Tokyo: Shay Whitcomb couldn't have scripted a better debut for South Korea at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) on Thursday. With his Korean mother watching in the stands, Whitcomb blasted two home runs and knocked in three runs to help South Korea defeat Czechia 11-4 to begin Pool C play at Tokyo Dome. His first home run pushed South Korea's lead to 6-0 and his second shot made it an 8-3 game, dashing any Czechia hopes of a comeback.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Whitcomb expressed immense pride in representing South Korea, attributing the honor to his mother. "It means everything to wear the jersey, to be able to honor and represent my mom in that way is one of the greatest honors for me and such a blessing," Whitcomb said. He emphasized the significance of his mother's influence, stating, "I love her a ton and I wouldn't be half the man that I am without her. To be able to play for her country and be a part of this team, it means everything to me and her."

Whitcomb shared his anticipation of reuniting with his mother after the game, expressing excitement for the moment. Following his first home run, Whitcomb made a heart sign with his hands over his head toward manager Ryu Ji-hyun, a gesture that had gained attention during a previous exhibition game. Whitcomb remarked, "It was on the spot, just out of celebration."

Both of Whitcomb's home runs were noteworthy, with the second homer measured at 362 feet. Reflecting on the moment, he said, "I kind of hit it off the end. Is it going to be another one? That's what was going through my mind. When it went out, I was ecstatic. Looking back at the dugout, seeing my teammates all fired up means the most to me."

South Korea now prepares to face defending champion Japan after an off day on Friday. Whitcomb conveyed his readiness for the challenge, stating, "We're ready for a battle. We're going to do what we do. We showed a good showing today of being able to hit the ball and pitch well. So we're going to play our game and we're going to show up ready to fight and have confidence in our guys."