World Baseball Classic Pool B is underway with Korea taking on Australia right now at the Tokyo Dome in Japan.
One of the top-ranked teams in the world, the Korean squad is looking to re-establish itself as a leading World Baseball Classic contender after first-round exits in both 2013 and 2017. Korea finished third in the 2006 WBC and was the runner-up to Japan in 2009. In between, the team won baseball gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Australia has been a WBC fixture, participating in each iteration of the tournament, but it has yet to make it out of the first round.
Here’s what you need to know about the matchup:
When and where: Now, at the Tokyo Dome in Japan
How you can watch: The game between Korea and Australia is live on FS1. WBC games are available on FOX, FS1, FS2, Tubi or FOX Deportes, and every game can be streamed online in the FOX Sports App. For international viewing options, click here.
How you can listen: Live audio coverage of all games will be carried on SiriusXM, TuneIn, MLB.com and in the MLB App.
What’s at stake: The 20 teams have been placed in four pools of five teams for the first round of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, with each team playing the others in its pool once and the teams with the two best records in each pool at the end of this round advancing to the knockout stage. Korea and Australia are part of Pool B with Japan, China and the Czech Republic.
Matchup history: Korea and Australia previously met once in WBC play, when the two teams were placed in Pool B at the 2013 Classic. South Korea defeated Australia 6-0 in that matchup.
Key players to watch:
Jung-Hoo Lee, OF, Korea: The reigning KBO MVP has hit .342 with 59 homers and a .902 OPS over his first six seasons in the league. He’ll have a chance to show off his skills on the Classic stage before testing MLB free agency next offseason.
Kwang Hyun Kim, LHP, Korea: Kim, who spent two seasons with the Cardinals before returning to the KBO for the 2022 season, could front Korea’s rotation after finishing second in the race for the KBO ERA title (2.13) last year.
Robbie Glendinning, IF, Australia: Glendinning had 19 homers and 11 stolen bases over 118 games for the Royals’ Double-A affiliate in 2022.
Aaron Whitefield, OF, Australia: The speedy outfielder has had cups of coffee with the Twins and Angels and has reached the 30-steal mark four times in his Minor League career.
