'Captain' Lee Jung-hoo's sincerity, "I want to applaud all of our players for doing well → I want to face off again in perfect condition without jet lag.""

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Jung-hoo (28, San Francisco Giants), the "captain" of the Korean baseball team, wrapped up his 2026 WBC (World Baseball Classic) journey, expressing his affection for his teammates and his honest feelings as a matchmaker. After the 2009 WBC, he achieved the second round for the first time in 17 years, but he couldn't hide his regret over the quarterfinals against the Dominican Republic.

The South Korean national team, led by head coach Ryu Ji-hyun (55), suffered a cold game defeat in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) against the Dominican Republic at 7:30 a.m. on the 14th (Korea Standard Time) at Rondipo Park in Miami, Florida.

As a result, South Korea failed to advance to the semifinals and ended the tournament with a record of the quarterfinals. Dominica's firepower, which is full of top major league stars, was stronger than expected, and the South Korean lineup was pressed by the ball of the opponent's starter and could hardly find a clue. Lee Jung-hoo, who started as the third batter and center fielder on the day, bowed his head unfortunately with no hits in four at-bats.

Shortly after the game, Lee said, "It was an honor to play against such a good team. The result is this, but it seems that we have also found a problem with what to do in the future. I will work harder and grow," he said calmly.

In preparation for this WBC, Lee Jung-hoo played a bridging role as a captain encompassing players and coaching staff. "But I want to applaud everyone for doing so well," he said, taking care of his teammates who worked hard throughout the tournament.

He was completely defeated by the Dominican Republic, but he did not hide his regret. Lee Jung-hoo, who got on base due to opponent's errors and saw the opportunity until the end, said, "It was not enough in terms of hitting."

In addition, regarding the operation of the tournament, which moved to the U.S. for the second round after the first round, he expressed regret, saying, "In fact, Dominican players continued to play in the same time difference as this ballpark, but in fact, we had some regrets," and added, "I felt like I wanted to play this tournament again with everything perfect."

Lee Jung-hoo's busy journey from February to joining the national team continues. After completing the national team's schedule, Lee Jung-hoo will immediately head to Arizona, where his team San Francisco Giants' spring camp will be held. "I have to go right away and join (the team) right away," he said, signaling a push to prepare for the Major League season.

Finally, Lee Jung-hoo concluded the interview by leaving a pledge to "make a much better performance than last season" regarding his goals for this 2026 season.

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*This content was translated by AI.