hyun jin ryu will start for Korea in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal against the Dominican Republic at 6: 30 p. m. ET on Thursday at loanDepot Park in Miami. The former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher will square off with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and a Dominican lineup that entered the knockout stage unbeaten. Korea advanced as Pool C runners-up and must win this single-elimination game to reach the semifinals.
Hyun Jin Ryu to Face Guerrero Jr. and a Potent Dominican Order
Ryu takes the mound against a Dominican Republic team that went 4-0 in pool play and outscored opponents 41-11, leaving the DR unbeaten entering the quarterfinal. The matchup pairs Ryu with one of his former teammates, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who has slashed. 500/. 500/1. 083 in three games with a double, two home runs and seven RBIs across 12 at-bats. The Dominican side will send left-hander Cristopher Sánchez to start; Sánchez logged 32 starts last year for the Philadelphia Phillies with a 13-5 record, a 2. 50 ERA and finished second in Cy Young voting.
hyun jin ryu’s role here is clear: slow the Dominican attack early and give Korea a chance in a single-game elimination. Ryu opened this WBC with one start, tossing three innings against Chinese Taipei, striking out three while allowing one earned run on three hits, including one home run.
Career Resume and Form Heading Into the Game
Ryu’s résumé spans the KBO and Major League Baseball: 11 MLB seasons from 2013-23 with four seasons spent in Toronto from 2020-23, seven seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization with the Hanwha Eagles from 2006-12, and seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers before his Blue Jays contract. The 38-year-old returned to the Hanwha Eagles on an eight-year deal ahead of the 2024 season and has pitched with the Eagles since.
Across his career, Ryu has earned top honors in Korea — including a KBO MVP award and Triple Crown in 2006, multiple strikeout and ERA titles — and notable MLB distinctions, such as an All-Star nod and an MLB ERA lead in 2019. With Toronto he posted a 3. 97 ERA and struck out 269 batters in 315 innings across 60 starts.
Immediate Reactions
“Team Korea will send #99 Ryu Hyun-jin as the starting pitcher on Friday night against the DR, ” stated the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in its game-day announcement. The declaration confirms the official starting assignment and frames the tactical picture: Korea is handing the ball to an experienced veteran to manage a dangerous Dominican lineup.
What Happens Next
The winner of this quarterfinal will meet the winner of the Team USA–Canada game in the semifinals Sunday at 8 p. m. ET at the same ballpark. All eyes will be on hyun jin ryu’s first pitches and how he navigates the heart of the Dominican order; a quality start here sends Korea deeper, while any early trouble could hand momentum to a Dominican side that has been dominant through pool play.
