Korea Dominates Czech Republic 11-4 in 2026 WBC Opener: Key Highlights and Player Performances

Daniel Kim 2026.03.05 Views

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Moon Bo-gyeong / Photo: Getty Images

South Korea’s national baseball team kicked off the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) with an impressive victory.

Led by manager Ryu Ji-hyun, South Korea defeated the Czech Republic 11-4 in their Pool C opener at Tokyo Dome on March 5th at 7 p.m. local time.

With this win, South Korea starts the tournament 1-0 heading into their remaining games. The Czech Republic, meanwhile, begins with an 0-1 record.

The main tournament features 20 countries competing in four pools of five teams each. The top two teams from each pool advance to the quarterfinals.

South Korea is in Pool C alongside Japan, Australia, Taiwan, and the Czech Republic. Defending champion Japan is considered the heavy favorite, while South Korea, Taiwan, and Australia are expected to battle for the second quarterfinal spot.

To reach the quarterfinals, South Korea needed to win its opener against the Czech Republic, widely regarded as the weakest team in the group. By securing this crucial first game, South Korea has laid a solid foundation for advancing to the final eight.

Following this encouraging start, South Korea will face Japan on the 7th, Taiwan on the 8th, and Australia on the 9th.

South Korea’s starting lineup featured Kim Do-young (DH), Jermai Jones (LF), Lee Jung-hoo (CF), Ahn Hyun-min (RF), Moon Bo-gyeong (1B), Shay Whitcomb (3B), Kim Hye-sung (2B), Park Dong-won (C), and Kim Joo-won (SS). So Hyung-jun took the mound as the starting pitcher.

The Czech Republic countered with Milan Prokop (DH), Martin Cervenka (3B), Terin Vavra (SS), Martin Cervenka (C), Marek Hlub (CF), Martin Muzik (1B), Vojtech Mensik (2B), William Escala (LF), and Max Freida (RF). Daniel Padisak started on the mound.

South Korea’s starter So Hyung-jun earned the win, pitching three scoreless innings while allowing four hits, one walk, and striking out two. Under WBC rules, pitchers who throw 50 or more pitches must rest four days, while those who throw 30 or more or pitch on consecutive days must rest at least one day. Having thrown 42 pitches, So can return after one day of rest.

Offensively, Moon Bo-gyeong had a stellar performance, going 2-for-3 with a grand slam, five RBIs, and two runs scored. Whitcomb contributed with back-to-back home runs, while Jones added a solo shot to support the win.

Czech starter Padisak struggled mightily, lasting just 0.1 innings and allowing two hits (including a home run), two walks, and four runs to take the loss.

For the Czech Republic, Vavra provided the lone offensive highlight with a three-run homer.

Moon Bo-gyeong / Photo: Getty Images

South Korea wasted no time in taking control of the game. In the bottom of the first, leadoff hitter Kim Do-young drew a walk. Jones swung at Padisak’s first pitch but lined out to left field. Lee Jung-hoo then singled to right, putting runners in scoring position. Ahn Hyun-min walked to load the bases with one out.

Moon Bo-gyeong delivered the big blow. On a 2-1 count, he crushed Padisak’s slider over the center-field wall for a grand slam, instantly giving South Korea a 4-0 lead.

South Korea continued to apply pressure in the second inning. Park Dong-won led off with a double to left, and Kim Joo-won followed with a single to right.

With runners on first and third and no outs, Kim Do-young popped out to the infield. Jones then grounded out to shortstop, allowing Park Dong-won to score from third and extend the lead to 5-0.

South Korea threatened again with two outs when Jones stole second and Lee Jung-hoo walked, but Ahn Hyun-min popped out to second to end the inning.

The offensive surge continued in the third. After Moon grounded out, Whitcomb worked a 3-1 count before launching Czech reliever Barto’s changeup over the fence for a solo home run.

So Hyung-jun / Photo: Getty Images

On the mound, starter So Hyung-jun pitched with poise and control. He struck out leadoff hitter Prokop looking in the first, allowed a single to Cervenka, then induced an inning-ending double play.

So navigated through trouble in the second. After retiring Cervenka on a fly to left, he gave up a hit to Hlub and walked Muzik. He struck out Mensik but allowed a bunt single to load the bases with two outs. So escaped the jam by getting Freida to fly out to left.

So remained steady in the third. He allowed an infield single to Prokop but battled through an eight-pitch at-bat with Cervenka, inducing a double play. He then got Vavra to ground out, completing a perfect inning.

Vavra / Photo: Getty Images

The Czech Republic struggled to capitalize after So left the game. In the fourth, they loaded the bases with one out against reliever No Kyung-eun, but Mensik struck out looking and Escala popped out on the first pitch.

The Czechs mounted a rally in the fifth. Freida was hit by a pitch from reliever Jung Woo-ju to lead off the inning. After Prokop struck out, Cervenka singled to left, putting runners on first and second with one out.

Vavra then connected on a 3-1 fastball from Jung, driving it over the fence for a three-run homer to cut the deficit to 6-3.

Whitcomb / Photo: Getty Images

South Korea quickly responded in the bottom of the fifth. After Moon was hit by a pitch with one out, Whitcomb crushed Kobala’s second-pitch slider for a two-run homer to left-center.

South Korea threatened again when Kim Hye-sung drew a full-count walk and advanced to second on a balk, but they couldn’t push across any more runs.

The Korean team put the game out of reach in the seventh. Ahn Hyun-min led off with a single against reliever Ercoli and advanced to second on a fielding error. Park Hae-min pinch-ran for Ahn and scored on Moon’s RBI single, extending the lead to 9-3.

The offense kept rolling. Moon moved to second on a wild pitch during Whitcomb’s at-bat and to third on his fly out to center. Pinch-runner Shin Min-jae then scored on Kim Hye-sung’s infield grounder, pushing the lead to 10-3.

South Korea’s power display continued in the eighth. After Ku Ja-wook and Moon Hyun-bin flied out, Jones launched a solo homer off reliever Hlub to left-center.

With the win secured, South Korea managed the ninth inning efficiently. Closer Yoo Young-chan allowed a sacrifice fly to Pospisil with runners on the corners and no outs but struck out the next three batters to seal the 11-4 victory.