Dominican Republic and Korea Clash in World Baseball Classic Quarterfinals

Miami, FL – The Dominican Republic and South Korea are set to face off in a highly anticipated quarterfinal matchup of the 2026 World Baseball Classic on Friday, March 13th. The game, taking place in Miami, Florida, pits the explosive offense of the Dominican Republic against the precision pitching and fundamental discipline of Korea.

Dominican Republic’s Dominant Run

The Dominican Republic arrived at the quarterfinals as one of the most explosive offenses in the championship. They finished Pool D with an undefeated 4-0 record, securing first place with victories over Nicaragua (12-3), the Netherlands (12-1), Israel (10-1), and Venezuela (7-3).

The Dominican team boasts a powerful offense, having hit 13 home runs in the 2026 World Classic, just one shy of the tournament record of 14 established by Mexico in the 2009 edition. Key contributors to this offensive firepower include Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Oneil Cruz, and Junior Caminero, all of whom have hit two home runs during the tournament. Julio Rodríguez, Ketel Marte, and Austin Wells have also added to the home run total.

Korea’s Path to the Quarterfinals

Korea qualified for the quarterfinals after a competitive showing in Pool C, finishing second to Japan. They gave Japan a strong challenge in an 8-6 loss during pool play, demonstrating their ability to compete with top teams.

Pitching Matchup

Philadelphia Phillies lefty Cristopher Sanchez is slated to start for the Dominican Republic. He is coming off a start against Nicaragua where he recorded just four outs and allowed three earned runs.

Facing him will be former Major League All-Star and Dodger ace Hyun Jin Ryu for Korea. Ryu last pitched in the majors in 2023, posting a 3.27 ERA in 11 seasons, and has continued to pitch effectively in the KBO, winning 19 games across two campaigns with Hanwha.

What’s at Stake

The winner of this quarterfinal matchup will advance to the semifinals to face the winner of the game between Team USA and Canada, also at Miami’s loanDepot Park. The Dominican Republic is seeking its first World Baseball Classic title since 2013, while Korea aims to surpass its previous best result of finishing as the runner-up in 2009.

How to Watch

The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 2 and can be streamed live with Fubo (free trial). The game is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET.