Citing COVID-19 risks, govt. urges baseball fans to refrain from chanting

National health authorities on Tuesday called on baseball fans to refrain from chanting at stadiums, pointing to risks of spreading COVID-19 even among masked individuals. In a press briefing, Son Young-rae, a senior health ministry official, reminded fans that vocal cheering is still prohibited at Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) games, despite stadiums being fully open again. Starting this month, the KBO decided to operate all stadiums at 100 percent capacity for the postseason, provided th

Nov. 2, 2021

One manager gone, others likely staying put among non-playoff teams in KBO, for now

The offseason for non-playoff teams in South Korean baseball is barely under way, and one of those five teams caught outside looking in has let go of its manager. Will other clubs follow suit? Given the contract situations for the remaining skippers, it doesn't seem likely at the moment. The Kia Tigers, which finished ninth among 10 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) clubs at 58-76-10 (wins-losses-ties), mutually agreed to part ways with Matt Williams on Monday. The American skipper had one yea

Nov. 2, 2021

After injury-plagued season, Rays' Choi Ji-man hoping for healthier 2022 season

Following multiple stints on the injured list (IL) in 2021, Tampa Bay Rays' South Korean first baseman Choi Ji-man can't wait for a fresh, not to mention healthy, start to a new season. Choi returned home early Tuesday after completing his sixth major league campaign, and his third full season with the Rays. He was limited to 83 out of 162 games in the regular season. Choi was sidelined at the start of the campaign after knee surgery, and landed on the IL on two separate occasions with groin a

Nov. 2, 2021

KT Wiz win KBO tiebreaker game to reach 1st Korean Series

The seven-year wait is over. The KT Wiz, once a perennial doormat in South Korean baseball, are now headed to the championship series for the first time. The Wiz shut out the Samsung Lions 1-0 in a tiebreaker game on Sunday to capture the regular season crown in the Korea Baseball Organization. As the pennant winners, the Wiz earned a bye to the best-of-seven Korean Series, which begins on Nov. 14. Starter William Cuevas tossed seven shutout innings and struck out eight on two days' rest, and

Oct. 31, 2021

Canadian slugger Romak retires after 5 seasons in KBO

Jamie Romak, one of the most successful foreign hitters in South Korean baseball history, has announced his retirement after spending his final five seasons here. The SSG Landers of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said Sunday the Canadian slugger decided to call it a career following the end of the 2021 season the previous evening. Romak, 36, batted .273 with 155 home runs and 409 RBIs in 626 games for the Landers, formerly known as the SK Wyverns under the previous ownership during Roma

Oct. 31, 2021

Seoul foes set to renew KBO postseason rivalry in wild card game

Two Seoul-based rivals will square off on Monday in the first postseason game in South Korean baseball this year. The Doosan Bears will host the Kiwoom Heroes for the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) wild card game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, with the first pitch at 6:30 p.m. Monday. The Bears finished fourth in the regular season at 71-65-8 (wins-losses-ties), and the Heroes ended 1.5 games back in fifth place at 70-67-7. As the higher seed, the Bears will advance to the next stage

Oct. 31, 2021

Increase in crowd capacity arrives at opportune moment for baseball, football leagues

As South Korea tries to take baby steps back to normal life during the coronavirus pandemic, fan experience in baseball and football, two of the country's biggest sports, is about to change for the better, too. For one, you can now have the ballpark staple of chicken and beer, colloquially called "chimaek," starting next week, if you're fully vaccinated. The government on Friday unveiled plans for a phased return to normalcy amid the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those measur

Oct. 29, 2021

Record-breaking pitcher building MVP case in KBO

A record-breaking ace is putting together a solid case for the most valuable player (MVP) award in South Korean baseball this year, with a handful of other contenders looking to make a last-minute push in the final stretch of the regular season. Doosan Bears' left-hander Ariel Miranda strengthened his candidacy on Sunday by becoming the new single-season strikeout king in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). The Cuban ace picked up four strikeouts against the LG Twins to reach 225 for the sea

Oct. 26, 2021

Bears' ace Ariel Miranda breaks KBO single-season strikeout record

Doosan Bears' left-hander Ariel Miranda is the new single-season strikeout king in South Korean baseball. Miranda got his 224th strikeout of the 2021 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season Sunday against the LG Twins, surpassing a 37-year-old record held by the late Lotte Giants legend Choi Dong-won. Miranda's record-breaking strikeout came against Hong Chang-ki for the second out in the top of the third inning at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. Miranda had thrown 169 1/3 innings before S

Oct. 24, 2021

Choo Shin-soo has bigger fish to fry after becoming oldest member of KBO's 20-20 club

After becoming the oldest player in South Korean baseball history to put up 20 home runs and 20 steals in the same season Tuesday night, SSG Landers' outfielder Choo Shin-soo wasn't really in the mood to celebrate. For one, Choo has done this before -- not once, but three times in Major League Baseball (MLB). The 2018 American League All-Star for the Texas Rangers enjoyed 20-20 campaigns in 2009 and 2010 with the Cleveland Indians, and 2013 with the Cincinnati Reds. Also, the Landers are in the

