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Korea's manager satisfied with pre-WBC training camp in Japan

Published: 27 Feb. 2026, 19:33

Ryu Ji-hyun, coach of the Korean national baseball team for the World Baseball Classic, speaks in an interview ahead of a scrimmage on Feb. 27. [YONHAP]

Korea manager Ryu Ji-hyun claimed Friday he was mostly satisfied with the national baseball team's work during training camp in Japan ahead of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), saying his roster is headed in the right direction.

Korea's scrimmage against the KT Wiz of the KBO was rained out Friday at Kadena Baseball Stadium in Kadena, Japan, and Ryu's team ended its run of tuneup games here with four wins and a loss. Ryu opened camp here on Feb. 12.

The coach said he didn't mind the cancellation because he didn't want to push his position players too hard anyway, with the WBC starting in less than a week in Tokyo.

He would have liked to have starter Song Seung-ki work three innings against real batters, but said the left-hander got his necessary work done in the bullpen.

"Overall, my satisfaction level with the camp is 90 percent," Ryu said. "Even though we didn't get to play today, I'm still optimistic about our situation."

Ryu said he didn't quite get to 100 percent satisfaction because some of his relief pitchers haven't been throwing as hard as they normally do.

Korea's Song Seung-ki throws a pitch in a game in Okinawa, Japan, on Feb. 27. [YONHAP]

"Our relievers are sitting about 3 to 4 kilometers per hour (1.8 to 2.5 miles per hour) below their usual velocity from the middle of a season," Ryu said. "However, I am confident those numbers will tick back up once they get into the real tournament and start feeling some tension on the mound."

The national team will now travel to Osaka for a pair of official pre-WBC games against Nippon Professional Baseball clubs.

Korea will first play the Hanshin Tigers on Monday and then the Orix Buffaloes on Tuesday, both at the Kyocera Dome. The side will then hop over to Tokyo for its first practice at Tokyo Dome on Wednesday.

In Osaka, Ryu's squad will be joined by six U.S.-based players — including San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo, who will be Korea's captain, Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Kim Hye-seong and Detroit Tigers outfielder Jahmai Jones, who was born to a Korean mother and an American father.

The Korean national baseball team celebrates after a home run in a scrimmage on Feb. 26, ahead of the World Baseball Classic. [YONHAP]

"Now that we will have players from the United States joining us in Osaka, we will decide how to best construct our lineup through the two games there," Ryu said. "With our bullpen, we will determine who will pitch in what situations based on their velocity and stuff."

Korea's first Pool C game against the Czech Republic is set for 7 p.m. Thursday. After a day off, Korea will face Japan at 7 p.m. on March 7, Chinese Taipei at noon on March 8 and Australia at 7 p.m. on March 9 to close out the opening round.

The two best teams from Pool C will progress to the quarterfinals in Miami. Korea will try to get out of the first round for the first time since losing to Japan in the final in 2009.

"We've had to make some roster changes along the way, but we've been preparing for the tournament thoroughly," Ryu said. "I firmly believe we will achieve good results."

Yonhap