Tokyo: Hours before the start of a highly anticipated showdown against Japan at the World Baseball Classic (WBC), South Korea manager Ryu Ji-hyun sought to downplay the magnitude of the occasion. "Of course, any game against Japan is very important. But for us, all four games in the first round here are important all the same," Ryu stated at his pregame press conference held at Tokyo Dome. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a broader perspective, drawing on an ancient saying related to leadership.
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea began Pool C play with a commanding 11-4 victory over Czechia on Thursday. Meanwhile, Japan launched its WBC title defense with an emphatic 13-0 win over Chinese Taipei on Friday. Both nations have set themselves up well for a potential advancement to the quarterfinals, with the top two teams from the group moving forward.
South Korea faces two more potentially winnable games against Chinese Taipei and Australia. This situation provides Ryu with the option of not overextending his team to secure a victory against Japan, especially considering the noon game against Chinese Taipei on Sunday. Ryu noted that the Japanese team demonstrated potent batting power in their recent win, led by Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, who had an impressive performance including a grand slam.
Despite Ohtani's standout contributions, Ryu acknowledged the depth of Japan's lineup, stating, "They have good hitters in all nine spots in the lineup." To counter Japan's starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, Ryu adjusted the lineup to include more right-handed batters, as Kikuchi has historically struggled more against right-handed hitters.
The lineup changes included moving Shay Whitcomb, who hit two homers in the previous game, up to the fifth spot, while Kim Ju-won also moved up in the batting order. Ryu expressed particular interest in Kim Hye-seong's ability to get on base, which could create additional scoring opportunities for the team. These strategic decisions reflect Ryu's approach to optimizing South Korea's performance against a formidable Japanese team.