Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow (30) and San Diego Padres right-hander Darvish Yu (37), who will start the opening game of the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series in Seoul, said they are ready to go.
"I've finished adjusting to the jet lag," Glassnow said at a press conference at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday. "I prepared as usual and threw bullpen pitches. I will show a good performance in the opening game."
His counterpart, Darvish, said, "I'm not in bad shape," adding, "I'll pitch my best."
Glassnow is a top-notch pitcher who went 10-7 with a 3.53 ERA for the Tampa Bay Rays last season.
He joined the Dodgers in a trade immediately following the 2023 season and was an Opening Day starter.
His counterpart, Darvish, is a veteran who has been in the big leagues since 2012.
He was slowed down last season by an elbow injury, but has gotten back to full strength in the offseason.
Both players agreed at the press conference that the Korean pitching conditions would work in their favor.
"The Gocheok Dome feels similar to Tropicana Field (Tampa Bay's home), so I feel comfortable," Glassnow said, "and the mound looked good."
Glassnow also praised the boisterous Korean support culture he experienced during the scrimmage.
"The cheering atmosphere was really good," he said, "the songs 먹튀검증 they play between innings, the sound, it was great." "I wish we could bring that to MLB," he said.
However, unlike exhibition games, the MLB Opening Series does not feature Korean pep rallies.
Darvish has a special place in his heart for Korea.
"Korea is my favorite country," he said, "and I'm excited to pitch in front of the Korean fans, and it's even better because they're the (division rival) Dodgers."
Darvish is the quintessential "pro-Korean" baseball player, and he made waves after arriving in San Diego with the team on Dec. 15 with a surprise visit to a cafe run by a Korean fan who has always been a big supporter of his.
"They've been supporting me since I played for the Texas Rangers," Darvish said when asked, "so it was nice to meet them this time."
"I'm not going to think about my personal relationship," he said, referring to his two-on-two matchup with Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.
The 2024 MLB Opening Day game between the Dodgers and San Diego, featuring Glassnow and Darvish, is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on June 20 at Gocheok SkyDome in Seoul, South Korea.