Rays' Choi Ji-man blasts 1st homer of season, extends hitting streak to 4

Choi Ji-man of the Tampa Bay Rays has gone deep for the first time this season, with the homer also extending his hitting streak to four games. Choi smacked a three-run homer against the Oakland Athletics in the bottom of the second inning at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Tuesday (local time). Choi's home run, off Oakland starter Adam Oller's sinker, turned a 3-2 deficit for Tampa Bay into a 5-3 lead. The no-doubter shot traveled 409 feet into the seats in right-center field and

April 13, 2022

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin roughed up in season debut

From giving up a half-dozen runs to getting hit by a batted ball, Toronto Blue Jays' starter Ryu Hyun-jin couldn't have scripted a worse outing for his 2022 season debut. The South Korean left-hander was roughed up for six earned runs on five hits, including a home run, in just 3 1/3 innings against the Texas Rangers, as the Blue Jays fell 12-6 at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sunday (local time). Ryu didn't factor into a decision, while the Blue Jays lost for the first time this year after back-t

April 11, 2022

Padres' Kim Ha-seong hits 1st spring homer; Pirates' Park Hoy-jun extends hitting streak

San Diego Padres' South Korean infielder Kim Ha-seong has gone deep for the first time in spring training, while his countryman for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Park Hoy-jun, has extended his hitting streak to six games. The one other South Korean hitter in the bigs, Choi Ji-man of the Tampa Bay Rays, continues to be cold at the plate. Kim smacked a three-run home run off D.J. McCarty of the Texas Rangers in the top of the third inning of the teams' spring training game at Surprise Stadium in Surpris

April 5, 2022

2nd-generation KBO star thanks rookie phenom for bringing back father's memories

Whenever Kiwoom Heroes outfielder Lee Jung-hoo sees Kia Tigers rookie sensation Kim Do-yeong play, he sees a bit of his father, the retired South Korean baseball legend Lee Jong-beom. Perhaps comparisons aren't fair, but it is not difficult to notice similarities between Kim, an 18-year-old phenom with an enviable skill set, and Lee Jong-beom, the ultimate five-tool star in his heyday in the 1990s. Kim is an athletic shortstop with power and speed just like Lee, who could flirt with the elusive

April 1, 2022

KBO introduces wild card tiebreaker game

The South Korean baseball league said Thursday it will have a new tiebreaker game for the final postseason spot in the case of a tie between two teams. The new play-in game is one of several changes announced by the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) ahead of the 2022 regular season, which begins Saturday with all 10 teams in action. In the KBO, the fifth-best team in the regular season faces the No. 4 seed in the wild card game. But if two teams are tied for the fifth spot, then they will play o

March 31, 2022

Ex-MLB stars to visit Seoul for home run derby in Sept.

Former major league stars will visit Seoul in September for a global home run derby competition. Major League Baseball (MLB) announced Wednesday (US time) that its new bracket-style competition, called "Home Run Derby X," will make a stop in the South Korean capital on Sept. 17. London will host the event on July 9, and Mexico City will also get its look at former big league sluggers on Oct. 15. The MLB said the competition will feature four teams representing the Boston Red Sox, the N

March 31, 2022

Returning stars, new faces tasked with helping KBO return to prominence

It would have been unimaginable just a few years ago, but professional baseball is fighting to regain relevance in the national sporting landscape. From declining television ratings to discouraging poll numbers, there is plenty of evidence that suggests the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) isn't what it used to be: the undisputed king of professional sports in the country. TV ratings dropped so precipitously that the four cable networks with KBO rights even demanded the league office and 10 clu

March 30, 2022

KBO celebrates 40th anniversary with youngest franchise looking to repeat as champions

The top professional baseball league in South Korea will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year, with the league's youngest franchise chasing their second straight crown while pitchers and batters across the league try to adjust to the expanded strike zone. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) had its inaugural season in March 1982 and it will turn 40 on Saturday, with the defending Korean Series champions KT Wiz hosting the Samsung Lions on Saturday at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, some 45 kilometer

March 30, 2022

Back from MLB, Landers' pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun is all smiles

Back home after two seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), SSG Landers pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun just wants to have fun. Pitching pro ball for 15 years has apparently provided the 33-year-old with a fresh perspective on his career. Make no mistake: Kim still takes his craft seriously, with his signature, easy smile often masking his intensity and competitive streak just beneath the surface. It's just that he wants to start smelling the roses more often. "I think baseball is supposed to be fun

March 23, 2022

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin to make spring training debut on 35th birthday

Toronto Blue Jays' South Korean starter Ryu Hyun-jin will make his first spring training appearance on his 35th birthday in Florida this week. The Blue Jays have announced Ryu as their starter against the Detroit Tigers at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, at 1:07 p.m. Friday (local time), or 2:07 a.m. Saturday (Seoul time). The left-hander will turn 35 that day. Ryu will be the last among five projected Toronto starters to take the mound in spring training. Jose Berrios, Alek Manoah and Yusei Ki

