South Korea announced a 35-man roster for its upcoming exhibition series against Czechia and Japan, marking the start of its preparation for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The Korean national team will host Czechia from Nov. 8–9 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul as part of the K-Baseball Series before traveling to Tokyo to face Samurai Japan from Nov. 15–16 at Tokyo Dome. Both matchups will serve as early WBC previews, with all three teams set to play in the Tokyo Pool next March alongside Australia and Taiwan.
The roster features a blend of veterans and emerging stars, several of whom are coming off standout seasons in the KBO.
Samsung Lions ace Won Tae-in headlines the pitching staff after another strong season. The right-hander recorded the second-lowest ERA among Korean-born starters in the KBO at 3.24, along with 108 strikeouts in 166 2/3 innings.
Won also delivered one of the season’s most clutch performances in the wild-card series, throwing six scoreless innings with five strikeouts to eliminate the NC Dinos. With consistent command and experience in big moments, Won is expected to be one of Korea’s top rotation options for the World Baseball Classic.
Veteran outfielder Koo Ja-wook, 32, enters the series as one of Korea’s most reliable hitters. The Samsung Lions star slashed .319/.402/.516 with 19 home runs and 96 RBIs this season while setting a career high with 73 walks.
Koo’s well-rounded offensive game and improved plate discipline have strengthened his case for a WBC roster spot. After three consecutive strong seasons, he’ll aim to solidify his place in the national team’s lineup with solid performances against Czechia and Japan.
Few players in the KBO have made a bigger leap than Ahn Hyun-min. The fourth-round pick from the 2022 KBO Draft emerged as one of the league’s top all-around performers in 2025.
Ahn is one of only two players in the KBO this season with an OPS above 1.000 and finished fourth in walks with 75 — more than his total strikeouts. He also added 22 home runs and 80 RBIs. His patient approach and power from the right side have made him a near lock for Korea’s WBC roster, where he is expected to compete with several MLB-based outfielders for a starting role.
One of the most intriguing selections is 18-year-old pitcher Jeong Woo-joo, the No. 2 overall pick in this past KBO Draft. Jeong, who turns 19 just before the Czechia series begins, earned a roster spot after a dominant rookie season with a 2.85 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings and possesses a fastball that routinely touched 95+.
His 13.8 strikeouts per nine innings led the league, showcasing the power stuff that has often been missing from Korean pitching staffs in past international tournaments. In recent World Baseball Classics, Korea relied more heavily on control and finesse pitchers. Jeong represents a shift toward developing and trusting higher-velocity, strikeout-oriented arms in key situations. He’s a pitcher that could very well be the ace of the Korean staff down the road.
At 24, Hanwha Eagles third baseman Roh Si-hwan continues to establish himself as one of the KBO’s premier power hitters. Roh led all Korean-born players with 32 home runs this season and was the only domestic hitter to surpass 26. He’s also the only Korean player in the last four seasons to record multiple 30-homer campaigns.
Although Kia Tigers infielder Kim Do-yeong — widely regarded as Korea’s top position player prospect — is projected to start at third base in 2026, Roh’s versatility and power could earn him playing time at first base or as a designated hitter. His inclusion adds middle-of-the-order strength to Korea’s lineup heading into the WBC.
The exhibition series will mark the second edition of the K-Baseball Series, which debuted last year when Korea hosted Cuba. The games against Czechia and Japan will provide an early opportunity for manager Ryu Ji-hyun and his staff to evaluate player combinations ahead of final roster decisions for the WBC.
With several players from the eventual World Baseball Classic roster expected to participate, Korea will get an early glimpse of its top domestic players as it looks to rebound from disappointing tournament results in recent years.
Korea has not advanced past the first round of the WBC since 2009, when it reached the championship game. After early exits in 2013, 2017 and 2023, the national team is determined to return to the quarterfinals — and beyond — for the first time in 17 years.
As preparations begin, the exhibition series against Czechia and Japan will serve as both a proving ground and a statement of intent for a Korean team eager to restore its status as a global baseball power.
Full roster:
RHP Sung Yeong-tak
RHP Won Tae-in
LHP Bae Chan-seung
RHP Kim Young-woo
LHP Son Ju-young
RHP Gwak Been
RHP Kim Taek-yeon
LHP Choi Seung-yong
RHP Park Yeong-hyun
LHP Oh Won-seok
RHP Jo Byeong-hyeon
RHP Lee Ro-un
LHP Kim Keon-woo
RHP Choi Jun-yong
RHP Moon Dong-ju
RHP Kim Seo-hyeon
RHP Jeong Woo-joo
LHP Kim Young-kyu
C Choi Jae-hoon
C Cho Hyeong-woo
C Park Dong-won
IF Roh Si-hwan
IF Moon Hyun-bin
IF Park Seong-han
IF Kim Young-woong
IF Moon Bo-gyeong
IF Shin Min-jae
IF Kim Ju-won
IF Song Sung-Mun
IF Han Dong-hui
OF Koo Ja-wook
OF Kim Seong-yoon
OF Park Hae-min
OF Moon Sung-ju
OF Ahn Hyun-min
