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National team manager praises players' determination ahead of first WBC game

Published: 04 Mar. 2026, 14:52

Korea manager Ryu Ji-hyun attends a press conference ahead of the World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 4. [YONHAP]

Korea manager Ryu Ji-hyun has experienced both success and failure at earlier World Baseball Classic (WBC) tournaments, having served on the coaching staff for the 2006 squad that reached the semifinals and the 2013 team that was knocked out in the first round.

In charge of this year's team, Ryu believes his players have the right attitude that can lead to glorious moments on the field.

“Ever since we played exhibition games last November, I could sense the players' commitment […] toward the national team,” Ryu said at his pretournament press conference at Tokyo Dome on Wednesday.

Korea will begin Pool C action against Czechia at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

“Things have been moving in the right direction in that regard,” Ryu added. “And I am convinced that it will allow these 30 players to perform even better than what they're capable of.”

After Czechia, Korea will face Japan on Saturday, Chinese Taipei on Sunday and Australia on Monday. The top two nations at the end of the pool play will advance to the quarterfinals in Miami.

Korea hasn't made it out of the first round since 2009, when they went all the way to the final. Korea lost the first games in 2013, 2017 and 2023 and was unable to dig its way out of those early holes.

Ryu said the players will be ready to flip the script this time.

“Baseball is the most popular sport in Korea, but at recent international competitions, we have let our fans down,” Ryu said. “And I think all the players wearing the Korean national team uniform feel the same way about what they want to achieve, and it is beginning to show on the field.”

Ryu wasn't just talking about the exhibition games Korea played against the Hanshin Tigers and the Orix Buffaloes in Osaka, Japan, earlier in the week, when the team's bats came alive. In those games, the players adopted the “airplane” celebration after home runs or big hits, signifying their desire to hop on the chartered flight from Tokyo to Miami.

Korea manager Ryu Ji-hyun in Osaka on March 3 [YONHAP]

“I was really pleased to see that. It shows that these guys are really determined to go to Miami and put on great performances there,” Ryu said. “We all want to bring joy to our fans.”

And at least one player brought much joy to Ryu with his play against the Buffaloes on Tuesday. Jahmai Jones, the half-Korean outfielder for the Detroit Tigers, got hit by a pitch and then stole second on the very next pitch, getting his timing down so well that the opposing catcher didn't even bother throwing to second.

Ryu made a big heart sign over his head, a lighthearted moment caught live on camera.

“Maybe I should have just done a finger heart,” Ryu said with a smile, slightly embarrassed with his display of emotion. “I just think that [Jones] can bring so much energy to this team, and I wanted to let him know that.”

Ryu said KT Wiz right-hander So Hyeong-jun will start versus Czechia, with Hanwha Eagles fireballer Jeong Woo-joo to be the next in line.

During the opening round, pitchers will be limited to 65 pitches per outing, a rule put in place to protect their arms before the start of their professional seasons. It typically means a starting pitcher won't go more than four or five innings at most, putting a premium on relief pitching that can bridge the gap between the starter and the closer.

Whoever follows Jeong out of the bullpen will depend on the score and game situations, Ryu said. And even though Czechia is regarded as the weakest team in Pool C, Ryu said the European side will have a stronger squad than the one that lost twice to Korea in exhibition games last fall.

“All four games are important for us, but it's especially important to win the first game while having things go the way we map them out,” Ryu said. “That way, we will be set up nicely for the upcoming games in terms of our strategies.”

Yonhap