The stage is set for a thrilling showdown as the South Korean national baseball team prepares to face the Dominican Republic in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), marking Korea’s first appearance in the WBC’s final eight in 17 years. The highly anticipated matchup is scheduled for March 14, 2026, at 7:30 AM local time at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, with fans on both sides buzzing with excitement and a touch of nerves.
For Korea, this journey to the quarterfinals has come with its share of drama and adversity. Manager Ryu Ji-hyun has guided his squad through a challenging group stage, overcoming the odds to reach the knockout rounds. Yet, as the team readies itself to take on a Dominican lineup stacked with Major League Baseball’s brightest stars, there’s no denying the concerns that cloud the Korean dugout—especially when it comes to the pitching staff.
Injuries have taken their toll at the worst possible moment. Ace starters Won Tae-in of the Samsung Lions and Moon Dong-joo of the Hanwha Eagles have both been sidelined, leaving the rotation thin and the bullpen overworked. The situation worsened after Son Joo-young, who had delivered a scoreless inning against Australia, exited with elbow pain and was later diagnosed with inflammation. Hopes to bring in Korean-American big leaguer Riley O’Brien as a replacement ultimately fell through, forcing Korea to continue with a 29-man roster—one short of the usual contingent.
“It’s a tough break, but we have to keep moving forward,” said a team official, echoing the resilient attitude that has defined Korea’s campaign so far. Without a clear-cut ace, speculation has swirled around who will take the mound for the all-important quarterfinal. The leading candidates are Ryu Hyun-jin of the Hanwha Eagles, a veteran left-hander with a decade of MLB experience, and Kwak Bin of the Doosan Bears, whose recent performances have electrified fans and scouts alike.
Ryu Hyun-jin’s familiarity with the Miami mound could prove invaluable. Back in August 2013, pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ryu threw 7⅓ innings of three-run ball at LoanDepot Park against the Miami Marlins. He returned in September 2020 to stifle the Marlins again, this time yielding just one run over six innings while striking out eight. That kind of poise under pressure is exactly what Korea needs as it stares down a Dominican lineup brimming with power hitters. Ryu’s most recent WBC outing came on March 8 against Taiwan, where he tossed three innings, allowing three hits—including a home run—and one run, keeping Korea in the game early on.
Meanwhile, Kwak Bin has emerged as a dynamic option. In that same contest against Taiwan, Kwak followed Ryu and showcased a blistering fastball, topping out at 157 km/h. Over 3⅓ innings, he surrendered just two hits (one a solo homer) and one run, demonstrating the kind of velocity and composure that could trouble even the most fearsome Dominican bats. Kwak’s international track record is a mixed bag—he struggled in the 2023 WBC with an ERA of 13.50 over two games, but bounced back later that year in the Asia Professional Baseball Championship with a five-inning, one-run gem, and followed it up with a four-inning shutout in the 2024 WBSC Premier12.
Other pitchers in contention for the start include So Hyeong-jun and Ko Young-pyo of the KT Wiz, both of whom have logged starts in the WBC’s first round. But with the stakes this high and the Dominican lineup as loaded as it is, the decision looms large for manager Ryu Ji-hyun and his staff.
The Dominican Republic, for its part, presents a daunting challenge. Their roster reads like an MLB All-Star ballot—Juan Soto (New York Mets), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto Blue Jays), Fernando Tatis Jr. (San Diego Padres), Junior Caminero (Tampa Bay Rays), Julio Rodriguez (Seattle Mariners), and Oneil Cruz (Pittsburgh Pirates) headline a lineup with thunder in every bat. Just two days before the quarterfinal, the Dominicans unleashed their power in a group-stage finale against Venezuela at LoanDepot Park, blasting four home runs in a single game. Juan Soto led the charge with a two-run homer in the first inning, setting the tone for a relentless offensive display.
Korea’s path to the semifinals, then, could not be more challenging. The last time the team reached this stage was 2009, when they finished as tournament runners-up in a memorable run. Since then, Korea has endured heartbreak and early exits, making this year’s achievement all the sweeter—but also raising the stakes for a baseball-mad nation hungry for another taste of international glory.
Back on the home front, the Samsung Lions have received a much-needed boost of their own. Ace pitcher Ariel Jurado is set to rejoin the team by the end of March after Panama’s early exit from the WBC group stage. Jurado had been a workhorse for Samsung in the 2025 KBO season, leading the league with 197⅓ innings pitched and 23 quality starts, while posting a 15-8 record and a sparkling 2.60 ERA. In the WBC, Jurado started against Puerto Rico on March 8, tossing five shutout innings with four strikeouts and three hits allowed—though Panama ultimately lost the game in a late-inning reversal.
Jurado’s early return is welcome news for a Samsung rotation that’s been hit by adversity. With Matt Manning departing and homegrown ace Won Tae-in still working his way back from an elbow injury, the Lions had been scrambling to fill holes on the mound. Won Tae-in, for his part, is reportedly over 90% recovered and has begun catch-ball practice, with hopes of returning to game action by April. Samsung is also searching for another foreign pitcher to replace Manning, but the full rotation may not be ready for the KBO’s opening day at the end of March. Still, optimism is building that the staff will be back to full strength by early spring.
“We’re relieved to have Jurado back sooner than expected,” said a Samsung team official. “With Won Tae-in progressing and the rest of the staff coming together, we’re hopeful for a strong start once everyone is healthy.”
As the WBC quarterfinal approaches, all eyes will be on Miami’s LoanDepot Park, where Korea will try to defy the odds against one of the tournament’s most formidable teams. Whether it’s Ryu Hyun-jin’s veteran savvy or Kwak Bin’s youthful fire that leads the charge, the Korean squad knows it will take a near-perfect performance to topple the Dominican powerhouse and keep their dream alive. The baseball world waits with bated breath to see if Korea’s magical run can continue—or if the Dominican bats will prove too much to handle.
With the KBO season on the horizon and the WBC drama reaching fever pitch, both Korean fans and players have plenty to look forward to as spring arrives. The next few weeks promise high-stakes action, emotional comebacks, and, perhaps, a few surprises yet to come.