In a disappointing quarterfinal match of the 2026 World Baseball Classic held in Miami, the South Korean baseball team succumbed to a dominant Dominican Republic team, losing 0-10 in a seven-inning cold game. The Dominican team displayed their power by hitting 13 home runs throughout the group stage, maintaining an impressive batting average of .313 and averaging 10.25 runs per game, a trend that continued into the quarterfinals. Despite the anticipation for the South Korean team's performance after a 17-year absence from the quarterfinals, their pitching staff struggled to contain the Dominican offense.

Starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin, who returned to the international stage after 17 years, had a rocky outing. Although he began the game effectively with a clean first inning, he faltered in the second, allowing three runs through two walks and three hits. This marked a bittersweet end to his journey with the national team, as he was later substituted after allowing runners on base. The succeeding pitchers, including Noh Kyung-eun and Park Young-hyun, faced similar challenges, failing to contain the fervent Dominican hitters, leading to a sequence of hits that quickly escalated the score.

The game shifted drastically, particularly in the third inning, when the Korean bullpen became overwhelmed, ultimately leading to more runs being scored. Although subsequent pitchers such as Ko Young-pyo, Cho Byeong-hyeon, and Ko Woo-seok managed to stop the bleeding after the early innings, the game turned into a struggle for the Korean side, who could not match the offensive consistency of the Dominican team. This loss not only ended their campaign in Miami but also highlighted the challenges they face at the international level, as they aim to build a stronger team for future competitions.