Miami: South Korea manager Ryu Ji-hyun is contemplating a roster change at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) due to an injury concern with a key player. Ryu is considering adding a half-Korean reliever to replace an injured pitcher as the team prepares for the quarterfinals.
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's national team arrived in Miami on Wednesday morning after a decisive 7-2 victory over Australia in Tokyo, which secured their spot in the knockout stage. The team's left-handed pitcher, Son Ju-young, who started the game against Australia, was pulled out after just one inning due to elbow discomfort. Subsequently, Son's Korea Baseball Organization club, LG Twins, confirmed that he is suffering from inflammation in his left elbow, sidelining him for at least 10 days. This means Son will miss the remainder of the WBC, as he returned to South Korea for further testing instead of traveling to Miami.
Ryu is considering replacing Son with St. Louis Cardinals reliever Riley O'Brien. O'Brien, who has a Korean mother, was initially selected for the South Korean team and was expected to serve as the closer before a calf injury ruled him out in February. However, O'Brien has since recovered and participated in two spring training games for the Cardinals. Ryu plans to assess O'Brien's current health and performance before making a definitive decision.
Additionally, Ryu ruled out the possibility of including Hanwha Eagles starter Moon Dong-ju, who was not selected for the team due to shoulder issues. Moon has recently started throwing in scrimmages, but Ryu emphasized that the WBC is not suitable for pitchers still in recovery, as it poses a risk of serious injury.
In positive news, Ryu indicated that second baseman Kim Hye-seong appears ready to return after missing the game against Australia due to a hand injury sustained during a steal attempt. Kim was available towards the end of the Australia game, suggesting his readiness to participate in upcoming matches.
South Korea will face the Pool D winner in the quarterfinals at loanDepot park in Miami. The Dominican Republic and Venezuela are set to compete for the Pool D top spot, with the winner challenging South Korea. Despite being considered underdogs, Ryu remains optimistic, citing Italy's unexpected victory over the United States as evidence of the unpredictable nature of tournament games. He emphasized that every team has a chance and that his team will prepare with this mindset.