The South Korean baseball team completed the group stage with a perfect record, and head coach Ryu Ji-hyun assessed that most of the plans set during the tournament's preparation phase have gone according to schedule. The team's focus now shifts to the super round, which will be crucial for their medal aspirations.
Under Ryu's leadership, South Korea defeated Thailand 18-1 in their final group match of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games baseball B group, held on September 23 at Okazaki Central Comprehensive Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The game ended in a cold game after five innings. Previously, South Korea had also triumphed over Taiwan 5-0 and Hong Kong 13-0, finishing first in Group B with three consecutive wins.
After the match, Ryu reflected on the group stage, stating, "99% has gone according to plan," and added, "We will work on improving our condition during tomorrow's rest day to prepare for the remaining super round schedule."
Ryu viewed the resurgence of players who had struggled with their batting as a positive sign. In the game against Thailand, Park Jae-hyun and Park Jun-soon each hit grand slams, contributing to a total of 14 hits. Other players, including Moon Hyun-bin of Hanwha Eagles, who had also been struggling, managed to get hits as well.
The pitching options have also expanded. Starting pitcher Oh Won-seok allowed only one hit over four innings, striking out eight without issuing a walk, and finished the game without allowing a run. Ryu positively assessed Oh's condition, stating, "In the super round, where games will be played consecutively, we should be able to utilize a variety of pitchers effectively."
Even on their rest day, the team will not completely skip training. They plan to warm up for about an hour at Toyohashi Citizen's Baseball Stadium on September 24. Ryu explained that it is essential for players to adapt to changing game times, as international tournaments often feature day games following night matches. With the Thailand game ending early after five innings, the team aims to maintain their game rhythm through additional training.
The strategy for pitching in the super round and medal-deciding games has also been largely finalized. While the specific order of pitchers has not been disclosed, Ryu confirmed that there are no issues with the condition of key pitchers. South Korea will face the top two teams from Group A in the super round on September 25-26, followed by the medal-deciding game on September 27.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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