Preview: Korea want third win, Australia can still finish third
World No. 6 Korea will finish the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS against No. 15 Australia. With a win, Korea (2-2) will finish third, and Australia (1-3) also has a chance to finish third.
Korea will hand the ball to right-hander Youngpyo Ko. The 33-year-old veteran has started 18 games with the KT Wiz of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) league and has started the game Korea lost against Chinese Taipei in the Premier12 2024.
Australia picked right-hander Tim Atherton. The 35-year-old veteran has already pitched two games in this edition of the Premier12, starting against Cuba and pitching one inning out of the bullpen against Japan.
Australia and Korea faced each other in 2023. In the World Baseball Classic Opening Round, Australia won 8-7, while Korea beat the Aussies (3-0) in the U-18 Baseball World Cup.
Korea beat Australia (5-0) in the opening round of the Premier12 in 2019.