Albert Pujols, manager of the Dominican Republic national team set to face South Korea in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), said he will effectively counter Korea's expected small ball tactics. Small ball refers to a strategy of manufacturing runs through tactical plays.
After completing official practice at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida on March 13, Pujols responded to questions about South Korea's strengths at a press conference. "Korea will play their style of baseball," he said.
"Korean players generally play clean baseball and rarely make mistakes," Pujols added. "We also need to minimize errors and be prepared for the game."
He continued: "Korea will try to score through various methods including small ball and hit-and-run. We don't have much information, but we trust our players' abilities and scouting reports, and will do our best to respond."
Regarding pitching strategy, Pujols said, "Starter Cristopher Sánchez (Philadelphia Phillies) will pitch as planned, then we'll turn to the bullpen. Our team excels in offense, bullpen, and defense."
"In a short tournament, capitalizing on opponents' mistakes is crucial. Our team has many strong defenders, including captain Manny Machado (San Diego Padres). We will secure a stable victory," he said.
Pujols played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball before retiring after the 2022 season, hitting 703 home runs with a .296 batting average, .374 on-base percentage, and .544 slugging percentage.
The quarterfinal between South Korea and the Dominican Republic will take place at 7:30 a.m. KST on March 14 at loanDepot Park.
The Korean national baseball team, led by manager Ryu Ji-hyun, will start veteran pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha Eagles).