Could the South Korea World Baseball Classic (WBC) team escape the humiliation of being eliminated in the first round for the first time in 17 years?
South Korea reached the semifinals in the inaugural 2006 tournament and finished runner-up in the 2009 edition, but was eliminated in the first round in the 2013, 2017 and 2023 tournaments.
Korea will play first-round games in March at the Tokyo Dome in Japan against Japan, the Czech Republic, Taiwan and Australia. The top two teams in the group advance to the quarterfinals. Taiwan, which pulled off a surprising victory at the 2024 Premier12, is a team to watch, and Australia is no pushover either.
Korea has a painful history with Australia. In the opening game of the 2023 WBC first round, Korea suffered a 7-8 come-from-behind loss to Australia. Stunned by the defeat, Korea later lost to Japan as well and was eliminated with a 2-2 record. Australia (3-1) finished second in the group and advanced to the second round along with Japan (4-0).
Of the 30 players on Australia's final WBC roster announced on the 6th, 15—half—played in the 2023 tournament. Seven Australian pitchers and eight position players were the main players who caused Korea's elimination disaster in Tokyo in 2023.
Right-handed pitchers Warwick Saupold, Sam Holland, Mitch Nunnbawn, Todd Van Steijnel and left-handed pitchers John Kennedy, Blake Townsend and Jack O'Rourke will participate in this tournament following their appearances in 2023.
Position players include Robbie Perkins and Alex Hall (both catchers), Gerrad Dale, Robbie Glendinning, Logan Wade (all infielders), Ulrich Boyarski, Aaron Whitefield and Tim Kennelly (all outfielders). Gerrad Dale was recruited this year as KIA's Asia quota player.
Although it is their first time participating, there are familiar players. LG's Asia quota pitcher Lachlan Wells and pitcher Coen Wynne, who last year played for LG as an injury replacement foreign player, will participate this time as members of the Australian national team.
Left-hander Jack O'Rourke, who was 22 in 2023, started against Korea and delivered a surprise two scoreless innings. Right-hander Mitch Nunnbawn then entered in the third inning and continued perfect, scoreless pitching until he was replaced after giving up Korea's first hit to Park Kun-woo with one out in the fifth inning.
Australia set its starting lineup against Korea as Tim Kennelly (right fielder), Alex Hall (designated hitter), Robbie Glendinning (second base), Daryl George (third base), Aaron Whitefield (center field), Rixon Wingrove (first base), Logan Wade (shortstop), Robbie Perkins (catcher) and Ulrich Boyarski (left field).
Eight of the starters in the Korea game, excluding George, are all participating in this tournament. In particular, Kennelly hit a solo home run off Ko Young-pyo, Glendinning hit a go-ahead three-run homer off Kim Won-jung, and Perkins hit a three-run insurance home run off Yang Hyeon-jong.
Travis Bazana of the Cleveland Guardians, the first Australian ever selected first overall in the 2024 Major League Baseball draft, is participating. Bazana last year played in the rookie league, Double-A and Triple-A, appearing in 84 games with a .245 batting average, nine home runs, 39 RBIs and an OPS of .818. In Triple-A he appeared in 26 games with a .225 batting average, four home runs, 14 RBIs and an OPS of .858.
Korea will play its final group game against Australia on March 9. Even if they beat Taiwan on the 8th, they must not let their guard down before the final game against Australia.
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