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."
