Austin Wells Dominican walk-off homer ends Korea, ties WBC record in 10-0 mercy-rule win
MIAMI — Austin Wells Dominican detonated a three-run, walk-off homer Friday to finish off Korea, 10-0, under the World Baseball Classic mercy rule at loanDepot park. The blast came on a first-pitch cutter in the bottom of the seventh inning, ending the quarterfinal instantly with two on and two out. The win pushed the Dominican Republic into its first semifinal since 2017 and tied Mexico’s 2009 club for the WBC record for home runs in a single tournament.
Mercy-rule finish: one pitch, one swing, game over
At approximately 9: 00 p. m. ET Friday in Miami, the Dominican Republic’s night turned from comfortable to conclusive in a single swing. With the mercy rule still in effect through the quarterfinals, Wells needed only one pitch to end the game, launching a three-run homer that closed the door on Korea and sealed the 10-0 final.
Wells’ shot was the Dominican Republic’s 14th home run of the tournament, tying the World Baseball Classic record previously held by the 2009 Mexico team. The moment carried extra weight: Wells was coming off the bench for the first time in the tournament, stepping into a pressure situation and finishing the quarterfinal immediately.
Korea starter knocked out early as Dominican Republic jumps ahead
The game tilted quickly. The Dominican Republic chased Korea starter Hyun-jin Ryu after he recorded only five outs before being removed, and the Dominican lineup surged to a 7-0 lead after three innings. That early cushion held even as Korea’s bullpen steadied the game for a stretch.
Korea’s relievers kept the Dominican offense quiet for the next three innings, slowing what has been the tournament’s most potent attack. But the pause didn’t last. With two on and two out in the seventh, the Dominican Republic returned to its defining theme of this WBC: home run impact, delivered decisively.
Austin Wells Dominican and a record-level power run
Wells’ walk-off capped an offensive wave that has defined the Dominican Republic’s tournament. In pool play, the team dominated major offensive categories, leading the event in home runs, runs scored, batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. The record-tying 14th homer reinforced that dominance under the sport’s brightest international spotlight.
Several Dominican hitters have gone deep multiple times in this tournament: Wells, Junior Caminero, Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Oneil Cruz have homered twice. Ketel Marte and Julio Rodríguez have also connected as the lineup has stacked power throughout the order.
Immediate reactions: “favorite” moment, and a cultural identity on display
After the game ended, Wells put the emotion plainly: “It’s probably one of my favorite (moments), if not the favorite, ” Wells said.
Dominican Republic manager Albert Pujols framed the team’s celebrated energy as something deeper than showmanship, especially as their bat flips and home run trots have energized crowds throughout the tournament. “I just don’t think you can, ” Pujols said Friday when asked how MLB could replicate some of the Dominican Republic’s energy. “That’s in our blood, that’s in our DNA. That’s how we play baseball. That responsibility that we have wearing this jersey, especially representing our country — the culture, the attitude, the way the guys go about it — you’re born with that, and sometimes, that’s even harder to teach. ”
What’s next: semifinal date set with Team USA
The Dominican Republic now advances to the semifinal round Sunday against Team USA, the tournament’s next stage after Friday’s mercy-rule quarterfinal ended in a flash. The Dominican Republic enters that matchup with the WBC home run record tied at 14 and the same formula that has carried it all month: early pressure, relentless power, and moments like Austin Wells Dominican delivering the final swing when the game is on the line.
