Kia pitcher signs with MLB agent BorasThe country’s pro-baseball season is over, heralding speculation about players moving to other clubs. And the biggest transfer rumor involves Kia Tigers pitcher Yoon Suk-min. Reports say that the 25-year-old right-hander could leave the country to join Major League Baseball as early as next year. Yoon, the 2011 KBO’s MVP, revealed last week that he had signed with MLB agent Scott Boras as a part of his long-term plan to pitch in the American top league.Altho

Nov. 11, 2011

A record number of players have declared free agency in South Korea’s top professional baseball circuit, including last year’s MVP, the league office announced Wednesday.According to the Korea Baseball Organization, 17 players declared themselves free agents for the 2012 season. That is the most since free agency was introduced in the league in 1998.Eleven others who were eligible for free agency have decided to remain with their current clubs, the KBO said.The KBO has eight clubs, with an expan

Nov. 9, 2011

Yoon Seok-min of Kia Tigers was named MVP award by the Korea Baseball Organization. Yoon received 62 of the 91 votes cast by baseball writers to beat out Samsung Lions closer Oh Seung-hwan, who had 19 votes.Lions slugger Choi Hyung-woo, expected to be one of the favorites to win the title, received only eight votes while 2010 MVP Lee Dae-ho of Lotte Giants garnered two.Oh, who had a remarkable 0.63 ERA with 47 saves this season, had announced earlier that he would give up the MVP award in order

Nov. 7, 2011

Two premier South Korean pitchers have signed with a famed U.S. baseball agent, eying opportunities to play in Major League Baseball.Yoon Seok-min, a right-handed starter for the Kia Tigers in Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), and Ryu Hyun-jin, a left-hander for the Hanwha Eagles, have joined with

Nov. 7, 2011

(Yonhap News)South Korean slugger Lee Seung-yeop has come home.Lee arrived at Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul Friday, seeking a return to his former South Korean club, the Samsung Lions of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). Last month, he decided to leave the Orix Buffaloes in the N

Nov. 4, 2011

Lee Man-soo, the interim manager of the SK Wyverns in the Korea Baseball Organization, was promoted to full-time manager on Tuesday.The Wyverns announced they have signed Lee to a three-year deal worth 750 million won ($669,045) with another 250 million won as a signing bonus. Lee, a former bench coach and the team’s minor league manager, became interim manager in August after Kim Sung-keun was abruptly fired following contractual disputes with the front office.“I am grateful that I will get to

Nov. 2, 2011

Park wants to pitch in Korea, but faces obstacles He knows his time is almost up, and admits he is no longer able to throw his 160 kph fastball. But Park Chan-ho believes he can still be part of the game and take the mound.The 38-year-old veteran pitcher was released last month by the Orix Buffaloes. Park, who joined the Japanese club before the 2011 season on a one-year deal, pitched only seven games, going 1-5 with a 4.29 ERA.After the disappointing season, he is now trying to come back here a

Nov. 2, 2011

Skipper won three World Series in 33-year careerST. LOUIS (AP) ― Tony La Russa retired as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, three days after winning a dramatic, seven-game World Series against the Texas Rangers.“I think this just feels like it’s time to end it,” the 67-year-old La Russa said at a news conference at Busch Stadium.The World Series win over Texas was the third of La Russa’s 33-year career. The manager guided the Cardinals to the championship despite being 10 1/2 games b

Nov. 1, 2011

Closer Oh Seung-hwan voted MVP of Korean SeriesWhen Samsung Lions’ closer Oh Seung-hwan came to the mound on Monday night, called upon once again to save the day, people knew he could do the job.The 29-year-old pitcher thrust his arm into the air after successfully retiring three SK Wyverns’ batters in the ninth inning, reclaiming the Korean Series title for his team.It was the Lions’ fourth Korean Series crown.The Daegu side beat the Wyverns 1-0 in Game 5 at Jamsil Stadium on Monday, boosted by

Nov. 1, 2011

Samsung Lions players celebrate at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on Monday after they clenched the 2011 Korean Series title, beating the SK Wyverns 1-0. Yonhap NewsThe Samsung Lions are the champion of Korean professional baseball in 2011.The Lions beat the SK Wyverns 1-0 in the Korean Series Monday at Se

Oct. 31, 2011

Samsung Lions look to close out SK Wyverns in Korean SeriesLast season, the SK Wyverns were almost unstoppable, completing an amazing four-game sweep against the Samsung Lions that October to win the Korean Series. This year, however, the season-ending showdown is a completely different story as the Incheon-based Wyverns have lost three of four games to the Lions’ unmatchable bullpen. The visiting Lions showed their supremacy again with a 8-4 rout of the Wyverns at Incheon Munhak Stadium on Satu

Oct. 30, 2011

ST. LOUIS (AP) ― It’s already been a productive postseason for Colby Lewis. Next up, a shot at the biggest prize yet.In Game 6 of the World Series on Wednesday night, Lewis gets the first chance to pitch the Texas Rangers to their first title. No doubt while pitching oh-so-carefully against Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals, he’ll be leaning on past October triumphs.“Well, you definitely think when you’re in a kid, you want to be in this position, be on this stage,” Lewis said. “I think

Oct. 26, 2011

Former MLB All-Star may end career in KoreaKorean baseball pitcher Park Chan-ho has been released by his Japanese cub the Orix Buffaloes.The Nippon Professional Baseball club announced that Park, 38, will not be retained for next season. The right-hander joined the Buffaloes before the 2011 season on a one-year deal.The former Major League Baseball All-Star pitched only seven games for the Japanese club, and none after June, going 1-5 with an ERA of 4.29. He dealt with assorted injuries all seas

Oct. 25, 2011