Taiwan media: Wang Yen-ching the frontrunner to start

Lin Yu-min unlikely due to travel burden

Monday's Taiwan clash seen as key to topping group

Wang Yen-ching reacts with relief after Samsung Lions batter Kang Min-ho grounds into a double play in the fifth inning of a 2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League game between the Samsung Lions and the Hanwha Eagles at Hanwha Life Insurance Ballpark in Daejeon. [Yonhap]
Wang Yen-ching reacts with relief after Samsung Lions batter Kang Min-ho grounds into a double play in the fifth inning of a 2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League game between the Samsung Lions and the Hanwha Eagles at Hanwha Life Insurance Ballpark in Daejeon. [Yonhap]

South Korea's national baseball team, managed by Ryu Ji-hyun and chasing a fifth consecutive Asian Games gold medal, will open the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games against Taiwan — the toughest opponent in the group.

Taiwanese media have identified left-handed pitcher Wang Yen-ching, who has posted 11 wins for the Hanwha Eagles this season, as the frontrunner to start against South Korea. With Kwak Bin of the Doosan Bears emerging as a likely starter on the Korean side, the outcome of Monday's clash is expected to determine the group's top seed and shape the super round to follow.

Taiwanese outlets including Undong Shike previewed Monday's Group B opener between South Korea and Taiwan, reporting that Wang is the most likely candidate to take the mound for Taiwan.

Left-hander Lin Yu-min, who made a targeted start against South Korea at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and pitched well, is not expected to start in the group stage this time, with the long-distance travel cited as a factor.

"Wang Yen-ching is the frontrunner to start against South Korea," Undong Shike wrote. "Having pitched a full season in the KBO League, he brings plenty of experience. Whether he can deliver a strong outing will be the key to the Taiwan-Korea game."

The outlet also noted that Wang had shown some vulnerability against right-handed batters this season in the KBO League, adding that "it will be important for him not to give up a big hit, given that South Korea's lineup is loaded with powerful right-handed hitters."

In addition, the report noted that Wang's hits-allowed rate has tended to climb sharply in the later innings, saying "the timing of Taiwan's bullpen decisions will be crucial."

Wang has been one of Hanwha's rotation anchors this season, starting 26 games and going 11-6 with a 3.97 ERA. In three starts since September, however, he has struggled, posting an 8.10 ERA.

Taiwanese media also projected Kwak Bin of the Doosan Bears as the likely starter for South Korea against Taiwan.

Kwak threw a bullpen session Saturday — the team's first practice day in Japan — alongside fellow rotation candidates Choi Min-seok of Doosan and So Hyung-jun of the KT Wiz, as the pitchers checked their stuff ahead of the tournament.

Manager Ryu's squad will play Taiwan in the Group B opener at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Baseball Stadium on Monday, then face Hong Kong at Toyohashi Municipal Stadium on Tuesday and Thailand in the third group game at Chuo Sogo Park on Wednesday.

South Korea must beat Taiwan to significantly improve their chances of reaching the final. A loss would leave them needing to win all their super round games against the top two finishers from Group A, adding considerable pressure.


th5@heraldcorp.com