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O'Brien Out of WBC Squad; National Baseball Team Heads to Quarterfinals Without Additional Players
Korean National Baseball Team Arrives in Miami Amid Roster Regulations
The national baseball team has successfully arrived in Miami, USA, where the second round of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) will take place. This tournament proceeds in an eight-team knockout format, and tournament regulations include a provision allowing for replacement players to be added in cases of player withdrawal due to injury or other reasons. This had garnered significant interest among domestic baseball fans regarding the potential addition of a Korean-American Major League pitcher to the WBC squad.
Riley O'Brien's Bid to Join Squad Fails
The individual widely anticipated to join was Korean-American Major League pitcher Riley O'Brien. As a Major League player with high-caliber skills, he was expected to significantly strengthen the WBC team's roster. Unfortunately, however, O'Brien is currently suffering from a calf injury, confirming he is not in a fit state to play. Consequently, his inclusion in the Republic of Korea national team ultimately fell through, causing the team to regrettably miss out on a crucial opportunity to bolster its strength.
Manager Ryu Ji-hyun's Final Decision
Manager Ryu Ji-hyun stated that he received direct communication from Riley O'Brien confirming that his current physical condition would make WBC participation difficult. Furthermore, Manager Ryu determined that, given the urgent circumstances, it would be practically very difficult to summon another player currently in Korea to the United States. Accordingly, Manager Ryu Ji-hyun made the final decision to proceed with the current squad that has arrived in Miami, playing the quarterfinals and remaining matches without any further additions.
*Source: YouTube: JTBC News (2026-03-12)*
