South Korea's baseball team, which achieved the "Miracle of Tokyo" to advance to the 2026 World Baseball Classic quarterfinals, will face the Dominican Republic and its lineup packed with "monsters." The key to victory lies in how well Korea can contain the Dominican offense that bombarded opposing pitchers in pool play. Manager Ryu Ji-hyun has chosen "Korean Monster" Ryu Hyun-jin (39, Hanwha Eagles) as his ace card.
After official practice at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, on March 13 (Korea time), Manager Ryu announced at a press conference that Ryu Hyun-jin will start in the WBC quarterfinal against the Dominican Republic at 7:30 a.m. on March 14. "I decided on Ryu Hyun-jin as the starter because he is Ryu Hyun-jin," the manager said. "He is the most reliable card on our team."
Wearing the Taegeuk mark for the first time in 17 years since the 2009 WBC, Ryu Hyun-jin will make his second appearance in what could be his final tournament as a national team member. He previously started against Taiwan in pool play, delivering a solid performance with 3 innings pitched, 3 hits allowed (1 home run), 3 strikeouts, and 1 earned run. After practice on March 12, he said, "I will do my best to ensure the game against the Dominican Republic is not my last wearing the Taegeuk mark."
However, Ryu shoulders a heavier burden than ever. The Dominican Republic ranks first among all 20 countries in pool play across eight team batting categories: batting average (.313), runs scored (41), home runs (13), RBIs (40), walks (33), on-base percentage (.458), slugging percentage (.672), and OPS (1.130). They scored in double digits in three of their four pool games except against Venezuela (7 runs), averaging 10.3 runs per game.
Every batter from one through nine can hit home runs. Five players have hit two home runs each: Juan Soto (New York Mets), who signed the first trillion-won contract in world professional sports history, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto Blue Jays), Fernando Tatis Jr. (San Diego Padres), Oneil Cruz (Pittsburgh Pirates), and Junior Caminero (Tampa Bay Rays). Austin Wells (New York Yankees), Julio Rodriguez (Seattle Mariners), and Ketel Marte (Arizona Diamondbacks) have each hit one.
Ryu brings veteran experience and savvy game management. Having played in Major League Baseball from 2013 to 2023, he has the most big-league experience among Korea's pitchers. He also has good memories at loanDepot Park. While with the Toronto Blue Jays in September 2020, he earned a win against the Miami Marlins there, pitching 6 innings with 5 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts, and 1 earned run.
Facing Ryu will be left-hander Cristopher Sanchez (Philadelphia Phillies), born in 1996—nine years younger. Sanchez has appeared in 104 career MLB games from 2021 through last season. Last year, he went 13-5 with a 2.50 ERA across 32 games, recording an impressive 212 strikeouts. However, he struggled in his pool play start against Nicaragua, allowing 6 hits, 1 walk, and 3 earned runs with 4 strikeouts in 1⅓ innings. "I made some bad pitches last game, but I'm in good condition now and my velocity is there," he said. "Korea is a different style of team, so I'll adjust my pitching accordingly and throw strategically based on situations."
Manager Ryu described Sanchez as "a world-class pitcher," adding, "He has a great fastball and an excellent changeup that fades away from right-handed batters. Our players need to focus more on getting on base. If they can develop patience against that fading changeup, we can be more competitive."
Lee Jung-hoo, whom Sanchez identified as the only Korean player he knows, said, "They are professional players just like us. This game is not between pros and high schoolers. We are also players representing Korea. Whatever the result, we will play without regrets and give our best."