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Armed with sluggers, Korea chasing 1st knockout berth in 17 years at WBC

Published: 04 Mar. 2026, 11:49

Korean players celebrate their 8-5 win over the Orix Buffaloes in an exhibition game before the World Baseball Classic at Kyocera Dome in Osaka on March 3. [YONHAP]

It has been so long since Korea last played a win-or-go-home game at a World Baseball Classic (WBC) tournament — 17 years, to be exact — that many of the players on this year's squad were barely old enough to have any memories of the country's run to the championship final.

At each of the next three editions, 2013, 2017 and 2023, Korea failed to make it out of the first round, never even sniffing a title. And the country lost its first games on all three occasions and could never climb out of those early holes.

This year, armed with young sluggers who aren't haunted by those ghosts and hurlers who will pump fastballs like it's nothing, Korea will seek to play some meaningful games deeper into March.

Managed by Ryu Ji-hyun, a former star shortstop and longtime national team coach, Korea will begin its Pool C action at 7 p.m. Thursday against the Czech Republic at the Tokyo Dome. Up next will be the defending champions Japan at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Chinese Taipei at noon on Sunday and Australia at 7 p.m. on Monday.

The top two teams from each of the four groups will reach the quarterfinals set for next week.

The schedule seems to favor Korea. Right off the bat, it will face the team widely considered the weakest in Pool C and then will have an off day right away. Japan, led by the transcendent star Shohei Ohtani and several other major leaguers, will be heavily favored to win the group, but Korea may choose to be, in Ryu's words, strategic against Japan and focus instead on trying to beat Chinese Taipei after a quick turnaround.

That Sunday showdown will likely be the must-win game that determines Korea's fate. Assuming Korea will lose to the mighty Japan, it will have to win the three remaining games to have a shot at advancing to the next phase.

Korean manager Ryu Ji-hyun acknowledges fans after an 8-5 win over the Orix Buffaloes in an exhibition game before the World Baseball Classic at Kyocera Dome in Osaka on March 3. [YONHAP]

Ryu has put together a team that can potentially slug its way out of problems. A pair of homegrown right-handed sluggers, Kim Do-yeong and Ahn Hyun-min, have been swinging hot bats since the February training camp, and the two 22-year-olds have been joined by U.S.-born big leaguers of Korean descent, Shay Whitcomb of the Houston Astros and Jahmai Jones of the Detroit Tigers.

Kim, Ahn and Whitcomb all went deep in Korea's 8-5 win over the Orix Buffaloes in its final exhibition game in Osaka on Tuesday. These mashers can provide Korea with a new dimension, right-handed power to balance out a lineup that has long been heavy with left-handed contact hitting.

This year's team has no shortage of that, either, led by Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants and Kim Hye-seong of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Both were consistent .300 hitters in the KBO still early in their major league careers, and they have grown into leadership roles in their late 20s. Lee, 27, will wear the captain's "C" on his jersey at this tournament.

Korea is set up nicely defensively too, with plenty of versatility across the diamond. Though it doesn't have a full-time first baseman, both Moon Bo-gyeong (LG Twins) and Roh Si-hwan (Hanwha Eagles), third basemen for their respective KBO clubs, are also capable defenders at first base. Kim Hye-seong was the Korean league's top defensive second baseman before bolting for LA, a title now assumed by his national team backup, Shin Min-jae.

Whitcomb can play all over the infield. Lee can play credible defense in center field, but if manager Ryu feels he needs to shore up his defense further, he can shift Lee to right field and insert Twins veteran Park Hae-min, widely considered the KBO's top defensive outfielder, in center.

Kim Do-yeong of Korea celebrates after hitting a three-run home run against the Orix Buffaloes during an exhibition game ahead of the World Baseball Classic at Kyocera Dome in Osaka on March 3. [YONHAP]

Behind the plate, both Park Dong-won and Kim Hyung-jun are excellent defenders who will offer some home run power too.

There are some question marks with the pitching staff, many of which were not answered in Korea's exhibition games earlier this week.

Ryu had hoped to have St. Louis Cardinals reliever Riley O'Brien as his closer, but the half-Korean pitcher coming off a successful 2025 season was cut from the national team last month due to a calf injury.

The manager still has some top-notch KBO closers available, but no one has pitched well enough to secure the high-leverage, late-inning duty.

The bullpen looked particularly shaky Tuesday, when five pitchers that came in after starter Dane Dunning combined for eight walks and five hits over 4 2/3 innings.

Ahn Hyun-min of Korea rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Orix Buffaloes during an exhibition game ahead of the World Baseball Classic at Kyocera Dome in Osaka on March 3, 2026. [YONHAP]

On Monday against the Hanshin Tigers, six relief pitchers threw six scoreless innings, but the process wasn't as pristine, with young closers like Park Yeong-hyun and Kim Taek-yeon having trouble finding the zone.

Unless the relievers turn things around, Korea will be hoping that its batters will put up some runs on the board early and give pitchers enough cushion.

It will also bear watching how KBO pitchers adjust to major league rules being applied to the WBC.

The pitch clock, for one, will be much shorter at the tournament than in the KBO. Pitchers will have 15 seconds to deliver their pitch with the bases empty and 18 seconds with runners aboard — compared to 18 seconds with nobody on and 23 seconds with runners on in the KBO.

A pitcher must face a minimum of three batters once he takes the mound. Pitchers will be limited to two pickoff attempts, and if the third attempt doesn't result in an out, the pitcher will be charged with a balk.

You Yeong-chan of Korea, left, walks off the mound at Kyocera Dome in Osaka during an exhibition game prior to the World Baseball Classic against the Orix Buffaloes on March 3, 2026. [YONHAP]

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