South Korea Unveils WBC Roster with Korean-American Talent

Team aims to reach tournament stage for first time in 17 years

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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South Korea has announced its 30-man roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic (WBC), featuring a blend of established MLB players and emerging talent. The team's selection process reflects broader trends in international baseball recruitment, including the growing inclusion of Korean-heritage players from MLB.

Why it matters

The WBC provides a global platform for national teams to showcase their talent and compete against the best players in the world. South Korea's roster selection and preparation strategies offer insights into the evolving landscape of international baseball, as teams increasingly recognize the value of scouting talent from diverse sources.

The details

The roster includes four Korean-heritage players currently playing in Major League Baseball, mirroring a growing trend of MLB teams actively recruiting players of Korean descent. The addition of players like Obryan, a high-velocity reliever, and Wittcom, a former minor league home run leader, further demonstrates the broadening search for talent beyond traditional baseball strongholds. The exclusion of pitcher Dong-ju Moon due to a shoulder injury underscores the importance of roster depth and contingency plans in high-stakes tournaments like the WBC.

  • South Korea announced its 30-man roster on February 6, 2026.
  • The team will hold a second training camp in Okinawa and play a series of exhibition games in Osaka to prepare for the tournament.
  • The WBC first round will take place in March 2026, with South Korea competing in Group C against Japan, Taiwan, Australia, and the Czech Republic.

The players

Jung-hoo Lee

A Korean-heritage player currently playing for the San Francisco Giants.

Hye-seong Kim

A Korean-heritage player currently playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Obryan

A high-velocity reliever added to the roster, reflecting the team's broadening search for talent.

Wittcom

A former minor league home run leader added to the roster, demonstrating the team's focus on diverse skillsets.

Dong-ju Moon

A pitcher excluded from the roster due to a shoulder injury.

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What they’re saying

“The inclusion of Korean-heritage players from MLB reflects the growing globalization of the sport and the team's commitment to identifying talent from diverse sources.”

— Chief Editor (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

The team's preparation includes a second training camp in Okinawa and a series of exhibition games in Osaka, designed to build team cohesion and fine-tune strategies before facing a challenging group in the first round of the WBC.

The takeaway

South Korea's approach to roster selection and preparation for the WBC offers insights into the evolving landscape of international baseball, as teams increasingly recognize the value of scouting talent from diverse sources and leveraging data analytics to identify players with the potential to succeed on the global stage.