Breaking Down Pool C of the World Baseball Classic

Pool C features some of the best players in the world and some of the more innocuous players in the world.

The World Baseball Classic begins today with Pool C kicking off the festivities late at night – at least here in the United States. Before the games get going, it’s important to look at the group and analyze what the heck is even going on.

We looked at Pool A yesterday for anybody that wants to check that out. You can do so by clicking here.

Doing a deep-dive analysis of each of these rosters would be an arduous task for a team of 15 writers, let alone one simple 23-year-old who’s juggling many different responsibilities. Still, it’s important to at least touch on each one, so that’s exactly what I’ll be doing. Each team will get a paragraph – at most – or a single sentence – at least. If that doesn’t suffice, I’m sure that there’s some article out there somewhere – probably written by a really smart man in a tuxedo who works on the top of a big, tall tower in New York City – that covers all 20 countries participating in the World Baseball Classic at a comprehensive-but-slightly-unhinged level.

The five teams in Pool C – Australia, Chinese Taipei, Czechia, Japan, and Korea – all have vastly different rosters. The talent level in this group is vast, making it one of the more interesting of the four pools in this tournament. No more dilly-dallying – let’s get into it. After all, the tournament starts really soon!

Note: The projected starting lineups are mine (with some help by the great Shawn Spradling). For the most part, it’s based off merit and vibes. That’s just how I operate.

One more note, I promise: Players with MLB experience are in bold and italics. Players with other major professional experience (NPB or KBO) are in bold. Players with MiLB experience are in italics. If a player has major professional experience (MLB unless expressed otherwise), his last season’s statistics (2025 unless expressed otherwise) will be in parentheticals next to his name.

Just one more note, pretty please: For anybody that’s not familiar with baseball statistics and what they mean, click here to get a good summary of what a slash line (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage), OPS, home runs, and runs batted in entail. For anybody that’s on their high horse wondering why I’d need to include such a thing, 1) respect the newbies that just want to read something about Colombia’s roster, and 2) get off that high horse! You’ll fall off anyway so might as well get down.

Additional note, I promise this is the last note: These lineups and rotations are PROJECTED. Everything is subject to change.

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Australia

Feb 24, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana rounds the bases after hitting a three run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Projected starting position players

1. Robbie Perkins, C

2. Rixon Wingrove, 1B

3. Travis Bazzana, 2B

4. Curtis Mead, 3B (.233/.299/.321 [.620 OPS], 3 HR, 19 RBI)

5. Jarryd Dale, SS (.297/.357.398 [.755 OPS], 2 HR, 14 RBI in NPB)

6. Tim Kennelly, LF

7. Aaron Whitefield, CF (.000/.000/.000 [.000 OPS], 0 HR, 0 RBI in 2022)

8. Robbie Glendinning, RF

9. Alex Hall, DH

Projected rotation

• Jack O’Loughlin, LHP (4.66 ERA, 9.2 IP, 6 K, 5 BB, 13 H in 2024)

• Lachlan Wells, LHP

• Alexander Wells, LHP (4.91 ERA, 3.2 IP, 6 K, 0 BB, 5 H in 2022)

• Josh Hendrickson, LHP

Schedule

• Chinese Taipei, 10 p.m. ET (Wednesday, March 4)

• Czechia, 10 p.m. ET (Thursday, March 5)

• Japan, 6 a.m. ET (Sunday, March 8)

• Korea, 6 a.m. ET (Monday, March 9)

Travis Bazzana is going to be so much fun to watch in this tournament. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Bazzana has been going bananas (that really flows off the tongue and the page) in the Cleveland Guardians organization. He will now get his opportunity to flash on an international stage in front of thousands of onlookers in Tokyo and millions more watching at home. I, for one, will be one of the many spectators watching.

