Ryu Hyun-jin Leads South Korea in Crucial WBC Matchup Against Taiwan
High Stakes in Tokyo: Korea Needs a Win
TOKYO – South Korea faces a must-win game against Chinese Taipei at Tokyo Dome on Sunday, March 8th, as they continue their quest in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. After a split in their first two games, Korea (1-1) needs a victory to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive.
Ryu Hyun-jin Takes the Mound
Veteran pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin
, a key figure in South Korea’s pitching staff, will start against Taiwan. Manager Ryu Ji-hyun officially announced the decision following the team’s previous game. Ryu Hyun-jin has a wealth of experience in major international competitions, including the Olympics and previous WBC tournaments.
Taiwan Counters with Gu Linruiyang
Taiwan will counter with right-handed pitcher Gu Linruiyang. He was named the CPBL MVP in 2024 after going 10-2 with a 1.66 ERA. Despite an abdominal injury limiting his appearances with Nippon Ham Fighters in 2025, he has demonstrated strong pitching ability.
Gu Linruiyang, born in 2000, is Taiwan’s ace whose main weapons are a powerful fastball with a maximum speed of 157 km, a sharp splitter and a curve.
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Recent Team Performance
Korea began the tournament with an 11-4 victory over the Czech Republic but then suffered an 8-6 loss to Japan. Chinese Taipei, after losses to Australia and Japan, secured a 14-run victory against Czechia, keeping their tournament hopes alive.
Broadcast Information
The game will be broadcast live on FS2 in the United States and streamed on Netflix in Japan.
Key Matchup Details
- When: Saturday, 10 p.m. ET (Sunday, noon local time)
- Where: Tokyo Dome, Japan
- Starting Pitchers: Ruei-Yang Gu Lin (Taiwan) vs. Hyun Jin Ryu (Korea)
Looking Ahead
This game is critical for both teams. Korea needs a win to stay in contention for a quarterfinal berth, although Taiwan aims to keep their tournament dreams alive. The duel between Ryu Hyun-jin and Gu Linruiyang promises to be a compelling pitching matchup.
FAQ
- Who is starting for South Korea? Ryu Hyun-jin.
- Who is starting for Chinese Taipei? Ruei-Yang Gu Lin.
- Where is the game being played? Tokyo Dome, Japan.
- What time does the game start? 10 p.m. ET (Saturday) / Noon local time (Sunday).
Stay tuned to 247sports.news for continued coverage of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.