Hours before the showdown with Japan at the World Baseball Classic, South Korea manager Ryu Ji-hyun downplayed the game's significance. He stressed that all four Pool C games are equally important and adjusted the lineup to face Japan's starter.
At the Tokyo Dome, hours before the marquee matchup against Japan in Pool C of the World Baseball Classic on Saturday, South Korea manager Ryu Ji-hyun sought to downplay the occasion's magnitude. "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 said at his pregame press conference. He referenced an ancient saying emphasizing a leader's need to view the big picture in his approach.
South Korea opened Pool C with an 11-4 victory over Czechia on Thursday, while Japan began its title defense with a 13-0 rout of Chinese Taipei on Friday. With the top two teams advancing to the quarterfinals, both sides are well-positioned. South Korea faces winnable games against Chinese Taipei on Sunday at noon and Australia, giving Ryu flexibility against Japan.
Ryu noted Japan's bats awakening in their lopsided win after sluggish exhibitions. Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani had three hits, including a grand slam, driving in five runs, but Ryu stressed, "They have good hitters in all nine spots in the lineup." Japan starts Los Angeles Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi.
To counter, Ryu loaded the top with right-handed batters. The first four remained Kim Do-yeong, Jahmai Jones, and Ahn Hyun-min, all righties. Shay Whitcomb, who hit two homers from the sixth spot against Czechia, moved to fifth, swapping with lefty Moon Bo-gyeong. Switch-hitter Kim Ju-won rose to seventh, exchanging with left-handed Kim Hye-seong. Ryu explained Kikuchi yields harder contact to right-handers over his career.
Ryu highlighted speedy contact hitter Kim Hye-seong as key: "If Hye-seong can get on base for the top of our order coming up behind him, then it's going to diversify options for us to score runs."
