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Ex-KBO MVP has good feeling about Korean's chances against Japan

Published: 06 Mar. 2026, 09:30

Kim Do-yeong of Korea trains at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 4, a day ahead of the World Baseball Classic's start. [YONHAP]

Before the final Sunday of the 1999 Ryder Cup, U.S. captain Ben Crenshaw found his favored squad trailing Team Europe by 10-6, a seemingly insurmountable gap with a dozen singles matches remaining.

Crenshaw closed his press conference on the previous night with this declaration, wagging his right index finger for emphasis: "I have a good feeling about this."

Kim Do-yeong, a Korean infielder competing at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in Tokyo, hadn't even been born when Crenshaw's American team staged the largest final day comeback in Ryder Cup history for a 14 1/2-13 1/2 victory.

Still, moments after Korea defeated Czech Republic 11-4 to begin Pool C play at Tokyo Dome on Thursday, Kim spoke of his optimism for his team's next game scheduled for Saturday — against the defending champion and the title favorite Japan.

"Honestly, I have a good feeling about this," the 22-year-old said. "I feel like we can win. I think we've become a really strong team. We've got some players here from overseas, and I am looking forward to it. I just have to hold up my end of the bargain."

Indeed, Kim will have to perform better than he did Thursday as Korea tries to beat Japan for the first time since November 2015 in a best-on-best format featuring professional players, for he did not have a signature moment against Czech Republic.

While his teammates pounded out 10 hits, including four home runs, Kim went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Kim did score a run on Moon Bo-gyeong's first inning grand slam but was kept in check at the plate as Czech pitchers were mostly careful with the 2024 KBO MVP.

Those four quick runs right off the bat may have had undesired effects on Kim, though.

Kim Do-yeong of Korea, center, enters the field at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 5 for the pregame ceremony before facing Czechia in Pool C at the World Baseball Classic. [YONHAP]

"When we took a big lead early, I think I lost my concentration in spite of myself," Kim said. "I am beating myself up for that. We have even more important games coming up, and I have to cherish each and every trip to the plate."

Kim insisted his less-than-stellar showing wasn't due to any nerves.

"Honestly, this game wasn't much different from others, considering this was my first WBC game," Kim said. "And it was a lot of fun. I didn't get extra nervous just because it was a WBC game. But maybe I will get more jitters in the next one. We'll see."

He may not have played as well as he wanted to, but Kim was still happy that Korea slew the ghosts of first games.

Prior to Thursday, Korea had dropped its first game at three consecutive WBC tournaments in 2013, 2017 and 2023. The country failed to make it past the opening round in all three of those years.

"I know we didn't have a good history in first games, and I had a good feeling after we played so well in this one," Kim said. "Our bats didn't cool down until the end. So it makes me look forward to our next game even more."

Yonhap