Ryu Joong-il, manager of the Korean national baseball team, speaks with reporters before a practice session at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro District, Seoul, Nov. 5. Yonhap

Korea finalized its 28-man roster for an upcoming international baseball tournament on Thursday, with the front-runner for the MVP award in the domestic league among the headliners.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said manager Ryu Joong-il made his final six cuts from the 34-man training camp roster on Thursday for the World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12.

Kim Do-yeong, third baseman for the reigning Korean Series champions Kia Tigers, is one of eight infielders. He had 38 home runs and 40 steals this year, becoming the youngest player with a 30-30 campaign during his age 20-season.

Ryu is also taking 14 pitchers, two catchers and four outfielders. Of the 14 pitches, five are closers for their respective KBO clubs, including Jung Hai-young of the Tigers, who led the league with 31 saves.

One notable cut from the camp was KT Wiz right-hander Um Sang-back, who was regarded as a candidate for a spot in the starting rotation for the national team. Without Um, Ryu will go with four starters in its five round-robin games: Gwak Been and Choi Seung-yong of the Doosan Bears, Im Chan-kyu of the LG Twins and Ko Young-pyo of the Wiz.

Korea is in Group B with Japan, Cuba, Australia, the Dominican Republic and Chinese Taipei.

Korea's first game is against Chinese Taipei in Taipei City on Nov. 13, followed by Cuba on Nov. 14, Japan on Nov. 15, the Dominican Republic on Nov. 16 and Australia on Nov. 18.

The top two teams from Group B after round-robin play will join the two best teams from Group A in the Super Round, which will start Nov. 21 in Tokyo.

Korea won the inaugural Premier12 in 2015 and then finished in second place, behind Japan, four years later.

Many of the players are under 30, as Korea is trying to build up for the 2026 World Baseball Classic and the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. (Yonhap)