March 23, 2022

KBO club manager to slumping slugger: 'trust yourself'

INCHEON -- When the SSG Landers signed former major league infielder Kevin Cron in December, they probably didn't think he'd be hitting below the Mendoza Line about halfway through the preseason. With the start of the regular season less than two weeks away, Cron is batting 3-for-19 (.158) with a home run and three RBIs in seven games in his first spring in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). The preseason will wrap up next Tuesday, with the regular season starting on April 2. Cron

March 22, 2022

Embattled ex-MLB player Kang Jung-ho rejoins KBO club Heroes

Former major leaguer Kang Jung-ho, whose once promising career was derailed by a series of off-field problems, is returning to baseball. The Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced Friday that they have signed their former All-Star shortstop to a one-year pact, extending a lifeline to a player who had abandoned a comeback bid two years ago. The Heroes said Kang will make the league minimum salary of 30 million won (US$24,750). Ko Hyung-wook, general manager of the Hero

March 18, 2022

Heroes' manager not yet concerned about Yasiel Puig, on and off the field

As one of the biggest names to sign with a South Korean baseball club, former National League All-Star Yasiel Puig is off to a slow start in his first preseason for the Kiwoom Heroes while also causing minor controversy off the field. Though he has gone 1-for-9 with three strikeouts in his first four games prior to Thursday, the Cuban slugger hasn't seemed fazed by his sluggish performance. Earlier this week, Puig uploaded a video of himself dancing, maskless, in an alley in Itaewon, a popular n

March 17, 2022

Provisional Asian Games baseball roster to be announced in April

South Korea's provisional roster for the baseball competition at this fall's Asian Games will be unveiled in early April, the country's professional league office said Wednesday, with the final roster expected to follow in early May. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), which oversees professional competition, said it will work closely with the Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA), the amateur governing body, in putting together the preliminary national team. The Korean Sport & Olymp

March 16, 2022

Pirates' Park Hoy-jun to leave for spring training Tuesday

Pittsburgh Pirates' South Korean player Park Hoy-jun is scheduled to leave for the United States on Tuesday for spring training, having cleared all medical and administrative hurdles, his agency here said. An official with A•Spec Corp. said Park, a 25-year-old utility man, had recently tested positive for COVID-19 but had completed his mandatory quarantine. The official said it was a delay in getting Park's work permit processed, not his bout with the virus, that had kept the player from re

March 15, 2022

KBO clubs to organize farewell tour for retiring slugger Lee Dae-ho

The South Korean baseball league announced Monday its 10 clubs will jointly organize a farewell tour for the retiring star Lee Dae-ho this season. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said it wanted to celebrate Lee's accomplishments over the past two decades in the top league and in international competitions for the national team. Lee, who will turn 40 in June, will become the second player to be so celebrated in his final season. In 2017, Lee Seung-yuop went on a farewell tour around the lea

March 14, 2022

Ex-player Heo Koo-youn nominated as next baseball commissioner

Heo Koo-youn, a commentator for MBC, was nominated Friday to serve as the next head of South Korean professional baseball. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced that its board of directors advanced Heo's nomination as the new league commissioner to the general assembly, comprised of owners of its 10 clubs. Heo, 71, will become the KBO chief if his nomination is passed by a three-quarters majority in the general assembly to be scheduled later. The KBO's top position has been vacant sinc

March 11, 2022

KBO clubs to dive into preseason amid surge in COVID-19 cases

Even with no light visible at the end of the tunnel that is the COVID-19 pandemic, the South Korean baseball league plans to forge ahead with a full slate of regular season games in 2022. The first step toward that objective will come in the form of a preseason, which starts Saturday for all 10 teams. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has scheduled 16 exhibition games per team through March 29. All games are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., though teams can ask the league to push some games to

March 10, 2022

Following reunion with ex-MLB pitcher, Landers emerge as KBO title favorite

Baseball is never played on paper, but it is difficult not to be impressed by the starting rotation that the SSG Landers have put together for the upcoming Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season. By reuniting with their former franchise star Kim Kwang-hyun, who is returning after two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, the Landers have put three former major league starters on their staff. Kim, who signed a four-year deal worth a record 15.1 billion won ($12.3 million), was the face of the L

March 8, 2022

Ex-MLB pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun returns to KBO on record contract

Former major league pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun is coming back to South Korea. The SSG Landers of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced Tuesday they have reunited with their franchise icon on a four-year deal worth up to 15.1 billion won ($12.3 million). The 33-year-old will make 13.1 billion won in total salary over the next four seasons and can earn up to 2 billion won more in incentives. By the total amount, it's the largest contract in KBO's 40-year history by 100 million won. Kim pi

March 8, 2022