Korea showed superb pitching and shut out Puerto Rico in two warm-up games played at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul ahead of the WBSC Premier12.
Left-handed aces Yang Hyeon-jong (Kia Tigers) and Kim Kwang-hyun (SK Wyverns) and right-handed submarine Park Jong-hun (SK Wyverns) are all in contention as starting pitchers for the defending champions.
Korea also showed brilliant pitching out of the bullpen. Cho Sangwoo (Nexen Heroes) hit 151 KMs per hour (94 miles) and struck out the side in one inning of work during the second game.
Right-hander Jae Hoon Ha also impressed for his speed. The 28-year old KBO rookie collected 36 saves in his first full season as a pitcher. Before joining the top league in his home country, Had had been an outfielder in the Chicago Cubs organization in the USA from 2009 to 2015. He appeared in 16 games as a pitcher at the Class A level during his last season in the USA. He then appeared in 17 games as an outfielder for the NPB Yakult Swallows in 2016.
Korea will host group C in Seoul. The defending champions will debut on Wednesday, 6 November, against Australia.
Puerto Rico announced a roster move after the second game. Joshua Torres, a right-handed reliever in the New York Mets organisation, replaced reliever Andres Santiago.
Puerto Rico will compete in group B in Taichung and debut against the hosts Chinese Taipei on Tuesday, 5 November.
