S. Korea shuts out Japan to inch closer to baseball final berth

South Korea defeated Japan 2-0 on Thursday to move a step closer to a berth in the Asian Games baseball gold medal game. Starter Park Se-woong tossed six shutout innings and cleanup Roh Si-hwan drove in both runs for South Korea's first win in the Super Round at Shaoxing Baseball and Softball Sports Centre in Shaoxing, southeast of the main host city, Hangzhou. South Korea, three-time defending champion, reached the Super Round after finishing in second place in Group B, behind Chinese Taipei, i

Oct. 5, 2023

S. Korea cruises past N. Korea in women's basketball

HANGZHOU, China -- South Korea defeated North Korea 81-62 in a highly-anticipated women's basketball preliminary game at the Asian Games in China on Friday, as the countries that formed a joint team five years ago returned as foes. South Korea overcame an early 21-11 deficit to win its second straight game in Group C at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium, as the closely-contested affair quickly turned into a blowout. Five players on both sides had also played on the 2018 unified Korea

Sept. 29, 2023

Dodgers prospect trying to fit in with S. Korean nat'l baseball team

As the only high school pitcher on the South Korean Asian Games baseball team, teen prospect Jang Hyun-seok is trying to find his bearings among veterans, with the continental competition fast approaching. The 19-year-old from Masan Yongma High School is the only amateur for South Korea bound for Hangzhou, China. He may be short on experience, but he isn't short on talent, as attested by his recent signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. And nearly touching 160 kph (99.4 mph) with a fastball

Sept. 24, 2023

Wiz ace Cuevas voted KBO's top player for August

KT Wiz ace William Cuevas was announced as the top player in South Korean baseball for August on Monday. The Korea Baseball Organization said Cuevas was voted the Player of the Month for August, after going a perfect 5-0 in five starts that month while giving up just two earned runs in 36 innings, for a sparkling ERA of 0.50. The Venezuelan right-hander struck out 37 and walked only three. For August, Cuevas led all qualified KBO starts in wins and ERA, and ranked second in strikeouts. Cuevas to

Sept. 11, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong sets new career high in hits

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres has established a new career high for hits in a season. Kim went 1-for-4 against the Houston Astros in Minute Maid Park in Houston on Sunday, picking up his 131st hit of the season. Kim collected 130 hits in 150 games as a big league sophomore last year but has surpassed that total in his 139th game this season. The milestone hit came in Kim's second trip to the plate at the top of the Padres' lineup in the top of the third. He hit a soft liner to s

Sept. 11, 2023

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin goes 5 solid innings in no-decision vs. Rockies

Toronto Blue Jays starter Ryu Hyun-jin has settled for a no-decision after pitching five solid innings in a notorious hitters' park, with the bullpen costing the South Korean pitcher his fourth consecutive win. Ryu held the Colorado Rockies to two runs on four hits in five innings at Coors Field in Denver on Friday local time, as the Jays won 13-9. Ryu struck out three and walked two while remaining at 3-1 for the season. His ERA rose slightly from 2.25 to 2.48. All the damage against Ryu c

Sept. 2, 2023

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin wins 3rd straight start

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays has won his third straight start while also helping snap the club's three-game losing streak. Ryu held the Cleveland Guardians to three runs -- two earned -- on four hits in five innings, as the Blue Jays prevailed 8-3 at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Saturday. Two of those hits were solo home runs. Ryu, who struck out five and didn't walk any, improved to 3-1 for the year, while his ERA went up slightly from 1.89 to 2.25. The South Korean left-hande

Aug. 27, 2023

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin wins 2nd straight start, extends unearned run streak to 14 innings

Toronto Blue Jays starter Ryu Hyun-jin has won his second straight start while increasing his stretch of not giving up an earned run to 14 innings. Ryu gave up two runs, both unearned, on four hits in five innings against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Sunday (local time), helping the Blue Jays to a 10-3 victory. Ryu struck out a season-high seven batters and walked just one. The South Korean left-hander improved to 2-1 for the season and lowered his ERA from 2.

