KBO signs record-breaking streaming deal with CJ ENM, moves games behind paywall

The South Korean baseball league announced Monday it has signed a record-setting streaming rights deal with CJ ENM, with its games moving behind a paywall for the first time. For the next three seasons, CJ ENM, the media and entertainment arm of CJ Group, will carry Korea Baseball Organization games on its streaming platform, Tving. According to the KBO, the deal is worth 135 billion won ($101.6 million), compared with the previous five-year, 110 billion-won contract with a consortium of portal

March 4, 2024

Ryu Hyun-jin determined to take Eagles to KBO postseason in return from MLB

Having returned home to begin another chapter in his illustrious career, South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin said Friday he will try to push his new team back to the postseason. Ryu reunited with the Hanwha Eagles in the Korea Baseball Organization by agreeing to an eight-year, 17 billion-won ($12.8 million) contract Thursday. By the total amount, Ryu is the highest-paid player in KBO history. Ryu first pitched for the Eagles from 2006 to 2012, before spending the next 11 years in Major League Bas

Feb. 23, 2024

KBO's Eagles likely to finalize deal with Ryu Hyun-jin by Wednesday

The South Korean baseball club Hanwha Eagles will likely finalize their deal with free agent pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin by Wednesday and make him the highest-paid player in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), sources said Tuesday. The Eagles have reportedly offered Ryu a four-year deal worth 17 billion won (US$12.7 million), the largest deal ever in the KBO both by average annual value and total amount. The Eagles have taken necessary administrative steps to finalize their deal with the 36-year

Feb. 20, 2024

Free agent infielder Choi Ji-man signs with Mets

South Korean free agent infielder Choi Ji-man has found a new home with the New York Mets, his agency announced Saturday. G-Man Sports Management said Choi has signed a one-year split contract with the Mets worth up to US$3.5 million, including performance-based bonus, if Choi makes the Opening Day roster. He also had an invitation to spring training. Under a split contract, a player earns different amounts of money based on the time he spends in the majors and in the minors. If Choi makes the M

Feb. 17, 2024

[Graphic News] New rules to be implemented in KBO

The Korea Baseball Organization looks like it will be implementing most of the same changes in rules that heated up the MLB in 2023. The Automatic Ball-Strike System, larger bases and limits on defensive shifts are part of seven major rule changes that will be implemented in the 2024 season. The KBO, however, has put the brakes on the introduction of a pitch clock. If implemented, a pitch clock would force pitchers to deliver a pitch within 15 seconds with the bases empty and 20 seconds with run

Feb. 2, 2024

Tickets for 1st MLB regular season game in S. Korea sold out in 8 minutes: marketer

Tickets for the first Major League Baseball regular season game to be played in South Korea were sold out just eight minutes after going on sale last week, the event's marketing partner said Monday. Coupang Play, a South Korean streaming service and the official presenting partner for the MLB World Tour Seoul Series, announced that all tickets for the March 20 clash between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres were snatched up online soon after the window opened at 8 p.m. last F

Jan. 29, 2024

Kia Tigers sign KBO's all-time RBI leader to 2-yr deal

The Kia Tigers announced Friday they have signed veteran designated hitter Choi Hyoung-woo to a new two-year deal. Choi, 40, is the oldest non-free agent player to sign a multiyear contract in Korea Baseball Organization history. The Tigers said Choi's contract has a guaranteed first year with a vesting option for a second season, meaning that it will become guaranteed if Choi meets a performance incentive threshold. In all, Choi can make up to 2.2 billion won ($1.7 million). In June last y

Jan. 5, 2024

S. Korean All-Star closer Go Woo-suk signs with San Diego Padres

South Korean All-Star closer Go Woo-suk is now a member of the San Diego Padres. The Padres announced Wednesday that Go has agreed to a two-year contract with a mutual option for a third year in 2026. The Padres did not disclose financial details. Earlier in the day, New York Post columnist Joel Sherman tweeted that Go had signed a two-year deal worth $4.5 million. A major league source confirmed to Yonhap News Agency that the guaranteed amount of Go's contract is indeed $4.5 million over t

Jan. 4, 2024

Samsung Lions sign ex-MLB pitcher Seabold

The Samsung Lions announced their signing of former major league pitcher Connor Seabold on Friday. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club said Seabold, 27, agreed to a one-year deal that could pay him up to $1 million. He will make $800,000 in salary and $100,000 in signing bonus, with another $100,000 available in incentives. A third-round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2017 draft, Seabold made his major league debut with the Boston Red Sox in 2021, appearing in one game. After fi

Dec. 22, 2023

With childhood dream realized, ex-KBO MVP Lee Jung-hoo returns home as San Francisco Giant

One of the best players in South Korean baseball for the past seven seasons, outfielder Lee Jung-hoo returned home Tuesday as a San Francisco Giant, with a lucrative multiyear contract in tow and his childhood dream fulfilled. The former Kiwoom Heroes star landed at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul, on Tuesday evening, after being introduced as the latest member of the Giants on Friday afternoon at Oracle Park in San Francisco. The 25-year-old signed a six-year, $113 million c

