'The Tokyo miracle' sent South Korea back to the WBC quarterfinals for the first time in 17 years, and the team is now aiming for a semifinal berth on March 14.
Manager Ryu Ji-hyun’s squad beat Australia 7-2 on March 9 at Tokyo Dome in Pool C, securing the result that put them through.
South Korea finished tied at 2-2 with Taiwan and Australia, but advanced as Pool C’s runner-up behind Japan (3 wins) based on the three-team tiebreaker for the lowest runs-against ratio.
The players staged a lighthearted “plane ceremony” during the tournament to signal their intent to head to Miami for the next round. For now, the team will rest in Tokyo on March 10. Pool C’s final group game — Japan vs. the Czech Republic — wraps up that evening at 7 p.m.
Around midnight as the calendar turns to March 11, the Korean team will board a direct charter from Tokyo to Miami to begin its second-round campaign.
Japan will depart for the U.S. after finishing its game with the Czech Republic, leaving later than South Korea.
Had Korea allowed more than two runs to Australia or failed to win by at least five runs, the team would have faced an immediate flight home. Instead, the outcome produced a dramatic turnaround.
After arriving at their Miami hotel, South Korea will prepare for the quarterfinal scheduled for 7:30 a.m. KST on the 14th. The staff is still finalizing workouts and a plan to adjust to the time zone.
Korea’s quarterfinal opponent will be the winner of Pool D, which remains undecided; as of the morning of March 10 the Dominican Republic led the pool with three wins, while Venezuela had two.
The Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Israel, the Netherlands and Nicaragua are playing Pool D games at LoanDepot Park in Miami, the quarterfinals site.
If Korea advances past the quarterfinals, it would face in the semifinals the winner of the quarterfinal between Pool B’s top team and Pool A’s runner-up.
The U.S., heavily favored to top Pool B, is likely to be matched in the semifinals against the winner of the Korea vs. Pool D winner quarterfinal.
If South Korea rides the momentum from its improbable run all the way to the final, it could meet Samurai Japan again in a title showdown — a rematch of sorts of the 2009 championship clash.
The roster of 30 players who started in Round 1 could see changes.
Korean‑American reliever Riley O’Brien (St. Louis Cardinals), who missed the first round with an injury despite plans to join earlier, could be added and don the Taegukgi starting with the quarterfinals.
If O’Brien joins, he would likely take closing duties and give a boost to Korea’s bullpen depth.
There will be no consolation ranking games for teams eliminated after the quarterfinals.
The four quarterfinals will be split between Miami and Houston, Texas; both the semifinals and the final will be held in Miami.
