Early-season woes continue for 2 S. Korean left-handers in MLB

For the second time this season, Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals and Yang Hyeon-jong of the Texas Rangers made a start on the same day. And for the second time, neither of them notched a victory. In fact, both South Korean left-handers suffered their third consecutive loss. Kim gave up four runs on nine hits in five innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on Sunday (local time). The Cardinals spotted him a 2-0 lead after two, but Kim couldn't keep his team

May 31, 2021

Cardinals' Kim Kwang-hyun takes 3rd straight loss vs. lowly Diamondbacks

Unable to make an early lead stand against the worst club in the National League, Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals has now lost three consecutive starts. Kim was saddled with the loss as the Cardinals fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-2 at Chase Field in Phoenix on Sunday (local time). Kim allowed four runs on a season-worst nine hits. He struck out one and walked one, as he dropped to 1-3 for the year and saw his ERA rise from 3.09 to 3.65. Kim's only victory of the year came on Apr

May 31, 2021

Rangers' Yang Hyeon-jong yanked early in loss to Mariners

Another start, another short day on the mound for Yang Hyeon-jong. The Texas Rangers' South Korean starter lasted only three innings in a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Sunday (local time). The left-hander allowed three runs -- one unearned -- on five hits and a walk, as he dropped to 0-3 for the year. His ERA went up from 5.47 to 5.53. Yang struck out two and needed a whopping 70 pitches -- 49 strikes -- to retire nine batters, including 26 in the opening inni

May 31, 2021

Unlikely Opening Day starter emerges as ace for Eagles

While many other clubs sent out their foreign aces to begin the new Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season last month, the Hanwha Eagles gave the symbolic Opening Day assignment to homegrown right-hander Kim Min-woo. It was a surprising choice, given that the Eagles' new American lefty, Ryan Carpenter, appeared to have earned that opportunity with an excellent preseason. In 2020, Kim flashed promise that made him the No. 1 overall pick at the 2014 draft, but finished with a pedestrian 5-10 re

May 30, 2021

Team loss aside, duel against compatriot a fun experience for Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin

It was a battle within a battle, as Toronto Blue Jays' ace Ryu Hyun-jin went up against fellow South Korean, Tampa Bay Rays' first baseman Choi Ji-man, for the first time in their major league careers. The Rays took the game 6-4 at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Sunday (local time). But the all-Korean pitcher-batter duel between Ryu and Choi, both graduates of Dongsan High School in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, ended in the pitcher's favor. Ryu got Choi to ground out in his first

May 24, 2021

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin takes no-decision vs. Rays, gives up double to fellow Korean

Pitching into the seventh inning for the third straight start wasn't enough for Ryu Hyun-jin to stop the Toronto Blue Jays' slide. The South Korean left-hander settled for a no-decision after holding the Tampa Bay Rays to two runs on eight hits over 6 2/3 innings at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Sunday (local time). Ryu struck out seven and walked one, before leaving the game with two outs in the seventh and the score knotted at 2-2. His ERA rose slightly from 2.51 to 2.53, while his reco

May 24, 2021

Rangers' Yang Hyeon-jong earns spot in starting rotation

However temporary it may be, South Korean pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong has earned a place in the starting rotation for the Texas Rangers. In a pregame interview before hosting the New York Yankees in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday (local time), Rangers manager Chris Woodward said Yang, who started the previous day in place of the injured Kohei Arihara, will get more looks in the rotation. "As of right now, I'd say Yang probably stays in that spot," Woodward said in a Zoom call. "We're

May 21, 2021

Rays' Choi Ji-man stays hot, reaches base 4 times in rout

After missing the first quarter of the 2021 season, Tampa Bay Rays' first baseman Choi Ji-man is playing as though he wants to make up for all that lost time. The South Korean infielder went 1-for-3 with three walks and an RBI in a 10-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Thursday (local time). Choi missed the first 41 games of the season following arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on March 31. He made his season debut last Sunday and went 3-for-4

May 21, 2021

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin tosses gem in win over Red Sox

A month after getting knocked around against the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays' ace Ryu Hyun-jin got his revenge with a gem against one of the best offenses in baseball. Ryu threw seven shutout innings to help the Jays to an 8-0 victory at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Tuesday (local time). Ryu improved to 4-2 for the season and lowered his ERA from 2.95 to 2.51. Ryu allowed only four hits and struck out seven to match his season high. This was Ryu's second start against the Red Sox

May 19, 2021

Rangers' Yang Hyeon-jong to take up 'bulk' role vs. Yankees

When Texas Rangers' South Korean pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong makes his next appearance this week, he'll once again be asked to eat up multiple innings out of the bullpen. In his pregame Zoom call before hosting the New York Yankees in Arlington, Texas, on Monday (local time), Rangers manager Chris Woodward said Yang will take the mound Wednesday for the third game of the four-game series -- not as a starter but as a "bulk" guy, a fairly new term for a pitcher who takes the ball in the sec

