The Czech Republic and Korea faced off in a two-game exhibition series in Seoul last weekend, offering a glimpse into their upcoming World Baseball Classic clash. Korea swept the series with scores of 3-0 and 11-1, drawing nearly 17,000 fans to Gocheok Sky Dome. Despite the lopsided results, the games highlighted Czechia's growing presence in international baseball.
The exhibition series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul served as an early test for both teams ahead of the World Baseball Classic, set to begin March 5, 2026, in Tokyo, where Czechia will face Korea in the tournament's second game.
Korea dominated the contests, winning 3-0 in the opener and 11-1 in the second, but Czech manager Pavel Chadim noted the competitiveness. "My biggest impression of the Korean team is that they play like a team. They want to win like a team," Chadim said. "They have a big passion and a big dream to [achieve] some results."
In Game 2, Czechia trailed just 2-1 through five innings, with Milan Prokop's RBI single putting the tying run 90 feet away. Chadim then inserted teenage pitchers for valuable experience toward WBC and 2028 Olympics qualification. "The message is not just for them. The message is for every young pitcher in Czechia, not just 18 years old, but younger, too: If you will work hard, you will have a chance," he added.
Czechia's roster features mostly amateurs with day jobs, including captain Martin Mužík, a field caretaker, and pitcher Ondřej Satoria, an electrical worker who once struck out Shohei Ohtani. Outfielder Marek Chlup, the first Czech in NPB history after debuting with the Tokyo Giants, returned from a broken wrist. Mužík, whose 2023 WBC homer beat China and secured their 2026 spot, said, "For us, baseball means everything. I grew up playing baseball since I was 12 years old, and I've never played any other sport."
Korea, under new manager Ji-Hyun Ryu after early exits in recent Classics, treated the series seriously. Ryu uses advanced stats like wRC+ for lineups and slotted 22-year-old Hyun-Min Ahn at No. 2 after his .334/.448/.570 season with 22 home runs; Ahn scored three runs in the finale. "I think we can confirm him as the second batter in the lineup," Ryu said.
Sung-Mun Song, with a .315/.387/.530 line and 26 homers, batted third and flew out with bases loaded against reliever Lukáš Ercoli, Czechia's media director. Young relievers like Jeong Woo-joo, Bae Chan-seung, and Kim Taek-yeon impressed, pushing 95 mph. Ryu noted, "There’s a high chance that the players that are here today will make up a majority of the [World Baseball Classic] roster."
Korea, with past successes like 2008 Olympic gold and 2009 WBC silver, prepares for exhibitions against Japan in Tokyo. Czechia, fresh off a European Championships bronze, eyes further growth.