"Taiwan with strong pitching power will beat Korea to advance to the quarterfinals after Japan" [WBC media forecast]

*This content was translated by AI.

Foreign media predict that Taiwan will beat South Korea to advance to the quarterfinals at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March, drawing interest. The Taiwanese national team seems to be challenging the best performance in the WBC by attracting all possible overseas players.

The World Baseball Network, a media outlet that mainly deals with international baseball tournaments, recently predicted Taiwan's propaganda through an article titled "10 Bold Predictions for the 2026 WBC."

In the article, "Taiwan will compete with the strongest power ever." Detroit Tigers prospect Li Hao-yu (23) is likely to be placed at the starting third base, and Chicago Cubs prospect Jonathan Long (24) has also been granted permission to join the national team. Shrush (26), who signed a contract with Japan's Softbank, is also likely to play as a starting pitcher. There will be a large number of minor league prospects, including Lin Yu-min (23). Japan is the only team in Group C with stronger pitching power than Taiwan. "It is highly likely to pass the group qualifying round for the first time since the 2013 tournament," he wrote.

Like overseas prospects, Taiwan is quickly preparing for the best performance in this WBC. According to multiple Taiwanese media such as TSNA, the Taiwanese national team will set up a base camp in Japan from the 15th and begin training. It has selected a list of 43 people, including overseas players, and a final list of 30 people will be set up around early February. He has met all overseas players playing for major league clubs, including players from the Japanese Professional Baseball (NPB), and there is an atmosphere to bring as many people as possible who can join.

Even right-handed starter Deng Kai-wei (28), who is playing with Lee Jung-hoo (28) of the San Francisco Giants, is reportedly waiting for an answer. Infielder Jung Zonger (25), who was recently released from the Pittsburgh Pirates, and right-hander Chen Po-yu (25) of Pittsburgh are also potential players to advance to the finals.

In particular, left-hander Lin Yu-min, who belongs to Triple-A under Arizona, is a nightmare for the Korean national team. Including the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, he took the mound against South Korea three times in the 2024 Premier 12 and showed good performance. Lin Yu-min, who played in two games against the South Korean national team alone at the Asian Games, gave up two runs in four ⅔ innings in the 2024 Premier 12.

In the end, the South Korean national team's WBC performance is likely to be determined in the match against Taiwan. The national team, led by head coach Ryu Ji-hyun (55), will play the group qualifying round in the order of the Czech Republic, Japan, Taiwan and Australia at Tokyo Dome, Japan, from March 5th.

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*This content was translated by AI.