May 18, 2021

Rays' Choi Ji-min collects 3 hits in season debut

Coming off a knee surgery, Tampa Bay Rays' Choi Ji-man has punctuated his long-awaited season debut with a three-hit performance. Choi batted 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run against the New York Mets at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Sunday (local time), contributing to a 7-1 victory. Choi had missed the first 41 games of the season following arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on March 31. Choi was activated from the 10-day injured list Saturday but waited another day before

May 17, 2021

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin goes 7 strong vs. Braves for 3rd win of season

In a vintage performance backed up by late run support, Toronto Blue Jays' ace Ryu Hyun-jin has picked up his third win of the season. Ryu threw seven strong innings against the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta on Wednesday (local time), allowing just a run on five hits while striking out six in a 4-1 victory. Ryu improved to 3-2 and lowered his ERA from 3.31 to 2.95. His 94 pitches were one shy of his season high. Ryu is the only Blue Jays starter to go at least seven innings this year, and he has

May 13, 2021

Rangers' Yang Hyeon-jong likely to stay in bullpen for now

Yang Hyeon-jong may have to wait a few more days before making his next start for the Texas Rangers. With right-hander Kohei Arihara landing on the 10-day injured list (IL) over the weekend, Yang appeared to be in line to make a spot start this week against the Houston Astros. The South Korean left-hander pitched 3 1/3 solid innings against the Minnesota Twins in place of Arihara last Wednesday, following two bullpen appearances. Instead, manager Chris Woodward said Monday (US local time) that

May 11, 2021

Lessons learned from poor stretch helping young KBO ace in breakout season

Pitching in his second season for the Samsung Lions in 2020, right-hander Won Tae-in was a much different pitcher in the second half than the first half -- and not in a good way. He was 5-2 with a 3.56 ERA in his first 13 appearances, including one relief appearance, and he seemed to be on his way to a breakout campaign that many had expected from the then 20-year-old. Then things fell apart over his final 14 starts, over which Won was just 1-8 with an ugly 6.15 ERA. This year, Won is off to

May 11, 2021

Ryu Hyun-jin reports no pain following return from glute injury

Uncharacteristically wobbly with his command, Toronto Blue Jays' left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin labored through five innings for a road victory against the Oakland Athletics in his first outing back from the injured list (IL). But more importantly, the South Korean pitcher reported zero pain afterward. Ryu allowed four runs on six hits, including a home run, in five innings at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland on Thursday (local time) and watched his teammates tacking on late runs for a 10-4 victory. Ryu

May 7, 2021

Rangers' Yang Hyeon-jong strikes out 8 in 1st MLB start

As baseball starts go, this was short and sweet for Yang Hyeon-jong of the Texas Rangers. In his first major league start, Yang struck out eight Minnesota Twins in just 3 1/3 innings at Target Field in Minneapolis on Wednesday (local time). The bullpen took over with one out and bases loaded in the bottom fourth and the game tied at 1-1, and reliever John King bailed out the Korean left-hander with a couple of groundouts. The Rangers prevailed 3-1, after scoring twice in the top of the sixth

May 6, 2021

Kim Kwang-hyun shrugs off bizarre inning, puts team first in no-decision

Kim Kwang-hyun has been a professional pitcher since 2007. He has seen a lot over his career, which began in his native South Korea and has taken him to the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals. So a bizarre fourth inning against the New York Mets at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Wednesday (local time), an extended frame that included multiple delays and two reviews, did little to faze him. Kim walked away with a no-decision after holding the Mets to a run in four innings on two hits and thre

May 6, 2021

Five KBO matches to be canceled after vaccination for Olympic athletes

Five matches of the South Korean professional baseball league scheduled for Tuesday will be canceled in accordance with the nationwide vaccination program for Olympic athletes. The Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) said Friday that out of 154 players on the preliminary squad for the Tokyo Olympics, 116 professional athletes playing in South Korea, including former Major League All-Star outfielder Choo Shin-soo of SSG Landers, will be inoculated Monday. The number accounts for about 40 percen

April 30, 2021

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin placed on injured list following minor gluteal strain

Toronto Blue Jays' ace pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin has been placed on the 10-day injured list (IL) for the first time since joining the club after suffering a minor right gluteal strain. In an away game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Sunday (US time), Ryu left the game in the fourth inning. His club said the pitcher left the mound because of a minor "right glute strain." Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo played down the placement, forecasting Ry

April 29, 2021

S. Korean pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong joins Texas Rangers' MLB roster

South Korean left-hander Yang Hyeon-jong of the Texas Rangers has made his Major League Baseball debut on the day he joined the team's big league roster. Yang took the mound as a relief pitcher for the first time in a major league game against the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Monday (US time), relieving starter Jordan Lyles, who allowed seven earned runs in 2 2/3 innings. The southpaw made 66 pitches in 4 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on five hits, with one

April 27, 2021