Veteran slugger wants to end intl. career on high note at WBC

SUWON-- Entering his age-37 season, KT Wiz slugger Park Byung-ho sees this year's World Baseball Classic as his final international tournament. And he wants to make the most of the opportunity. "Considering my age and the schedule for upcoming international events, I don't think I will get to play for the country after this," Park said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, some 35 kilometers south of Seoul, on Friday. "I don't want to ha

Jan. 9, 2023

Veteran third baseman feeling mixed emotions after third WBC selection

When South Korean third baseman Choi Jeong was chosen for the World Baseball Classic for the first time in 2009, he felt like a kid in a candy store, simply excited to be playing for the country against major league stars. Fourteen years have passed. Choi, a month and a half from his 36th birthday, will be one of South Korea's oldest players at this year's WBC. Choi's selection, announced Wednesday, brought a different set of emotions to the SSG Landers veteran. "Back then, I

Jan. 6, 2023

With injuries behind, left-hander 'can't wait to pitch' in WBC

South Korean pitcher Koo Chang-mo has been as unlucky with injuries as he has been great on the mound. One of the country's top starters in recent years, Koo was forced to miss international action lately because of untimely injuries. The stars have finally aligned for the 25-year-old this year, as Koo is gearing up for the World Baseball Classic in March. In a phone conversation with Yonhap News Agency on Thursday, one day after being named to the 30-man national team, Koo said he is on th

Jan. 6, 2023

KBO legend Lee Seung-yuop wants focus on players in first season as manager

In the 2023 season in South Korean baseball, perhaps no manager will be under as much spotlight and scrutiny as the Doosan Bears' first-year skipper, Lee Seung-yuop. It comes with the territory of being one of the greatest players in Korea Baseball Organization history. Lee is the league's career home run leader with 467 and also owns the single-season record with 56 from the 2003 season. He is also the only five-time regular season most valuable player in league history. All eyes will

Jan. 4, 2023

Big leaguers expected to join KBO stars for S. Korea at World Baseball Classic

A handful of current and former big leaguers should join domestic league stars when South Korea announces its roster for the World Baseball Classic this week. The Korea Baseball Organization is scheduled to unveil the national team roster for the March 8-21 tournament on Wednesday. As of Tuesday morning, however, it hadn't been determined whether national team manager Lee Kang-chul will announce the 35-man provisional roster or the 30-man final roster on Wednesday, well ahead of the Feb. 7

Jan. 3, 2023

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin eyes July return from elbow surgery

INCHEON -- Toronto Blue Jays starter Ryu Hyun-jin said Thursday he is "right on schedule" in his rehab from his summer elbow operation that had cut his 2022 season short, adding he is targeting a July return to the mound. Ryu left South Korea for the United States on Thursday morning to continue his recovery from Tommy John elbow reconstructive surgery he'd had in June this year. The 35-year-old had spent about a month with his family in his native country. In previous offseasons,

Dec. 29, 2022

Royals catching prospect Um Hyung-chan named top S. Korean high school backstop

Kansas City Royals catching prospect Um Hyung-chan was named the top South Korean high school catcher of the year Thursday. Um was the winner of the Best Catcher category at the sixth annual Lee Man-soo Awards, named after the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) catching legend. Um, backstop for Gyeonggi Commercial High School in Seoul, signed with the Royals in July. He batted .390/.446/.585 with three home runs, 30 RBIs and 22 runs scored in 21 games in 2022. Um has also been known for a stron

Dec. 22, 2022

With checkered past looming large, LG Twins still looking for new foreign hitter

With the Hanwha Eagles' signing of former big league outfielder Brian O'Grady Wednesday, the LG Twins are the only team without a foreign hitter in the fold for next season in the Korea Baseball Organization. And it hasn't been for lack of trying. The Twins were among the first teams to fill that spot. On Dec. 6, they announced the signing of new outfielder Abraham Almonte to a one-year, $800,000 deal. But four days later, the deal was voided, as Almonte failed to pass the physica

Dec. 22, 2022

KBO's Eagles sign ex-MLB outfielder O'Grady

The South Korean baseball club Hanwha Eagles announced their signing of former major league outfielder Brian O'Grady on Wednesday. The Korea Baseball Organization team said O'Grady, 30, agreed to a one-year deal worth a maximum $900,000, with a guaranteed salary of $700,000 and an incentive of up to $200,000. This transaction completes foreign player signings for the Eagles, who had earlier re-signed pitcher Felix Pena and newly acquired pitcher Burch Smith. KBO teams can each sign up

Dec. 21, 2022

S. Korean Park Hoy-jun to compete for backup job for Braves after second offseason trade

Having been traded over the weekend for the second time this winter, South Korean utility player Park Hoy-jun would like nothing more than some stability the rest of this offseason. Park's new home, for the time being, is Atlanta, after the Braves acquired him in a trade with the Boston Red Sox in exchange for a player to be named and cash considerations on Friday (US time). This has been a tumultuous winter for the 26-year-old. First, he was designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pira

