Korea Ranked Seventh in World Baseball Classic

The South Korean national baseball team has been ranked seventh among the 20 nations competing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), according to MLB.com’s power rankings released on Monday. This places them firmly in contention, though not among the top favorites.

Japan and the United States lead the rankings, positioned first and second respectively, as the two finalists from the previous tournament.

Key Players to Watch

Korea’s roster boasts significant Major League Baseball (MLB) talent, including San Francisco Giants’ Lee Jung-hoo, Los Angeles Dodgers’ Kim Hye-seong, and Houston Astros’ Korean American infielder Shay Whitcomb. These players are expected to be pivotal in Korea’s performance.

The team similarly features promising young hitters like Kim Do-young (KIA Tigers) and Ahn Hyun-min (kt wiz), who have demonstrated impressive power in recent evaluation matches.

Group C Schedule and Challenges

Korea will compete in Group C at Tokyo Dome, facing Czechia, Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Australia. The top two teams from the group will advance to the quarterfinals.

The schedule begins with a match against Czechia on March 5th, followed by a challenging game against defending champion Japan on March 7th. A crucial showdown with Chinese Taipei is scheduled for March 8th, and the group stage concludes against Australia on March 9th.

Manager Ryu Ji-hyun aims to strategically navigate the schedule, potentially prioritizing the match against Chinese Taipei as a key to securing a quarterfinal berth.

A History of Ups and Downs

MLB.com wrote of the Korean national team: After finishing second back in 2009, they haven’t made it out of the group stage since. But there is a lot of talent here, some of which MLB fans are not yet familiar with and some that will bring back fond memories (Hyun Jin Ryu).

Korea’s WBC history includes a second-place finish in 2009 and a third-place finish in 2006, but the team has struggled to advance from the group stage in subsequent tournaments (2013, 2017, and 2023).

Injuries and Absences

Despite the strong roster, Korea faces challenges due to injuries to key pitchers Moon Dong-ju and Won Tae-in, as well as closer Riley O’Brien. Kim Ha-seong (Atlanta Braves) and Song Seong-moon (San Diego Padres) will not participate due to injuries.

Looking Ahead

Lee Jung-hoo expressed his determination to restore Korea’s baseball glory, stating, After I became an adult national team member, I feel like I became the main character of the disaster… I desire to bring back the glory of my seniors who I grew up watching when I was young. This is why I want to bring back the glory of my seniors from this tournament.

The team is hoping to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2009, and the presence of MLB stars and emerging young talent provides a foundation for optimism.

FAQ

What is South Korea’s current WBC ranking?

South Korea is currently ranked seventh in the 2026 World Baseball Classic power rankings by MLB.com.

Who are some of the key players on the South Korean team?

Key players include Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants), Kim Hye-seong (Los Angeles Dodgers), and Shay Whitcomb (Houston Astros).

What is South Korea’s group in the WBC?

South Korea is in Group C with Czechia, Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Australia.