Korea: South Korea manager Ryu Ji-hyun expressed high expectations for his newly joined players ahead of the World Baseball Classic (WBC). After conducting training with players from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in Okinawa, Japan, Ryu welcomed six players from the United States to the team in Osaka. These players include Lee Jung-hoo, Kim Hye-seong, Go Woo-suk, Jahmai Jones, Shay Whitcomb, and Dane Dunning, marking the first time the full squad assembled before upcoming games against Nippon Professional Baseball clubs.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the six new players include individuals born to Korean mothers and American fathers, a situation allowed under WBC rules that permit players to represent their parents' birth country. This tournament will be their first appearance for South Korea, following the precedent set by Tommy Edman in 2023. Manager Ryu noted the players' eagerness and camaraderie, remarking on their desire to bond with teammates and contribute significantly to the team.

Ryu has yet to finalize his lineup for the game against the Hanshin Tigers, but indicated that position players Lee, Kim, Jones, and Whitcomb are expected to participate. South Korea's schedule includes a game against the Orix Buffaloes, followed by travel to Tokyo for practice and their first Pool C match against the Czech Republic.

South Korea faces a challenging schedule, with speculation about strategic decisions against Japan and Chinese Taipei. Despite this, Ryu emphasized his commitment to strategic decisions without disclosing specifics, underscoring the team's focus on advancing to the quarterfinals.