In early tuneups for subsequent 12 months’s World Baseball Basic (WBC), South Korea will host the Czech Republic in a pair of exhibition video games in Seoul on the weekend.
Video games at Gocheok Sky Dome within the nation’s capital, every beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday and a pair of p.m. Sunday, will probably be a part of the “Ok-Baseball Collection,” launched in 2024 to provide the nationwide crew an opportunity to compete towards different international locations through the offseason within the Korea Baseball Group (KBO).
The 2025 KBO season wrapped up on Oct. 31, and the nationwide crew, managed by Ryu Ji-hyun, opened coaching camp two days later. Gamers from the 2 Korean Collection contestants, the LG Twins and the Hanwha Eagles, reported to camp on Tuesday, two days after the remainder of the nationwide crew.
After taking part in the Czechs, South Korea will journey to Tokyo subsequent week and tackle Japan on Nov. 15 and 16 at Tokyo Dome.
South Korea, Japan and the Czech Republic are all in Pool C for the 2026 WBC, alongside Australia and Chinese language Taipei. The highest two groups from this group will advance to the following stage.
South Korea has not made it previous the preliminary spherical in three consecutive WBCs — 2013, 2017 and 2023 — after reaching the semifinals on the inaugural event in 2006 and ending because the runner-up to Japan in 2009.
The roster for these exhibition matches has 18 pitchers, three catchers, eight infielders and 5 outfielders — a mixture of established KBO stars and up-and-comers of their early 20s and, within the case of a few pitchers, nonetheless of their teenagers.
Supervisor Ryu has introduced Doosan Bears right-hander Gwak Been as Saturday’s starter. Gwak went 5-7 with a 4.20 ERA in 19 begins, after lacking the early portion of the season with an indirect damage. He tied for the KBO lead final 12 months with 15 wins.
Gwak is unlikely to be requested to deal with typical starter’s workload, with the supervisor able to see as lots of his pitchers as doable over these 4 video games.
These video games will probably be Ryu’s first because the nationwide crew skipper. The previous KBO star and supervisor was named to the nationwide crew publish in January.
Ryu stated Friday he’ll relaxation many of the gamers from the Twins and the Eagles and provides them extra time to get well from their current postseason motion. These gamers, together with All-Star third baseman Moon Bo-gyeong, slick-fielding second baseman Shin Min-jae, slugging infielder Roh Si-hwan and veteran middle fielder Park Hae-min, will seemingly see motion within the Japan video games subsequent week.
