Preview: Korea and Dominican Republic on the verge of elimination
World No. 6 Korea and No. 9 Dominican Republic cannot afford another loss in the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS. They are tied at 1-2, and losing on Saturday, November 16, would terminate the chances of a trip to the Super Round.
Korea will hand the ball to right-hander Chan Kyu Im. The 31-year-old veteran has played in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) league since 2011. He made his National Team debut at the Asian Games 2018. He started 25 games for the LG Twins in 2024, posting a 10-6 record with a 3.83 earned run average (ERA). He struck out 136 in 134 innings.
The Dominican Republic will respond with 29-year-old right-hander Franklyn Kilome.
After signing for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB) as a teenager, Kilome was traded to the New York Mets to get Asdrubal Cabrera. The Mets gave him the chance to play in the Big Leagues in 2020.
Kilome has also played in the Japanese Independent Challenge League, the American Association, and the Mexican Baseball League (LMB).
After losing in the Opening Round, the Dominican Republic defeated Korea in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics bronze medal game.
Korea won the only Premier12 head-to-head, 10-1, in 2015.