Dec. 19, 2023

LG Twins' drought-ending KBO title voted top S. Korean sports story of 2023 by journalists

The LG Twins of the Korea Baseball Organization, one of the most beloved teams in South Korean professional sports, ended their 29-year title drought in 2023, finally giving their aggrieved fan base much to cheer about. The Twins reached the pinnacle of South Korean baseball by edging out the KT Wiz for the Korean Series title, and their championship run was voted the No. 1 sports story of the year in Yonhap News Agency's annual survey of 55 South Korean newspapers and broadcasters. Sports

Dec. 18, 2023

Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo takes lessons learned from legendary father to MLB

As South Korean outfielder Lee Jung-hoo was being introduced as the newest member of the San Francisco Giants, his father Lee Jong-beom, one of the greatest players in South Korean baseball history, was thrust into the spotlight. The proud dad watched from the first row as his 25-year-old son held his introductory press conference at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Friday (local time). The junior Lee signed a six-year, US$113 million contract with the Giants this week, one year after winning t

Dec. 16, 2023

Samsung Lions sign ex-MLB, NPB player MacKinnon

The Samsung Lions announced Friday they have acquired former major league infielder David MacKinnon. MacKinnon, who also has experience in Japan, signed for US$1 million, the maximum amount for first-year foreign players in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). The one-year deal includes a $100,000 signing bonus. MacKinnon, 29, was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 32nd round in 2017 and made his major league debut with them in 2022. He was waived later in the same year and then picked

Dec. 15, 2023

Inspired by fan's gift, star KBO outfielder captures 1st Golden Glove

While playing for the Doosan Bears in 2017, outfielder Park Kun-woo enjoyed his best offensive season of his Korea Baseball Organization career. Park batted .366/.424/.582 with 20 home runs and 20 steals. He also smacked 40 doubles as part of his 177 hits. All of those numbers remain Park's career highs to this day. Somehow, they weren't good enough to bring Park his first Golden Glove, which, despite the word 'glove' in its name, is typically given to the best offensive play

Dec. 12, 2023

Bears catcher Yang Eui-ji wins 9th Golden Glove, 1 shy of KBO record

Doosan Bears catcher Yang Eui-ji captured his ninth career Golden Glove on Monday, moving within one of tying the record in the Korea Baseball Organization. Yang collected 214 out of 291 votes cast by members of KBO media, beating out LG Twins backstop Park Dong-won, who earned 63 votes. Yang has won a record eight Golden Gloves as catcher and one as designated hitter. Only Lee Seung-yuop, former Samsung Lions slugger and Yang's current manager with the Bears, has won more Golden Gloves tha

Dec. 11, 2023

Police question eyewitnesses concerning 'blackmail' of MLB player

South Korean police investigating legal complaints filed by San Diego Padres' infielder Kim Ha-seong, who has alleged that he is being blackmailed over a fight that occurred two years ago, have been questioning witnesses including local professional baseball players who were present at the fight. According to Seoul Gangnam Police Station on Saturday, officials have called in for questioning several acquaintances of Kim, including teammates from when he played with the Kiwoom Heroes of the K

Dec. 10, 2023

Hanwha Eagles re-sign pitcher Pena

The Hanwha Eagles announced Saturday they will bring back right-hander Felix Pena for his third season in South Korea. The Eagles said Pena agreed to a new one-year deal worth up to $1.05 million. The Dominican right-hander will receive $650,000 in salary and a $200,000 signing bonus and can earn up to $200,000 more in incentives. Pena first joined the Korea Baseball Organization, specifically the Hanwha Eagles, mid-season in 2022 as a replacement for Nick Kingham, achieving a 5-4 win-loss recor

Dec. 9, 2023

MLB player in dispute over assault accusation

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres is embroiled in a dispute over allegations that he assaulted his former staff, with the Gold Glove-winning utility player claiming that he was blackmailed for a mere scuffle. It has been reported Thursday that the 28-year-old has filed charges for blackmail against Im Hye-dong, a retired baseball player who was briefly on Kim's team when they played for the Nexon Heroes in the Korean Baseball League. Im retaliated by telling the local media that he had b

Dec. 8, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong files charges for blackmail against former teammate

San Diego Padres' infielder Kim Ha-seong has filed charges for alleged blackmail against a former teammate from his playing days in South Korea, local police said Thursday. Kim, 28, claimed that the yet-unidentified former baseball player coerced a large sum of money as compensation for his injuries from a fistfight at a bar in 2021, not long before he made his Major League Baseball debut. The charges were filed at Gangnam Police Station in Gangnam-gu, southern, Seoul, where the altercation

Dec. 7, 2023

KBO MVP Fedde signs with White Sox: reports

Erick Fedde, the reigning most valuable player award winner in South Korean baseball, has signed with the Chicago White Sox, US media reports claimed. ESPN and other outlets reported Tuesday that Fedde has agreed to a two-year deal worth $15 million with the White Sox. Fedde, 30, won the Korea Baseball Organization regular season MVP award for the NC Dinos this season, after winning the Triple Crown as the league leader with 20 wins, a 2.00 ERA and 209 strikeouts. The American right-hander becam

Dec. 6, 2023