South Korea secured a spot in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) quarterfinals for the first time since 2009, advancing via tiebreaker after posting a 2-2 record in the first round. The team tied with Australia and Taiwan but claimed the berth thanks to the lowest team ERA.
Korea’s Path to Quarterfinals
The national team faces the Dominican Republic on March 14 (Korea time) at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida. Ryu Hyun-jin of the Hanwha Eagles starts on the mound for Korea.
Kim Tae-gyun’s Cheering Message
Kim Tae-gyun, who delivered Korea’s game-winning home run in the 2009 WBC, shared an inspiring Instagram post. “The WBC quarterfinals have arrived,” he wrote. “I hope our special players achieve special feats as well.”
Kim added, “The competition feels huge and the pressure immense, but protecting the hearts of our great nation’s wild card players with dreams is our duty. Let’s unite for the big national fight.”
In 2009, Kim posted a .375 average (10-for-29) with three home runs, 11 RBIs, nine runs scored, and a 1.176 OPS, leading in homers and RBIs.
Manager and Players Gear Up
Manager Ryu Ji-hyun addressed reporters ahead of the matchup. “The Dominican Republic boasts the world’s top-ranked players—many superstars,” he said. “Our players know it well. We’ve focused on thorough analysis and will give our all tomorrow to secure the win.”
Captain Lee Jung-hoo’s Confidence
Captain Lee Jung-hoo (outfielder) called it “a great honor to compete against so many star players.” He noted, “This atmosphere makes me believe I can deliver my best. We’ll push for the top tomorrow too.”
Lee emphasized, “We’re analyzing major teams closely to prepare winning strategies. Implementing insights from detailed Dominican game breakdowns is crucial.”
Dominican Republic’s Ace
The Dominican Republic counters with ace Cristopher Sánchez of the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2021, he debuted with a 3.24 ERA over 104 innings (30 starts, 21 walks). This season, Sánchez notched 11 quality starts in his first two turns and enters with a 2.50 ERA (13 strikeouts, five walks).
