The South Korean national baseball team’s opponent for the quarterfinals in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) has been decided. It is the Dominican Republic, which features a roster filled with Major League players.

On March 12 (Korean time), the Dominican Republic defeated Venezuela 7-5 in the WBC Group D preliminary round held at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, USA. The Dominican Republic achieved four consecutive wins in the group stage, securing first place in the group and advancing to the quarterfinals. The Dominican Republic will compete against South Korea, the second-place team from Group C, for a spot in the semifinals on March 14. Meanwhile, Venezuela, which finished second in Group D, will face Japan, the first-place team from Group C, in the quarterfinals on March 15.

The Dominican Republic’s bats exploded. Juan Soto (New York Mets) opened the scoring with a two-run home run over the center field fence in the first inning with one out and a runner on first. In the third inning, Ketel Marte (Arizona Diamondbacks) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto Blue Jays) each added solo home runs. In the fourth inning, with two outs and runners on first and third, Fernando Tatis Jr. (San Diego Padres) hit a three-run homer over the left field fence.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Dominican Republic is celebrating after hitting a home run in the 3rd inning during the game against Venezuela at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida on the 11th. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

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Venezuela, trailing 3-7, staged a rally in their final at-bat in the ninth inning by drawing three consecutive walks to load the bases with no outs. Luis Arraez (San Francisco Giants) brought in a run with a sacrifice fly, and then Ronald Acuna Jr. (Atlanta Braves), who was on second base, scored after pitcher Elvis Alvarado (Oakland Athletics) made an errant throw to second on Wilson Contreras’s (St. Louis Cardinals) ground ball. However, Venezuela’s comeback ended there, as Salvador Perez (Kansas City Royals) hit into a double play.

Meanwhile, in Group B, Italy, the tournament’s surprise team, dominated Mexico with a 9-1 win and finished undefeated. Italy, which also defeated the United States, Mexico, Great Britain, and Brazil, clinched first place in Group B with four consecutive victories. Italy will play Puerto Rico, the second-place team from Group A, in the quarterfinals on March 15.

The United States advanced to the quarterfinals as the second-place team in Group B, thanks to Italy’s win over Mexico. With three wins and one loss, the United States will face Canada, the top team from Group A, on March 14. This marks the third time this year that these two countries, which have recently been at odds over trade tariffs, will meet in a major sports tournament.