[Graphic News] Judge and Ohtani lead most powerful MLB hitters of 2025

The inaugural Hitter Power Rankings of 2025, compiled by MLB.com experts, spotlight the top offensive talents poised to define the upcoming MLB season. Leading the list is Yankees’ outfielder Aaron Judge, whose remarkable performance over the past three seasons includes a .304 batting average, .433 on-base percentage, .674 slugging percentage, and an average of 52 home runs per season. Following closely is Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, who led the National League in multiple offensive categories

March 24, 2025

[Graphic News] Kim Kwang-hyun becomes KBO’s highest-paid player

SSG Landers pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun has become the highest-paid player in Korean professional baseball, securing an annual salary of approximately 3 billion won ($2.06 million) for the 2025 season, according to a report from the Korea Baseball Organization. Kim’s standout performance in the 2024 season, which included 13 wins, 3 losses and a 2.12 ERA, helped lead SSG to a Korean Series championship and earned him the top spot in the league’s ERA rankings. Following Kim, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Hanwha

March 19, 2025

KBO sets single-day preseason attendance record

The South Korean baseball league set a single-day attendance record for a preseason Sunday, breaking its own record set from the previous day. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced that the five exhibition games on Sunday drew a combined 71,288 fans. On Saturday, the first day of the preseason, 67,264 fans had been on hand, breaking the previous mark of 66,785 fans set on March 22, 2015. The new record only lasted a day. The Hanwha Eagles hosted the Doosan Bears at their alternate home

March 9, 2025

Wiz veteran Hwang Jae-gyun embraces mid-career position change

Since 2009, his third professional season, Hwang Jae-gyun has been a third baseman, manning the hot corner for three different clubs in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) while making cameos at first base and shortstop. He also had a cup of coffee as third baseman for the San Francisco Giants. At age 37 playing for the KT Wiz, Hwang is about to undergo a mid-career change. The Wiz signed an All-Star third baseman Heo Kyoung-min in free agency in November, and Heo, a more accomplished defender

March 6, 2025

Giants infielder Son Ho-young not taking playing time for granted

After earning a regular playing opportunity for the first time in his career at age 30 last year, Lotte Giants infielder Son Ho-young established new career-best numbers across the board. In 102 games, Son batted .317/.354/.538 with 18 home runs and 78 RBIs. Injuries forced him to miss 42 games. Otherwise, he could have pushed for the 20-homer, 100-RBI plateaus. Following the end of spring training in Japan, Son said Wednesday he hopes to play more games than a season ago. "Since I played about

March 5, 2025

[Photo News] Surprise at Spring Camp

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun visited the Kia Tigers' spring camp being held at Clubhouse Baseball near Irvine, California, Sunday, to encourage the athletes and coaching staff and congratulate them on their championship-winning season last year, the Korean auto conglomerate said Monday. Chung invited the team to the automaker's sales office and design center to offer them a glimpse of its core businesses. (Hyundai Motor Group)

Feb. 17, 2025

[Graphic News] MLB player salaries reach all-time high

The average salary for Major League Baseball players hit a record high of $4.66 million for the 2024 season. According to the MLB Players Association, the average player salary for 2024 was $4,655,366, marking a 2.9 percent increase from the average of $4,525,719 in 2023. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, MLB eventually shortened the 2020 season to 60 games, correspondingly prorating salaries at about 37 percent. In 2021, the average salary fell further on a full-year basis to $3,679,335. However, the

Feb. 17, 2025

'Pikki Pikki' dance cheerleader joins Taiwan's Fubon Angels

Lee Ju-eun, the Korean cheerleader from the "Pikki Pikki" dance viral Tiktok video, in which she danced moving her hands up and down, with her thumbs up during a baseball game, is taking her cheerleading skills to Taiwan. According to Fubon Hyundai Life Insurance on Wednesday, Lee signed an exclusive contract with Fubon Sports & Entertainment and is set to join the Fubon Angels, the cheerleading squad for the Fubon Guardians in Taiwan’s professional baseball league, for the 2025 season. “I’m so

Jan. 23, 2025

New Dodgers player Kim Hye-seong determined to crack Opening Day roster

Kim Hye-seong, the latest South Korean player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, departed for the US on Tuesday, determined to crack the Opening Day roster and make his big league debut as soon as possible. Kim signed a three-year, $12.5 million contract with the Dodgers on Jan. 3, the final day of his 30-day negotiating period after his posting process began in early December. The Dodgers have a club option for two more years, which will increase the total value of Kim's deal to a maximum of $22 mill

Jan. 14, 2025

KBO All-Star Kim Hye-seong signs with Dodgers

South Korean All-Star infielder Kim Hye-seong has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kim's agency, Creative Artists Agency, said Saturday Kim agreed to a three-year deal worth $12.5 million, with an option for two more years that would give him a chance to make up to $22 million total. A CAA official said the Los Angeles Angels had offered Kim a five-year deal for $28 million, with the Seattle Mariners, the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres also sending him offers. But Kim ultimately chose

Jan. 4, 2025

One foreign player spot left in KBO after Dinos sign ex-MLB pitcher Allen

All but one spot have been filled for foreign players in the Korea Baseball Organization for 2025, following the NC Dinos' signing of former major league pitcher Logan Allen this week. The Dinos announced Wednesday that Allen, 27, had signed a one-year deal worth up to $1 million -- $560,000 in salary, $140,000 in a signing bonus and up to $300,000 in incentives. An eighth-round pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2015, Allen has 45 big league games under his belt with four clubs, including 22 wi

Dec. 19, 2024

KBO sets pitch clock rules for 2025, expands ABS strike zone

The South Korean baseball league on Wednesday announced a series of rule changes for the 2025 season, including ones governing the pitch clock and the automated ball-strike system. The Korea Baseball Organization said the pitch clock will be put in place starting in the 2025 regular season, a year after the proposed implementation of the timer. Pitchers will have to start their delivery within 20 seconds with the bases empty, and 25 seconds with runners on. Major League Baseball, which introdu

Dec. 4, 2024

Wiz re-sign former KBO MVP Rojas

The KT Wiz announced their re-signing of former MVP Mel Rojas Jr. The Wiz said Rojas agreed to a new one-year deal worth $1.8 million to return for his sixth season in the Korea Baseball Organization. Rojas first played for the Wiz from 2017 to 2020 and won the regular-season MVP award in 2020. He then left for Japan before rejoining the Wiz ahead of the 2024 season. He made a successful return by ranking among the league leaders in major offensive categories. He finished second in runs (108), f

Dec. 3, 2024

Wiz sign starting pitcher De Jesus

The KT Wiz announced Sunday the signing of pitcher Enmanuel De Jesus, a year after the left-hander had an impressive season with a rival club in the Korea Baseball Organization. De Jesus agreed to a one-year contract worth $1 million, including a salary of $800,000 and a signing bonus of $200,000, the Wiz said. In his debut KBO season with the Kiwoom Heroes in 2024, the Venezuelan pitcher posted a 13-11 record with a 3.68 ERA in 30 starts. He recorded 178 strikeouts over 171 1/3 innings, ranking

Dec. 1, 2024

3 infielders named KBO Field Award winners for 2nd straight year

Three infielders were named winners of the top defensive award in South Korean baseball for the second straight year Monday. The Korea Baseball Organization announced the winners in the catcher and four infield positions for its second annual KBO Fielding Award on Monday. Three of the four infield winners were honored for the second straight season: Kiwoom Heroes second baseman Kim Hye-seong, Kia Tigers shortstop Park Chan-ho and KT Wiz third baseman Heo Kyoung-min, who spent the 2024 season wit

Nov. 25, 2024