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Chinese Taipei

Jul 19, 2023; Oakland, California, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Yu Chang (20) throws the ball to first base for a double play against the Oakland Athletics during the third inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

Projected starting position players

1. Lyle Lin, C

2. Yu Chang, 1B (.162/.200/.352 [.552 OPS] 6 HR, 18 RBI in 2023)

3. Hao-Yu Lee, 2B

4. Nien-Ting Wu, 3B (.299/.408/.441 [.849], 3 HR, 35 RBI in NPB in 2023)

5. Tsung-Che Cheng, SS (.000/.000/.000 [.000], 0 HR, 0 RBI)

6. Cheng Jui Sung, LF

7. Chieh-Hsien Chen, CF

8. Stuart Fairchild, RF (.216/.273/.333 [.606 OPS], 0 HR, 2 RBI)

9. An-Ko Lin, DH

Projected rotation

• Jo Hsi Hsu, RHP

• Po-Yu Chen, RHP

• Ruei-Yang Gu Lin, RHP (2.94 ERA, 49 IP, 50 K, 13 BB, 40 H in NPB)

• Yu-Min Lin, LHP

Schedule

• Australia, 10 p.m. ET (Wednesday March 4)

• Japan, 5 a.m. ET (Friday, March 6)

• Czechia, 10 p.m. ET (Friday, March 6)

• Korea, 10 p.m. ET (Saturday, March 7)

If this were the Little League World Series, Chinese Taipei would be a lock to make it to the final of the World Baseball Classic. Alas, it is not — all the players on Taiwan’s roster are adults. As such, it’s hard to foresee an avenue for the team getting into the knockout stage, though it is possible given South Korea’s inconsistency and the unknowns surrounding Australia’s pitching. But remember, this is baseball — weird things happen. Maybe both Australia and Chinese Taipei will make it out of the group. Wouldn’t that be something?

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Czechia

May 20, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles leftt fielder Terrin Vavra (23) hits a single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Projected starting position players

1. Martin Cervenka, C

2. Martin Muzik, 1B

3. Milan Prokop, 2B

4. Terrin Vavra, 3B (.000/.000/.000 [.000 OPS], 0 HR, 0 RBI)

5. Vojtech Mensik, SS

6. Willie Escala, LF

7. Marek Chlup, CF (.265/.321/.394 [.715 OPS]

8. Marek Krejcirik, RF

9. Martin Zelenka, DH

Projected rotation

• Daniel Padysak, RHP (0.00 ERA, 5 IP, 2 K, 4 BB, 4 H in NPB)

• Ondrej Satoria, RHP

• Ryan Johnson, LHP (7.36 ERA, 14.2 IP, 16 K, 5 BB, 24 H)

• Tomas Ondra, RHP

Schedule

• Korea, 5 a.m. ET (Thursday, March 5)

• Australia, 10 p.m. ET (Thursday, March 5)

• Chinese Taipei, 10 p.m. ET (Friday, March 6)

• Japan, 6 a.m. ET (Tuesday, March 10)

This Czech team is all vibes and no brakes. There is almost zero expectation that Czechia makes it out of Pool C and into the knockout stage, but there’s also that little thought in the back of everyone’s head saying, “Wouldn’t it be soo cool?” This is a baseball team that’s filled with electricians and plumbers — with some exceptions — who have traveled to Tokyo to take on some of the best players from Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Australia. It’s one of the biggest underdog stories of the entire tournament. If Czechia picks up just one win, it’ll be an epic story. If that win comes against one of the baseball giants like Japan or Korea, whew, boy, that’d be something special.

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Japan

Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani tosses his bat after hitting a three run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the ninth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on May 9, 2025.

Projected starting position players

1. Seishiro Sakamoto, C (.247/.357/.326 [.683 OPS], 2 HR, 27 RBI in NPB)

2. Munetaka Murakami, 1B (.286/.392/.659 [1.051 OPS], 24 HR, 52 RBI in NPB)

3. Shugo Maki, 2B (.277/.325/.475 [.800 OPS], 16 HR, 49 RBI in NPB)

4. Kazuma Okamoto, 3B (.322/.411/.581 [.992 OPS], 15 HR, 51 RBI in NPB)

5. Kaito Kozono, SS (.309/.365/.388 [.753 OPS], 3 HR, 47 RBI in NPB)

6. Masataka Yoshida, LF (.266/.307/.388 [.696 OPS], 4 HR, 26 RBI)

7. Seiya Suzuki, CF (.245/.326/.478 [.804 OPS], 32 HR, 103 RBI)

8. Kensuke Kondoh, RF (.309/.417/.508 [.925 OPS], 11 HR, 42 RBI in NPB)

9. Shohei Ohtani, DH (.282/.393/.622 [1.014 OPS], 55 HR, 102 RBI)

Projected rotation

• Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP (2.49 ERA, 173.2 IP, 201 K, 59 BB, 113 H)

• Yusei Kikuchi, LHP (3.99 ERA, 178.1 IP, 174 K, 74 BB, 180 H)

