Tokyo: South Korea manager Ryu Ji-hyun has experienced both success and failure at earlier World Baseball Classic (WBC) tournaments, having served on the coaching staff for the 2006 squad that reached the semifinals and the 2013 team that got knocked out in the first round. In charge of this year's team, Ryu believes his players have the right attitude that can lead to glorious moments on the field.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ryu expressed confidence in his players' commitment and genuine attitude toward the national team at a pretournament press conference at Tokyo Dome on Wednesday. South Korea is set to begin Pool C action against Czechia at 7 p.m. Thursday. "Things have been moving in the right direction in that regard," Ryu added. "And I am convinced that it will allow these 30 players to perform even better than what they're capable of."
Following the game against Czechia, South Korea will face Japan on Saturday, Chinese Taipei on Sunday, and Australia on Monday. The top two nations at the end of pool play will advance to the quarterfinals in Miami. South Korea hasn't advanced past the first round since reaching the final in 2009, having lost their opening games in 2013, 2017, and 2023.
Ryu expressed a strong desire to change the narrative this year. "Baseball is the most popular sport in South Korea, but at recent international competitions, we have let our fans down," Ryu said. "All the players wearing the Korean national team uniform feel the same way about what they want to achieve, and it is beginning to show on the field."
He highlighted the team's performance in exhibition games against the Hanshin Tigers and the Orix Buffaloes in Osaka, where the players celebrated big hits with an "airplane" gesture to signify their goal of reaching Miami. "I was really pleased to see that. It shows that these guys are really determined to go to Miami and put on great performances there," Ryu said. "We all want to bring joy to our fans."
In a game against the Buffaloes, Jahmai Jones, a half-Korean outfielder for the Detroit Tigers, impressed Ryu by stealing second base immediately after being hit by a pitch. Ryu's lighthearted reaction was captured live as he made a big heart sign over his head. "Maybe I should have just done a finger heart," Ryu remarked, acknowledging the energy Jones brings to the team.
Ryu announced that KT Wiz right-hander So Hyeong-jun will start against Czechia, with Hanwha Eagles fireballer Jeong Woo-joo next in line. With a rule limiting pitchers to 65 pitches per outing in the opening round, Ryu emphasized the importance of relief pitching. "Whoever follows Jeong out of the bullpen will depend on the score and game situations," Ryu noted, while also acknowledging that Czechia may pose a stronger challenge than in previous exhibition games.
"All four games are important for us, but it's especially important to win the first game while having things go the way we map them out," Ryu concluded. "That way, we will be set up nicely for the upcoming games in terms of our strategies."