Ko Young-pyo Shakes Off Jet Lag, Shines in WBC Quarterfinal Against Dominican Republic

Despite fatigue from a long-distance flight and adjusting to the time difference, South Korean pitcher Ko Young-pyo delivered a strong performance in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic against the Dominican Republic. His outing provided a bright spot for Korea, which ultimately fell to the Dominican team 10-0 MSN.

Overcoming Travel Challenges

The Korean national team advanced to the second round of the WBC for the first time since 2009 MLB.com. Still, the quick turnaround and travel to Miami presented significant challenges. Ko Young-pyo admitted to feeling heavy and sleepy for the first two days after arriving in the United States, empathizing with teammates who had previously struggled with jet lag during the earlier game against Japan.

“Honestly, I felt really heavy and sleepy for two days after arriving in the U.S.,” Ko Young-pyo stated. “At first, Whitcomb and (Kim) Hye-sung seemed heavy in Japan. At the time, I couldn’t sympathize with the players due to the fact that they said they had a hard time adjusting to the time difference, but when I went to Miami, I really sympathized with that.”

Strong Performance Against Dominican Sluggers

Despite the adverse conditions, Ko Young-pyo pitched effectively against a powerful Dominican lineup featuring major league stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, and O’Neill Cruz. Entering the game in the bottom of the 4th inning with Korea trailing 0-7, he utilized his signature changeup to record three missed swings and pitch a scoreless inning.

Ko Young-pyo explained his strategy, “I thought the changeup, which is a type of sidearm pitcher, would be unfamiliar to them, so I thought it would be worth trying at least one at-bat.” He added, “I focused on my pitching without thinking about the reputation or value of the hitters.”

Bouncing Back from Japan Game

This performance was particularly significant as it allowed Ko Young-pyo to rebound from a disappointing start against Japan in the group stage, where he allowed four runs in 2/3 of an inning. He emphasized his desire to utilize his changeup more effectively against the Dominican Republic, having learned from the previous game where curveballs were hit for multiple home runs.

“It was fine to go to the finals, and it was even better because I had a chance to make up for the game against Japan,” Ko Young-pyo said. “While waiting in the bullpen, I thought a lot about how I should deal with them. I was incredibly disappointed that I hit two home runs with a curveball against Japan, and I thought I should throw more changeups rather than curveballs.”

Looking Ahead to the Season

Ko Young-pyo expressed optimism for the upcoming season, recalling that his participation in the 2023 WBC coincided with a career-high season of 12 wins. Despite the potential for fatigue from early-season exertion, he believes the experience and sharpened game sense gained from the WBC could prove beneficial.

“Looking back, I had a career-high season when I competed in the WBC,” he noted. “So, I have a positive thought that it may not be a disappointing idea to improve my physical condition a little early. Although I start with fatigue, I believe it can be positive in terms of game sense and I am slightly looking forward to this year as well.”