Ryu Hyun-jin retires from national team after WBC as Korea suffers mercy-rule loss to Dominican Republic

South Korea’s starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin walks off the mound after being replaced during the second inning of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) quarterfinal game between South Korea and the Dominican Republic at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, on March 13, 2026. Yonhap.

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - South Korean ace Ryu Hyun-jin will retire from international baseball after the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), bringing an end to a national team career that spanned two decades.

Ryu started for South Korea in the WBC quarterfinal against the Dominican Republic at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, on Friday, pitching 1⅔ innings. He threw 40 pitches and allowed three hits and two walks while striking out one batter and giving up three runs. South Korea was overpowered by the Dominican lineup and fell 10–0 in a seven-inning mercy-rule defeat.

“It’s disappointing, very disappointing,” Ryu said after the game. “I should have given our fielders more time to settle in, but I couldn’t do that.”

He added that the experience would still benefit younger players on the team. “It will be a valuable lesson for the younger players who had the chance to compete on a big stage,” he said.

Born in 1987, Ryu treated the tournament as his final appearance for the national team. He was first selected for the national squad shortly after making his professional debut in 2006 and went on to become one of the central figures of South Korean baseball in international competitions.

He represented South Korea in major tournaments including the 2006 Doha Asian Games, the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2009 WBC.

At the Beijing Olympics, Ryu delivered a memorable performance by throwing a 126-pitch shutout against Canada, helping South Korea secure the gold medal. In the 2009 WBC, he contributed as both a starter and reliever as South Korea finished runner-up.

After moving to Major League Baseball in 2013, injuries including elbow and shoulder surgeries limited his participation in international events. However, at the request of the national team, he returned to wear the Taegeuk mark again for the first time in 16 years and made his WBC comeback after 17 years.
 

South Korean players bow to the crowd after their 10–0 mercy-rule loss to the Dominican Republic in the seventh inning of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) quarterfinal at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, on March 13, 2026. Yonhap

Ryu had prepared the game against the Dominican Republic as his final appearance for the national team.

“I hope today becomes a starting point for younger players to step up and lead the team going forward,” he said.