March 5, Game 1 of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) Group C preliminary round between South Korea and the Czech Republic held at Tokyo Dome in Japan. In the bottom of the first inning, with one out and the bases loaded, South Korea's Moon Bo-kyung celebrates with teammates after hitting a grand slam. [Yonhap News]

Korean baseball kicked off its 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) campaign with a resounding victory in its first game.

South Korea, led by manager Ryu Ji-hyun, secured an impressive 11-4 win against the Czech Republic in their first Group C match of the 2026 WBC, held at Tokyo Dome in Japan on March 5, powered by four home runs.

This marks South Korea's first opening-game victory in the WBC since 2009, a span of 17 years, signaling a positive start to the tournament.

In the previous five WBC tournaments, South Korea achieved good results in 2006 (3rd place) and 2009 (runner-up) when they won their opening games. However, they were eliminated in the preliminary round in 2013, 2017, and 2023 after losing their first matches.

South Korea will play their second game against Japan at 7:00 PM on March 7 at the same venue.

Lee Jung-hoo congratulating Whitcomb [Yonhap News]

South Korea's starting lineup for the game was: Kim Do-young (KIA Tigers), Jermai Jones (Detroit Tigers), Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants), Ahn Hyun-min (kt wiz), Moon Bo-kyung (LG Twins), Trey Whitcomb (Houston Astros), Kim Hye-seong (Los Angeles Dodgers), Park Dong-won (LG), and Kim Joo-won (NC Dinos).

So Hyeong-jun (kt) was the starting pitcher.

The South Korean offense exploded from the first inning.

With one out and the bases loaded, following a walk by Kim Do-young, a single by Lee Jung-hoo, and another walk to Ahn Hyun-min, Moon Bo-kyung connected with a slider from Czech starter Daniel Padyšák, sending it over the right-center field fence for a grand slam.

The towering home run had a exit velocity of 178.2 km/h and a distance of 130.5 meters.

Padyšák was removed from the mound immediately after giving up this home run.

In the second inning, South Korea added another run when Park Dong-won led off with a double and Kim Joo-won followed with a single, putting runners at first and third with no outs. Jones then hit a ground ball that scored a run.

In the third inning, Whitcomb hit a solo home run to left field, extending the lead to 6-0.

Czech player Vavra hits a three-run homer [Yonhap News]

Although South Korea allowed hits in every inning, they managed to keep the Czech Republic scoreless until the fifth inning. However, third pitcher Jeong Woo-ju (Hanwha Eagles) gave up a three-run home run to Terin Vavra in the fifth, narrowing the score to 6-3 in an instant.

Jeong Woo-ju allowed the leadoff hitter, Max Freyda, to be hit by a pitch, and after loading the bases with a single by Martin Červinka, Vavra hit a three-run homer to right field.

The Czech Republic had more hits through the fifth inning, 8-6, creating a precarious situation where the game's momentum could have shifted.

However, in the bottom of the fifth, Whitcomb hit his second home run of the game, firmly re-establishing South Korea's control of the match.

In the bottom of the fifth, after Moon Bo-kyung walked after being hit by a pitch, Whitcomb hit another home run over the left field fence, making the score 8-3 and crushing the Czech Republic's hopes of a comeback.

South Korea added more runs in the seventh inning with consecutive singles by leadoff hitter Ahn Hyun-min and Moon Bo-kyung. Subsequently, with one out and a runner on third due to a wild pitch and an outfield sacrifice fly, Kim Hye-seong hit a ground ball to record the tenth run.

Jermai Jones hits a solo home run [Yonhap News]

In the bottom of the eighth, Jones hit a solo homer into left-center field, capping off the dominant victory.

Starting pitcher So Hyeong-jun pitched three scoreless innings, allowing four hits. Afterward, Noh Kyung-eun (SSG Landers), Jeong Woo-ju, Park Young-hyun (kt), Jo Byeong-hyeon (SSG), Kim Young-gyu (NC), and Yoo Young-chan (LG) each pitched one inning.

At the plate, Moon Bo-kyung was outstanding, going 2-for-3 with 5 RBIs, while Whitcomb recorded two home runs, finishing 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs.

Lee Jung-hoo also had two hits in four at-bats, and seven of the nine starters, excluding Kim Do-young and Kim Hye-seong, recorded at least one hit.