Angry Pujols "Why South Korea doesn't reveal its starting lineup early! We're transparent"

*This content was translated by AI.

The day of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) showdown has dawned, but the two teams are fighting outside the stadium even before the game begins. Coach Albert Pujols (46), of the Dominican Republic, mentioned the Korean national team that does not disclose the starting lineup. Unlike the Major League, which discloses the starting lineup three hours before the start of the game, he expressed dissatisfaction with the Korean national team, which announces the starting lineup as carefully as possible.

The baseball team, led by head coach Ryu Ji-hyun (55), will play the 2026 WBC quarterfinals against the Dominican Republic at Rondipo Park in Miami, Florida, at 7:30 a.m. on the 14th (Korea Standard Time).

Ahead of the game, Pujols, who held an official press conference as a home team coach, was hardened. Regarding the situation in which his opponent, the Korean national team, has yet to disclose the starting lineup, he said, "Korea and Japan in particular maintain a mysterious attitude over the disclosure of the lineup. We have no mystery," he pleaded.

Pujols then said, "We are ready to prepare for the lineup and share it with the opponent from the morning of the game, but we have no reason to disclose it first because the South Korean team does not show a loss." "If they maintain the 'mystery' over the lineup from the morning, we will also delay the official announcement until they send the lineup first," he said. This is seen as a strong warning against South Korea's strategy outside of the conventional practice, as well as a willingness not to lose ground in the information war. However, he said the starting catcher will change. Changed the catcher's mask from Austin Wells (New York Yankees) to Augustine Ramirez (Miami Marlins).

The starting pitcher for Dominica on the day is Christopher Sanchez (30, Philadelphia Phillies), a left-hander with 30 major league wins. Coach Pujols said, "First of all, we will run the game as planned," adding, "We plan to use the bullpen as the starting pitcher Sanchez has been in charge of four to five innings, and since then, we have been doing it."

He also said, "I have a pre-arranged game plan, but if necessary, I can adjust it as much as I want during the game," adding, "The most important thing is that the pitcher is ready, and I will respond flexibly to any adjustment. I just want Sanchez to show good pitching," he added.

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*This content was translated by AI.