World Baseball Classic: Team Korea Roster News, Notes, and Analysis
Team Korea is trying to avoid a first-round elimination for the first time since 2009. Here's the squad they're sending to the WBC.
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The last time we saw the World Baseball Classic in action, we were left with a movie moment. Bottom of the ninth, Japan leading 3-2, and Shohei Ohtani struck out his Angels teammate Mike Trout on a full count pitch.
It was the type of game that felt almost scripted, with a level of intensity that sticks with you long after the final out. To say the World Baseball Classic has been a success is an understatement. Over 1.3 million people attended a WBC game in 2023, and the final averaged over five million viewers.
The hype continues to build, as we are finally less than a month out from the tournament’s start and have official rosters to work with. Today, I am going to be focusing on Team Korea, who is trying to avoid a first-round elimination for the first time since 2009, when they finished runner-up.
Korea will be part of Pool C, with games being played in Tokyo, along with Australia, Chinese Taipei, Czechia, and Japan, who is considered the tournament favorite by many.
World Baseball Classic: Team Korea Roster
Position Players
If you follow Major League Baseball, you will recognize a few names such as Jung Hoo Lee, Hyeseong Kim, Jahmai Jones, and Shay Whitcomb.
Lee comes with the most major league success, having slashed .265/.324/.391 with 10 home runs and a 102 wRC+ across two seasons with the San Francisco Giants. The contact-oriented outfielder will be a crucial piece in Team Korea’s lineup, slotted near the top of the order.
Jones mostly bounced around from organization to organization without a defined role until he joined the Detroit Tigers in 2025. Although he came up as a second baseman, Jones has transitioned to the outfield and carved out a role mashing lefties to the tune of a .970 OPS in 2025. As one of two righty outfielders, I expect Jones to be a big piece of Team Korea’s lineup, especially when a lefty is on the mound.
Whitcomb and Hyeseong Kim have seen limited time in the majors but come with their own sets of tools. Whitcomb brings home run power, while Kim was more of a contact hitter who struggled with striking out during his first season stateside. Each has the versatility to play multiple positions, giving Team Korea flexibility.
Although those are the names you might be more familiar with, there are a few names you’ll likely know after this event. Hyun Min Ahn, a 22-year-old outfielder, broke out last season in the KBO, slashing .334/.448/.570 with 22 home runs and winning the league’s Rookie of the Year award.
Ahn is not the only young, budding star blossoming in the KBO. Do Yeong Kim, a 22-year-old infielder, debuted at age 18 and has improved each season. In 2024, Kim slashed .347/.420/.647 with 38 home runs across 141 games, taking home MVP honors. His 2025 season was cut short due to injury.
Do Yeong Kim is still growing into his body, and his six-foot, 187-pound frame doesn’t scream power hitter, but the ball jumps off his bat. It’s the type of power that can leave the yard to all fields.
Hyun Bin Moon is another name to watch. Another 22-year-old outfielder who has also seen some time on the dirt, Moon slashed .320/.370/.453 with 12 home runs and 17 stolen bases last season. This trio of young stars on the rise makes Team Korea’s lineup one of the more intriguing groups to follow during the tournament.
Pitching Staff
| Pitchers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dane Dunning | Woo-Suk Go | Been Gwak | Woo Joo Jeong | Byeong Hyeon Jo |
| Yeong Hyun Park | Riley O’Brien | Kyung-Eun Noh | Young Pyo Ko | Young Kyu Kim |
| Hyun Jin Ryu | Hyeong Jun So | Ju Young Son | Seung Ki Song | Tae In Won |
Pitching has been a problem for Team Korea in the past and was the biggest factor behind their first-round exit in 2023.
This year, they added major leaguers Dane Dunning and Riley O’Brien to the roster, pairing them with names you might know such as Hyun-Jin Ryu, who spent 10 years in the majors with the Dodgers and Blue Jays.
Ryu, 38, has spent the past two seasons back in the KBO, pitching to the tune of a 3.23 ERA in 2025. He’s an experienced lefty that provides leadership and can still get outs. Dunning, who spent 2025 with the Atlanta Braves, will fill the role of bulk innings either out of the bullpen or in shorter starts.
O’Brien has always had the stuff, but walks have held him back. Last season, at age 30, was his first extended stint in the majors; he pitched to a 2.06 ERA and 3.61 FIP with the Cardinals. He’ll be used as the closer for Team Korea.
The pitching staff ranges from 41-year-old Kyung-Eun No to 19-year-old Woo Joo Jeong. You might be familiar with Woo-Suk Go, a bullpen arm that most recently pitched in the Tigers organization.
Team Korea’s bullpen has a number of pitchers who have found success in the KBO, with Byeong Hyeon Jo breaking out in 2025 at 23 years old and pitching to a 1.74 ERA and 30 saves with 79 strikeouts across 67.1 innings.
The rotation might be a bit short on arms and innings, but Ryu will be joined by some combination of Tae In Won, Seung Ki Song, Ju Young Son, Hyeong Jun So, and Young Pyo Ko, another veteran in the group.
Perhaps the most intriguing arm is Woo Joo Jeng, the number two overall selection in the KBO draft last season. As an 18-year-old in 2025, he posted a 2.85 ERA with 82 strikeouts in 53.2 innings. How, exactly, Team Korea uses such an electric but inexperienced arm will be a storyline to watch.
Coaching Staff
| Role | Coach |
|---|---|
| Manager | Ji-Hyun Ryu |
| Bench Coach | In Kwon Kang |
| Hitting Coach | Jin Young Lee |
| Pitching Coach | Kwang Sam Kim |
| First Base Coach | Dong Wook Lee |
| Third Base Coach | Jae Gul Kim |
| Bullpen Coach | Taek Hyun Ryu |
| Quality Control Coach | Won Ho Choi |
| Training Coach | Young II Kim |
After spending 10 years playing in the KBO, manager Ji-Hyun Ryu will get his first shot at managing in the World Baseball Classic. He was part of the team’s coaching staff in the past, both during the World Baseball Classic and other tournaments.
Team Korea has seen significant change in their coaching from previous tournaments, which is not all that strange, especially for a team coming off three straight first-round exits.
World Baseball Classic: Team Korea Schedule
Exhibition Games
| Date | Opponent | Start Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2 | vs. Hanshin Tigers | 12:00 pm JT / 10:00 pm ET (Mar. 1) | Kyocera Dome (Osaka) |
| March 3 | vs. Orix Buffaloes | 12:00 pm JT / 10:00 pm ET (Mar. 1) | Kyocera Dome (Osaka) |
Pool Play
| Date | Opponent | Start Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 5 | vs. Czechia | 7:00 pm JT / 5:00 am ET | Tokyo Dome |
| March 7 | @ Japan | 7:00 pm JT / 5:00 am ET | Tokyo Dome |
| March 8 | vs. Chinese Taipei | 12:00 pm JT / 10:00 pm ET (Mar. 7) | Tokyo Dome |
| March 10 | @ Australia | 8:00 pm JT / 6:00 am ET | Tokyo Dome |
Knockout Rounds
| Round | Date | Stadium | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinal | Mar. 13 or 14, 2026 | loanDepot Park, Miami | TBA |
| Semifinal | Mar. 15 or 16, 2026 | loanDepot Park, Miami | 8:00 pm ET |
| Final | Mar. 17, 2026 | loanDepot Park, Miami | 8:00 pm ET |
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