• Hiromi Itoh RHP (2.52 ERA, 196.2 IP, 195 K, 29 BB, 179 H in NPB)

• Tomoyuki Sugano, RHP (4.64 ERA, 157 IP, 106 K, 36 BB, 173 H)

Schedule

• Chinese Taipei, 5 a.m. ET (Friday, March 6)

• Korea, 5 a.m. ET (Saturday, March 7)

• Australia, 6 a.m. ET (Sunday, March 8)

• Czechia, 6 a.m. ET (Tuesday, March 10)

On paper, Japan’s roster has taken a minor step back from its 2023 championship team. That deficiency is especially seen on the pitching side of things, where several key arms like Shohei Ohtani — who’s obviously still present to smash baseballs around the yard like no one else — Yu Darvish, and Roki Sasaki aren’t available. That means this show is going to be run by Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Yusei Kikuchi. Those two are certainly no slouches — both were MLB All-Stars last season, and Yamamoto is one of the best pitchers in the world — but the depth just isn’t there like it was in the last tournament.

I’m a massive fan of this lineup, though. Ohtani is obviously the anchor, but Seiya Suzuki and Masataka Yoshida should also provide a good amount of pop. The rest of the order is basically just an NPB All-Star team, and what a squad it is. From the power hitting of Munetaka Murakami to Kaito Kozono’s fantastic consistency, this lineup has it all. It’s for sure the best roster in Pool C and should be a near lock to make it to the knockout stage.

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Korea

Feb 22, 2026; Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco Giants center fielder Jung Hoo Lee (51) hits a single against the Chicago Cubs in the single inning at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Projected starting position players

1. Dong Won Park, C (.253/.342/.455 [.797 OPS], 22 HR, 76 RBI in KBO)

2. Bo Gyeong Moon, 1B (.276/.371/.460 [.831 OPS], 24 HR, 108 RBI in KBO)

3. Hyeseong Kim, 2B (.280/.314/.385 [.699 OPS], 3 HR, 17 RBI)

4. Shay Whitcomb, 3B (.125/.125/.219 [.344 OPS], 1 HR, 1 RBI)

5. Do Yeong Kim, SS (.309/.361/.582 [.942 OPS], 7 HR, 27 RBI in KBO)

6. Ja Wook Koo, LF (.319/.402/.516 [.918 OPS], 19 HR, 96 RBI in KBO)

7. Jung Hoo Lee, CF (.266/.327/.407 [.735 OPS], 8 HR, 55 RBI)

8. Hyun-min Ahn, RF (.334/.448/.570 [1.018 OPS], 22 HR, 80 RBI in KBO)

9. Ju-won Kim, DH (.289/.379/.451 [.830 OPS], 15 HR, 65 RBI in KBO)

Projected rotation

• Hyun-jin Ryu, LHP (3.46 ERA, 52 IP, 38 K, 14 BB, 53 H in 2023)

• Hyeong-jun So, RHP (3.30 ERA, 147.1 IP, 123 K, 29 BB, 155 H in KBO)

• Young-pyo Ko, RHP (3.30 ERA, 161 IP, 154 K, 30 BB, 170 H in KBO)

• Been Gwak, RHP (4.20 ERA, 109.1 IP, 107 K, 41 BB, 96 H in KBO)

Schedule

• Czechia, 5 a.m. ET (Thursday, March 5)

• Japan, 5 a.m. ET (Saturday, March 7)

• Chinese Taipei, 10 p.m. ET (Saturday, March 7)

• Australia, 6 a.m. ET (Monday, March 9)

Korea has been a consistent underperformer in the WBC, especially in the last couple of tournaments. It hasn’t made it out of the group stage in the past three iterations, which is insane given the plethora of baseball talent in the country. As such, the expectation is that this team will compete for one of the two top spots in Pool C — and it should be able to get it done. At least on paper.

Color me skeptical that it can win a championship, though. When your best pitcher is arguably Hyun-jin Ryu, a former MLB star who hasn’t thrown in the big leagues in several seasons, that’s saying something. Of course, Ryu is a Korean legend and probably has some gas left in the tank, but it’s certainly telling that he’s here and figures to be a key piece of Korea’s puzzle. In the end, I’m in wait-and-see mode with this team. I’m fairly certain it’ll be able to advance to the knockout round, but I’ve been sure of that the last three tournaments — and look what that’s gotten me.