Oct. 6, 2021

Disappointments abound for S. Koreans as 2021 MLB regular season ends

For the six South Korean players who saw regular season action in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2021, it was mostly a disappointing campaign, with a couple of them hoping for a chance to change the narrative in the postseason. Toronto Blue Jays' starter Ryu Hyun-jin, the longest-tenured member of the contingent, won his final start of the season in Toronto on Sunday (local time). His five innings of two-run ball helped the Blue Jays get past the Baltimore Orioles 12-4 at Rogers Centre. Ryu fi

Oct. 4, 2021

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin wins final regular season start, team falls short of postseason

Backed by an explosive offense, Toronto Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin has matched his career high in wins in a must-win regular season finale, though it wasn't enough to get the club into the postseason. Ryu held the Baltimore Orioles to two runs over five innings in a 12-4 victory at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sunday (local time). Ryu, who gave up six hits and struck out seven, finished the season at 14-10 with a 4.37 ERA. He has now won 14 games in a season for the fourth time in his career, tho

Oct. 4, 2021

Cardinals' Kim Kwang-hyun picks up 1st save of season

Starter-turned-reliever Kim Kwang-hyun has recorded his first save of the season for the St. Louis Cardinals, helping his club move into a playoff position. The South Korean left-hander closed out the Cardinals' 7-6 victory over the New York Mets in 11 innings at Citi Field in New York on Tuesday (local time). This was Kim's first save of 2021 and second save of his major league career. He picked up a save in his big league debut last year. As the eighth St. Louis pitcher of the game, Kim gave

Sept. 15, 2021

Rangers' Yang Hyeon-jong sent back to minors

South Korean pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong is back in the minor leagues for the Texas Rangers. Before hosting the Houston Astros in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday (local time), the Rangers announced that they have optioned Yang to their Triple-A club, the Round Rock Express. Another pitcher, Wes Benjamin, was also sent to Round Rock, while pitcher Drew Anderson and infielder Brock Holt were activated from the injured list. Yang is 0-3 with a 5.60 ERA in 12 appearances, including four starts. Yang h

Sept. 15, 2021

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin torched by Orioles in shortest start of season

Toronto Blue Jays' starter Ryu Hyun-jin got roughed up by the lowly Baltimore Orioles, narrowly avoiding his ninth loss of the season when his offense bailed him out in late innings. The South Korean left-hander pitched a season-low 2 1/3 innings and allowed seven earned runs on eight hits at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Saturday (local time) in the first game of a doubleheader. The Blue Jays trailed 7-3 when Ryu got the hook, but rallied for an 11-10 victory over the worst team

Sept. 12, 2021

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin to pitch on regular rest vs. Orioles

Toronto Blue Jays' starter Ryu Hyun-jin will make his next start on regular rest after all. The Blue Jays, currently in Baltimore for a four-game series against the Orioles, announced Friday (local time) that the South Korean left-hander will start the first game of a doubleheader at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Saturday. The first pitch is set for 4:35 p.m. Saturday in Baltimore, or 5:35 a.m. Sunday in Seoul. Ryu's previous start came on Monday at Yankee Stadium, where he pitch

Sept. 11, 2021

Cardinals' Kim Kwang-hyun takes loss in shortest outing of season

St. Louis Cardinals' starter Kim Kwang-hyun suffered his seventh loss of the season following the shortest start of his major league career, unable to survive an early onslaught by the Milwaukee Brewers. Kim gave up four runs on seven hits in just 1 2/3 innings against the Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee on Saturday (local time). Kim got the hook with the Cardinals trailing 4-0 in the second inning, and they lost by the same score. The South Korean left-hander fell to 6-7 for the

Sept. 5, 2021

One S. Korean player called up to MLB, another sent down to minors

One South Korean player has been called back up to the majors, while another player has been sent down to the minors after just one appearance on the big league mound. The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Tuesday (US local time) that they have recalled infielder Park Hoy-jun from the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. The 25-year-old had been optioned to the minors on Aug. 23, after getting mired in a 0-for-20 slump at the plate, but the Pirates had room for an extra infielder after second baseman Mic

Sept. 1, 2021

Another crooked number, another loss for Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin

It's a funny game, this thing called baseball. A pitcher can feel like he has the stuff to shut down the opponents, but in the blink of an eye, a lead can evaporate and the pitcher can end up with a loss. Up against the Baltimore Orioles, the worst team in the majors, Toronto Blue Jays' starter Ryu Hyun-jin had confidence in all of his pitches. And he looked the part through two outs in the sixth inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Tuesday (local time), as he had held the Orioles without a hi

Sept. 1, 2021

KT Wiz looking to pad lead in KBO pennant race, weather permitting

As teams approach the century mark in games played this season, the KT Wiz will set its sights on padding its lead atop the South Korean baseball standings. The Wiz is coming off a 4-2 week. Its most recent victory, on Sunday against the Samsung Lions, must have been particularly gratifying for the leaders of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). After allowing two runs in the top of the first inning, the Wiz put up a seven-spot in the fifth inning. It pounded out 12 hits, with every member of

Aug. 31, 2021