided to put him on the national team. We understand Oh has faced criticism but he's very determined to play hard for the country at the WBC."
Team Korea recently removed Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang from the roster after the 29-year-old was involved with multiple DUI charges as well as a sexual assault investigation in which he was a suspect. Charges were not laid.
Additionally, Baltimore Orioles outfielder Hyun Soo Kim removed himself from the team for undisclosed reasons, and there is still uncertainty over the availability of Texas Rangers outfielder Shin Soo Choo.
"I think (the Rangers) are worried because Choo is an expensive player who suffered a lot of injuries last year," Kim said of Choo, who played only 48 games last season.
Korea will open play against Israel on March 6 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.