[Photo &] 'WBC' Korea's Quarterfinal Opponent Confirmed, Facing Dominican Republic with 'Average 10 Runs per Game'

[WBC Quarterfinal Matchup Confirmed] Korean Baseball Team to Face Dominican Republic with Four Wins

2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) quarterfinal matchups have been finalized. The Dominican Republic, which secured the top spot in Group D, has been determined as the opponent for the Korean Baseball Team. On the 12th (Korean time), the Dominican Republic defeated Venezuela 7-5 in the final group stage match held at LoanDepot Park in Miami, USA, achieving a perfect record of four wins. Consequently, Korea, which finished second in Group C, will engage in a fateful battle for a spot in the semifinals at 7:30 AM on the 14th at the same venue. The winning team will face the winner of the Italy vs. Puerto Rico match in the semifinals, which presents a challenging schedule. On the opposite side, the winner of the Japan vs. Venezuela match will compete against the winner of Canada vs. USA for a place in the finals.

[Formidable Offense] All 1-4 Batters Hit Home Runs, Pujols' Team's Overwhelming Power

The key to the match against Venezuela was the Dominican Republic's explosive power hitting. Starting with a massive two-run homer by Juan Soto in the first inning, followed by consecutive solo home runs by Ketel Marte and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the third inning, and a three-run homer by Fernando Tatis Jr. in the fourth inning, all four batters from the first to the fourth position set a remarkable record by hitting home runs. Under the leadership of Albert Pujols, the Dominican Republic has scored an astonishing total of 41 runs in four group stage games, showcasing an average of 10.3 runs per game. Their pitching staff is equally solid. After a stellar performance by Major League ace Sandy Alcantara, the bullpen held off any runs until the eighth inning, and they neatly wrapped up a crisis in the ninth inning with a double play, proving their perfect balance between offense and defense. The biggest question now is how the Korean pitching staff will contain this formidable lineup.