Dec. 19, 2022

KBO champions Landers caught in meddling controversy

Barely a month removed from their historic championship run in South Korean baseball, the SSG Landers should still be basking in the glory of their title. Instead, they find themselves mired in a front office controversy this week. Angered fans have been demanding an explanation from the club's public-facing owner regarding speculation that a person with no direct ties to the team has been running the show behind the scenes. This year, the Landers became the first team in Korea Baseball Org

Dec. 15, 2022

4 KBO teams still looking to fill foreign player spots for 2023

Just over half the teams in the South Korean baseball league have filled up their foreign player quota for 2023, with others looking to complete their transactions before the calendar flips to the new year. As of Wednesday morning, six out of 10 clubs in the Korea Baseball Organization had signed their maximum three foreign players, each with two pitchers and one position player. Those teams are: the Kiwoom Heroes, the KT Wiz, the Kia Tigers, the Samsung Lions, the Lotte Giants and the Doosan Be

Dec. 14, 2022

[World Cup] Injured Premier League attacker Hwang Hee-chan out vs. Uruguay

DOHA -- With his recovery from a hamstring injury almost grounding to a halt, South Korean winger Hwang Hee-chan will not be available for team's first Group H match against Uruguay on Thursday. The physical attacker for Wolverhampton Wanderers has been dealing with some left hamstring discomfort since before arriving in Qatar for the FIFA World Cup. Hwang's recovery has gone more slowly than expected and head coach Paulo Bento said at his prematch press conference Wednesday that Hwang "wil

Nov. 23, 2022

SSG Landers capture Korean Series title

INCHEON -- They have landed on the pinnacle of South Korean baseball: the SSG Landers are the 2022 Korean Series champions. The Landers finished off the Kiwoom Heroes in six games in the best-of-seven series on Tuesday, with a 4-3 victory at home, Incheon SSG Landers Field, just west of Seoul. No. 8 hitter Kim Sung-hyun delivered a go-ahead, two-run double in the sixth, and starter Wilmer Font overcame two home runs to pick up his second win of the series in the clincher. This is the Landers f

Nov. 8, 2022

Landers looking to go wire-to-wire for Korean Series title over Heroes

After running the table in the South Korean baseball regular season, the SSG Landers will now try to cap off the historic journey by winning the championship series starting Tuesday. The Landers will take on the Kiwoom Heroes in the best-of-seven Korean Series, with the crown for the Korea Baseball Organization champions at stake. Game 1 starts at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Incheon SSG Landers Field in Incheon, just west of Seoul. By virtue of posting the best regular season record, the Landers will h

Oct. 31, 2022

MLB cancels exhibition games in S. Korea over 'contractual issues'

Major League Baseball has canceled four exhibition games scheduled for November in South Korea, citing "contractual issues" with a local promoter. MLB made the announcement while Game 1 of the World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros was under way in Houston on Friday (local time). The MLB World Tour Korea Series was to have featured two games in the southeastern city of Busan on Nov. 11 and 12 and two more in Seoul on Nov. 14 and 15. A team of MLB player

Oct. 29, 2022

[Graphic News] Prepping for World Series

　The NL champion Philadelphia Phillies will be facing off against the AL champion Houston Astros beginning Friday at Minute Maid Park, in Houston, for the 118th edition of the World Series - the annual crowning championship of Major League Baseball. 　The Houston Astros are considered favorites in the Fall Classic, with most sports betting platforms leaning to the Astros over the Phillies. The Astros are coming off a powerful sweep of the Yankees in the AL Championship Series, and having conten

Oct. 26, 2022

Padres' shortstop Kim Ha-seong named finalist for NL Gold Glove Award

The San Diego Padres' South Korean shortstop Kim Ha-seong has named a finalist for the National League Gold Glove Award. Major League Baseball announced finalists for the top fielding award at each position on Thursday. Kim is up against Dansby Swanson of the Atlanta Braves and Miguel Rojas of the Miami Marlins. Kim stepped in for the injured and suspended Fernando Tatis Jr. as the Padres' everyday shortstop in his second MLB season. Per Baseball Reference, Kim ranked sixth among all NL shortsto

Oct. 21, 2022

One year after release from one team, outfielder shines in KBO postseason for another team

In October 2021, outfielder Kim Jun-wan was released by the NC Dinos, not deemed worthy of a new contract from a team that missed the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason. One year later, Kim is playing in the postseason. He has been the sparkplug in the leadoff spot for the Kiwoom Heroes, now on the verge of reaching the next round. Kim drove in three runs on a couple of hits in the Heroes' 9-2 victory in Game 3 of the best-of-five series against the KT Wiz Wednesday night. When th

Oct. 20, 2022

From friends to enemies: New KBO managers look forward to entertaining battles

They are two of the most iconic names in South Korean professional baseball history, and they have been close friends for many years. And starting in 2023, Lee Seung-yuop and Park Jin-man will go toe-to-toe as opposing managers in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), hoping that their rivalry will give the top league a much-needed jolt. On Tuesday, the Samsung Lions removed the interim tag on Park and gave him a three-year contract as the full-time manager. Mere hours later, the inauguration c

Oct. 19, 2022