The Korean national baseball team, aiming for a semifinal berth in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), will enter the quarterfinal tournament without a replacement for injured Son Joo-young (LG Twins). Korean-American major league reliever Riley O'Brien (St. Louis Cardinals), who had been expected to join the squad, will not be coming.
Manager Ryu Ji-hyun spoke with reporters after official practice at FIU Baseball Stadium in Miami, Florida, on March 12 (Korea time). "We communicated with O'Brien about joining after the first round ended and received word today," Ryu said. "He conveyed that his current physical condition makes it difficult to join the national team."
Ryu added, "O'Brien was eager to join, even exchanging personal messages with other players on the team, but it seems he determined his body isn't in good shape right now."
The team reportedly requested O'Brien's participation after Son Joo-young, who started in the WBC Pool C game against Australia at Tokyo Dome on March 9, complained of elbow pain. O'Brien had been on the replacement player list.
The hard-throwing pitcher was originally mentioned as the team's potential closer but was excluded from the roster after experiencing pain in his right calf muscle during bullpen sessions in mid-February.
Having recently recovered, O'Brien appeared in spring training games against the New York Mets on March 8 and 11, but struggled with one hit, five walks, and one run allowed over 1⅔ innings for a 5.40 ERA. His fastball velocity was decent, but his command wavered. O'Brien ultimately determined he could not compete in the WBC in his current condition and asked the team for understanding.
As a result, the team will compete in the quarterfinals with its existing roster. "O'Brien was physically able to join since he's in the United States," Ryu said. "But it's difficult to call up players from Korea (in the KBO League) right now." He added, "We realistically determined selecting a replacement would be difficult and will compete in the quarterfinals with the remaining players." Ryu also said, "Though Son Joo-young isn't with us physically, we'll approach the quarterfinals with the spirit that he's still part of the team."
Ryu shared his thoughts after the team's first practice since arriving in Miami. "The team's top priority right now is recovering our condition," he said. "Many players are sleep-deprived." He added, "Today and tomorrow, we'll focus on recovery."
Following practice, Ryu, coaching staff, and some players will watch the WBC Pool D game between Venezuela and the Dominican Republic at loanDepot Park, the quarterfinal venue. The winner will face Korea in the quarterfinals. Venezuelan and Dominican players competed in pool play at loanDepot Park, allowing them to enter the quarterfinals in good condition without jet lag or travel.
In contrast, the Korean team faces a relative disadvantage, having to prepare for games immediately after traveling from Japan to the United States. "It's true we're at a disadvantage and I'm concerned since we have to play right after just one practice at loanDepot Park tomorrow," Ryu acknowledged. "But we'll prepare thoroughly and focus on player recovery to play well."
"The Dominican Republic and Venezuela are strong teams with world-class players, but we also played well against a strong team like Japan in the first round," he said. "We'll prepare for the game while maintaining our composure."
Regarding the shortage of left-handed pitchers, Ryu said, "The team was criticized for lacking left-handed relievers from the time we assembled the roster. Now isn't the time for such concerns. We'll trust the players who are in good condition."
The team competed in the first round with four left-handed relievers: Son Joo-young, Song Seung-gi (LG), Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha Eagles), and Kim Young-gyu (NC Dinos). However, with Son's injury, the team must face the quarterfinals with just three left-handed pitchers.
Song Seung-gi and Kim Young-gyu are not in optimal condition, naturally elevating the importance of Ryu Hyun-jin's role. When asked about his plans for utilizing Ryu Hyun-jin, Manager Ryu demurred: "I'll discuss that tomorrow once our opponent is determined."