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Korea's WBC breakout stars chase international baseball glory, MLB dreams in Miami

Published: 12 Mar. 2026, 15:00

Korean national baseball team players Lee Jung-hoo, left, Ahn Hyun-min, center, and Kim Do-yeong pose for a photo on the team's flight to Miami, Florida for the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals, on March 11. [KBO]

The Korean baseball team landed in Miami late Wednesday night for the knockout stage of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), ready to take the field of dreams — dreams of international glory, of course, but also dreams of a call from an MLB club.

The team's quarterfinal game against the Dominican Republic on Friday may double as a major league audition, with three young stars — Kim Do-yeong, Moon Bo-gyeong and Ahn Hyun-min — drawing attention from scouts in their debut WBC.

The WBC has long served as a potential springboard to MLB, with scouts descending on the tournament in search of the next big signing, and for players such as the Kia Tigers' Kim, the LG Twins' Moon and the KT Wiz's Ahn — who were integral to Korea's nailbiting escape from pool play — there is no better place to make a case for themselves.

Kim, the 22-year-old starting third baseman, is widely regarded as the next potential Korean position player to reach MLB after Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants and Kim Hye-seong of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He has drawn attention for his combination of hitting, baserunning and defense since his days at Gwangju Dongsung High School.

Korean national baseball team player Kim Do-yeong trains at the FIU Baseball Stadium in Miami on March 11. [YONHAP]

In 2024, Kim had a standout season with a batting average of 0.347 and 38 home runs in 141 games, winning the KBO’s Most Valuable Player award and the Golden Glove.

He first began attracting sustained interest from major league scouts during the Premier 12 tournament — a sister competition to the WBC that excludes MLB players — in November 2024. Whenever he stepped into the batter’s box, scouts were seen recording his movements on their phones — and the same attention has continued this month.

“Interest in Kim is nothing new now, but the quarterfinal on U.S. soil could draw even more scouts to the stadium,” said a person familiar with national team activities.

Moon has also emerged as one of the breakout players of this year’s WBC tournament.

Korean national baseball team player Moon Bo-gyeong speaks during an interview with press at the FIU Baseball Stadium in Miami on March 11. [YONHAP]

Before the first pitch was thrown, the 25-year-old was not on most MLB scouts' radars, but he delivered one of the most productive performances of pool play — batting 0.538 with two home runs, 11 RBIs and seven runs scored in four games — to become a key offensive contributor.

He reportedly drew particular attention from scouts with timely extra-base hits at critical moments.

Moon’s primary position is third base. In the WBC, however, he has been starting at first base while Kim handles third. Strong defensive evaluations could further raise Moon’s prospects of reaching the majors.

“I’m just happy to play alongside players competing in the major leagues, including Lee Jung-hoo,” Moon said. "I want to produce the best results possible against the best players in the world.”

Another player who has caught the eye of scouts is outfielder Ahn.

Korean national baseball team players Lee Jung-hoo, left, and Ahn Hyun-min train at the FIU Baseball Stadium in Miami on March 11. [YONHAP]

The 22-year-old won the Rookie of the Year award last season in the KBO for his immense power in the batter's box and disciplined plate appearances. Those attributes landed him the cleanup spot in the batting order.

Although Ahn has not yet belted the ball out of the park, the outfielder drove in the seventh and decisive run in Korea’s win over Australia that ultimately punched Korea's ticket to Miami. For Ahn, who dreams of playing in the major leagues, the WBC knockout stage in the United States could provide a valuable opportunity.

Meanwhile, left-handed pitcher Son Ju-young of the LG Twins — who left the game against Australia on Monday after experiencing elbow discomfort — did not travel to the United States.

Medical tests showed inflammation in his left elbow, requiring him to rest for more than ten days, the Twins said on Wednesday.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KO BONG-JUN [[email protected]]