*This content was translated by AI.
Hanwha Eagles pitcher Jung Woo-joo (20) took the mound as a relief pitcher in the first game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) tournament, but unfortunately, he was hit with a three-run shot.
Jung Woo-joo took the mound in relief in the top of the fifth inning against the Czech Republic in the first round of Group C of the 2026 WBC finals at Tokyo Dome in Japan on the 5th, and bowed his head with two hits (one homer), one strikeout and three runs (three earned) in one inning. The number of pitches is 23.
On the same day, Korea came out with the lineup of its last warm-up match (against Hanshin Tigers) in Osaka. Accordingly, Kim Do-young (designated hitter, KIA Tigers)-The starting lineup was formed in the order of Germay Jones (left fielder, Detroit Tigers), Lee Jung-hoo (center fielder, San Francisco Giants), Ahn Hyun-min (right wing, KT Wiz), Moon Bo-kyung (first baseman, LG Twins), Shay Witcom (third baseman, Houston Astros), Kim Hye-sung (second baseman, LA Dodgers), Park Dong-won (catcher, LG) and Kim Joo-won (striker, NC Dinos).
South Korea succeeded in gaining the upper hand in the bottom of the first inning when Moon Bo-kyung hit a first grand slam. In the bottom of the second inning, third baseman Park Dong-won scored when Jones grounded out in front of the shortstop. In the bottom of the third inning, Shay Witcom took a 6-0 lead with a solo home run.
South Korea's starting Soh Hyung-joon pitched three innings of four hits, one walk, two strikeouts, and no runs, then handed over the mound to Noh Kyung-eun from the fourth inning. Noh Kyung-eun completed his mission with two hits and one strikeout in one inning.
And at the beginning of the 5th episode. Jung Woo-joo took the mound as South Korea's third pitcher. However, as soon as he came up to the mound, Jung Woo-joo was shaken. He dedicated a hit ball to the first pitch against leadoff hitter Max Freada. Milan Prokoff was then struck out on three pitches, but he gave up a hit to the left-center to subsequent Martin Chervinka, putting him on the verge of a crisis with one out and runners on first and second bases.
The D-eum batter is 'Big Leaguer' Terin Barbra. Jung Woo-joo's fifth four-seam fastball, which was sprayed at the ball count 3-1, was properly targeted. The ball was connected with a three-run shot that flew well over the right-center fence.
Still, Jung Woo-joo struck out Martin Chervenka with a swing and miss and Marek Hlofe with a ground ball to shortstop, respectively, and did not score additional runs.
When Jung Woo-joo gave up a three-run shot, Korea was chased by 6-3, three points. However, after running away with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, South Korea added two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 10-3 lead.
South Korea put Park Young-hyun on the mound instead of Jung Woo-joo in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Prior to the game, head coach Ryu Ji-hyun said about the mound management, "Soh Hyung-joon and Jung Woo-joo have prepared early from camp for today's game. Neither player plans to exceed 50 pitches," he said.
Meanwhile, Jung Woo-joo took the mound in 51 games in the 2025 season and marked a 2.85 ERA with three wins and no losses. In a total of 53 ⅔ innings, he recorded 34 hits (6 home runs), 21 walks, 82 strikeouts, 18 runs (17 earned), 1.02 on-base allowed per inning (WHIP), and a 0.177 hit rate.
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*This content was translated by AI.
