SEOUL: South Korea has finalized its 28-man roster for the upcoming international baseball tournament, the World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12. Manager Ryu Joong-il made the final six cuts from the 34-man training camp roster on Thursday, with the team featuring a mix of young talent and seasoned players.According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Do-yeong, a standout third baseman from the reigning Korean Series champions, the Kia Tigers, is among the eight infielders selected. Kim has had an impressive season with 38 home runs and 40 steals, becoming the youngest player to achieve a 30-30 campaign at just 20 years old. The roster also includes 14 pitchers, two catchers, and four outfielders, with five of the pitchers serving as closers for their respective Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) clubs.One surprising exclusion was KT Wiz right-hander Um Sang-back, who was a potential candidate for the starting rotation. Without Um, the team will rely on four starters for its five round-robin games, includ ing Gwak Been and Choi Seung-yong from the Doosan Bears, Im Chan-kyu of the LG Twins, and Ko Young-pyo of the Wiz. South Korea is part of Group B, competing against Japan, Cuba, Australia, the Dominican Republic, and Chinese Taipei.The tournament will begin for South Korea with a game against Chinese Taipei in Taipei City on November 13, followed by matches against Cuba, Japan, the Dominican Republic, and Australia. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Round, which is set to commence in Tokyo on November 21. South Korea, which won the inaugural Premier12 tournament in 2015 and finished second to Japan in 2019, is looking to build a young team in preparation for future international competitions, including the 2026 World Baseball Classic and the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
- October 12, 2026
