The anticipation surrounding the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) is palpable, but for Korean baseball fans, the pre-tournament narrative is tinged with both hope and a sobering dose of reality. According to MLB.com’s comprehensive team rankings released on February 20, 2026, Korea enters the tournament as the ninth most likely nation to claim the championship, trailing Taiwan, which secured the eighth spot. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a country with a proud baseball legacy, including a runner-up finish in the 2009 WBC and a fourth-place showing in the inaugural 2006 edition.
This latest assessment comes after a string of international disappointments for Korea, most recently in the 2024 WBSC Premier12. There, Taiwan stunned the baseball world by defeating both Korea and Japan en route to their first Premier12 title—a triumph that has now propelled them above Korea in global power rankings. As Michael Clair of MLB.com put it, “Taiwan is considered an underdog, but with captain Chen Chieh-hsien’s performance, they defeated Korea and Japan to win the 2024 Premier12. It was the best result in Taiwan’s history.”
Clair, along with fellow MLB.com journalist Will Leitch, alternated picks as they ranked the 20 WBC teams. The United States, Japan, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Canada filled the top seven spots, reflecting the continued dominance of these baseball powerhouses. But it was Clair’s selection of Taiwan at eighth that drew particular attention. He highlighted not only their recent Premier12 heroics but also the infusion of young talent on their roster. “Taiwan’s roster includes Cubs prospect Jonathan Long and Cleveland Guardians outfielder Stewart Fairchild,” Clair noted. “Their pitching staff boasts Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Lin Wei-Min and Softbank Hawks’ Shu Yuxi, as well as Lin Wei-Yuan and Chen Po-Yu—there’s a lot of talent there.”
Leitch, who slotted Korea in at ninth, offered a perspective rooted in both nostalgia and cautious optimism. “Honestly, this is a sentimental pick for me,” he admitted. “I vividly remember obsessively watching KBO games during the early days of the pandemic. And I recall how close Korea came to winning the 2009 WBC before falling to Japan.” Leitch acknowledged that Korea’s momentum has waned as the international baseball landscape has grown more competitive, but he was quick to point out the quality still present in the squad. “There are still plenty of high-level players, including KBO League stars and Korean-American MLB players like JaMychal Jones of the Detroit Tigers, Dane Dunning of the Seattle Mariners, and Shea Whitcomb of the Houston Astros.”
Despite these encouraging names, Korea faces serious hurdles. The loss of Riley O’Brien, who was ruled out of the WBC due to calf pain, is a blow to their pitching depth. And the head-to-head record against Taiwan since the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games is less than inspiring: just two wins in six meetings, with four defeats. The message is clear—if Korea wants to reach the quarterfinals, they must find a way to overcome Taiwan, who have become something of a nemesis in recent years.
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Korea’s roster is bolstered by a new generation of talent, most notably 22-year-old right fielder An Hyun-min. MLB.com singled him out as Korea’s key player for the tournament, citing his impressive KBO rookie campaign: 22 home runs, a .334 batting average, a .448 on-base percentage, and a .570 slugging percentage. An earned Rookie of the Year honors and demonstrated his international credentials in a 2025 exhibition against Japan in Tokyo, where he launched a home run and drew three walks. MLB.com even compared his physical presence to that of Mike Trout, dubbing him the “Muscle Man.”
Other names to watch include Lee Jung-hoo, now with the San Francisco Giants, Kim Hye-sung of the LA Dodgers, and veteran ace Ryu Hyun-jin, who returned to the Hanwha Eagles after a storied MLB career. This blend of KBO standouts and Korean-heritage MLB players offers a glimmer of hope that Korea could punch above its weight, especially if the team chemistry clicks at the right moment.
The road to redemption, however, won’t be easy. The USA, ranked as the overwhelming favorite, has assembled a roster that looks almost unbeatable on paper. Their pitching staff is anchored by Paul Sewald (Pittsburgh) and Tarik Skubal (Detroit), while their lineup boasts Aaron Judge (New York Yankees), Cal Raleigh (Seattle Mariners), and Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City Royals). Japan, the defending champion, is hardly less intimidating, led by Shohei Ohtani and 2025 World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, both of the LA Dodgers, and Sawamura Award winner Hiroomi Ito of the Nippon Ham Fighters.
Latin American baseball is also flexing its muscles, with the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Mexico filling out the third through sixth spots in the rankings. Canada, ranked seventh, rounds out a formidable top tier, while Korea and Taiwan are left to battle for the scraps—and, crucially, a spot in the knockout rounds.
For Taiwan, the recent surge is more than just a flash in the pan. Their 2024 Premier12 campaign was a statement of intent, capped by an 11-3 drubbing of Australia and a pivotal 6-3 victory over Korea in the group stage. The Taiwanese squad, managed by a core of domestic and international talent, is riding a wave of confidence. MLB.com’s Clair predicted, “I expect Taiwan to finish second in the Tokyo group stage and advance to Miami. Anything can happen in Miami.”
Korea, meanwhile, is leaving no stone unturned in its preparations. Under the watchful eye of manager Ryu Ji-hyun, the national team recently held a series of practice games against KBO’s Samsung Lions and other domestic squads in Okinawa, Japan. The goal? To sharpen their edge and build momentum ahead of their WBC opener. The mood in camp is determined, if a bit anxious, as players and coaches alike recognize the magnitude of the challenge ahead.
As the tournament draws near, the question on everyone’s mind is whether Korea can defy the odds and rediscover the magic of their past WBC runs. Can the synergy between KBO stars and their MLB counterparts ignite a run to the quarterfinals—or even beyond? Or will Taiwan’s recent dominance continue, leaving Korea once again on the outside looking in?
One thing’s for sure: with so much talent on display and so much at stake, the 2026 World Baseball Classic is shaping up to be a dramatic, unpredictable ride. For Korea, it’s all or nothing against Taiwan—and the baseball world will be watching every pitch.