South Korea's strongest mixed-race lineup is still underestimated; MLB official reporter favors Chinese Taipei to advance

The 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) is scheduled to start this March. Jon Morosi, a veteran MLB journalist, commented on Group C's outlook on MLB Network, noting that despite South Korea deploying its best-ever quartet of mixed-race players, Chinese Taipei’s status as the reigning World Baseball 12 Nations champion gives them a marginally higher probability of reaching the quarterfinal round.

Morosi specifically highlighted the soon-to-be 39-year-old left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin, calling him a key factor: “I’m very curious how much fuel he has left in the tank.” Ryu is a legendary figure in Korean baseball, having pitched in 186 MLB games from 2013 to 2023, compiling a 78-48 record with a 3.27 ERA. In 2019, while playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, he posted a 14-5 record with a 2.32 ERA, finishing second in the National League Cy Young Award voting.

This year’s South Korean roster is star-studded, including not only Ryu Hyun-jin but also Houston Astros’ Shay Whitcomb, Detroit Tigers outfielder Jahmai Jones, St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Riley O'Brien, and former Texas Rangers right-hander Dane Dunning, all with Korean heritage. Alongside Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hyeseong, the team boasts seven players with MLB experience, aiming to replicate the glory of their 2009 finals appearance that earned them the runner-up spot.

On February 6, MLB Network released the final 30-man rosters for all 20 teams in this tournament. When evaluating the chances in Group C—comprising Japan, Chinese Taipei, South Korea, Australia, and the Czech Republic—Morosi and other analysts agree that Japan is the favorite to top the group, while Chinese Taipei holds a slight edge in securing the second quarterfinal spot.

However, whether Ryu Hyun-jin can still demonstrate the dominance he showed in his prime will directly impact South Korea’s performance in this Classic. Morosi also praised Kia Tigers’ rising star Kim Do-young, calling him a name to watch closely in this tournament.