Osaka: South Korea manager Ryu Ji-hyun expressed satisfaction with his team's pitching performance in their first exhibition game before the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in Japan.

According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea tied 3-3 with the Hanshin Tigers at Kyocera Dome in Osaka, marking their first official tuneup following several scrimmages against Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) clubs in Okinawa. The team is scheduled to face the Orix Buffaloes next, before heading to Tokyo to open the WBC against the Czech Republic.

Ryu remarked on the improvement of his pitchers, noting a better flow and performance compared to their camp in Okinawa. Starter Gwak Been delivered a scoreless first inning but allowed three runs in the second. However, the subsequent six pitchers, including Noh Kyung-eun and Ryu Hyun-jin, contributed seven scoreless innings.

The manager also commended his batters for maintaining their form. Kim Do-yeong, the 2024 KBO MVP, continued his strong showing with a solo home run and an infield hit. Ryu expressed confidence in Kim's abilities, citing his recent performances.

Jahmai Jones and Shay Whitcomb, recent additions with Korean heritage, were mostly subdued, with Jones managing an infield single. Ryu was optimistic about their future contributions, highlighting their recent arrival to the team.