Aug. 21, 2023

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin earns 1st win of season

For the first time in 15 months, Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin has picked up a win. Ryu gave up two runs on two hits against the Chicago Cubs at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sunday, helping them to an 11-4 victory in his third start back from Tommy John surgery. Both of the Cubs' runs against Ryu were unearned, as they were scored after an error by first baseman Brandon Belt in the first inning. Ryu struck out three and walked two while lowering his ERA from 4.00 to 2.57 fo

Aug. 14, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong extends hitting streak to 16 games

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres has pushed his hitting streak to 16 games with a two-hit effort. Kim batted 2-for-5 with an RBI to help the Padres defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-5 at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday (local time). Kim raised his batting average to .290, tied for the sixth-highest mark in the National League. Kim's 16-game run is the longest active hitting streak in Major League Baseball (MLB). Batting leadoff, Kim popped out in the first, grounded out in the third

Aug. 12, 2023

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin announced as probable starter vs. Cubs

With his right knee bruised after taking a line drive, Toronto Blue Jays starter Ryu Hyun-jin has been announced as a probable starter for an upcoming home game against the Chicago Cubs. The Blue Jays unveiled their rotation for the three-game home series against the Cubs while on a road trip to Cleveland on Thursday. Ryu was slotted in as the starter for the series finale at 1:37 p.m. Sunday at Rogers Centre in Toronto, which is 2:37 a.m. Monday in South Korea. The South Korean left-hander was

Aug. 11, 2023

S. Korean high school pitcher Jang Hyun-seok signs with Dodgers

South Korean high school pitching prospect Jang Hyun-seok has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, his agency in Seoul announced Wednesday. Leeco Sports Agency said Jang agreed to a $900,000 signing bonus as an international free agent. Jang will have a press conference in Seoul next Monday, the agency added. Jang had announced on Aug. 1 that he would skip this year's Korea Baseball Organization draft to pursue his major league dreams. The 19-year-old right-hander for Masan Yongma High Scho

Aug. 9, 2023

Blue Jays 'optimistic' Ryu Hyun-jin will make next start after negative X-rays on knee

The Toronto Blue Jays are "optimistic" that their South Korean starter Ryu Hyun-jin will be able to pitch on the weekend after the X-rays on his right knee, bruised after taking a comebacker, returned negative. "With the way he's feeling today, we're pretty optimistic he's going to be good," Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters in Cleveland on Tuesday. Ryu suffered a right knee contusion after a comebacker by Oscar Gonzalez of the Cleveland Guardians

Aug. 9, 2023

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin suffers right knee contusion after taking comebacker

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin has been forced to leave his start early with a right knee contusion after taking a line drive off his leg. Ryu was struck by a comebacker off the bat of Oscar Gonzalez of the Cleveland Guardians in the bottom of the fourth inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Monday. The batted ball, with an exit velocity of 97.7 miles per hour, went off Ryu's leg and dropped near the mound. Ryu immediately began limping in pain but had the presence of mind to

Aug. 8, 2023

Kim Ha-seong's hitting streak reaches 13 games

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres is as hot as the California sun. The leadoff hitter for the Padres has now hit safely in 13 straight games and reached base multiple times in 15 straight games. The South Korean infielder batted 2-for-5 in a 13-7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park in San Diego on Monday. During his current hitting streak, which began on July 24, Kim has raised his batting average from .270 to .288, with seven multihit games thrown in. In August, Kim is batting .421

Aug. 8, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong nominated for Heart & Hustle Award in MLB

The San Diego Padres' South Korean infielder Kim Ha-seong has been nominated for a major league award recognizing passion for the game of baseball and work ethic. The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association announced 30 nominees, one from each team, for its annual Heart & Hustle Award on Thursday. Kim was chosen as the Padres' nominee by 30 MLBPAA committees made up of alumni players. Created by the MLBPAA in 2005, the award is given each year to "an active player who

Aug. 4, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong hits 4th leadoff homer of season

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres has gone deep for the first time in eight games as he inches closer to a milestone. Kim hit a leadoff homer as part of his 2-for-3 day at the plate against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver on Wednesday. Kim also drew two walks from the top of the lineup, helping the Padres to an 11-1 rout. After seven highly productive offensive seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization, Kim is finally showing off his hitting prowess in his third major league se

Aug. 3, 2023

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin charged with loss in return from injury

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays struggled in his first major league start in 14 months, constantly pitching with traffic on the bases against a division rival. Ryu took the loss in the Orioles' 13-3 rout of the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Tuesday (local time), after giving up four runs on nine hits in five innings. Ryu left the game with the Orioles leading 4-3 following Gunnar Henderson's solo shot to begin the top of the sixth. The bullpen coughed up nine runs over

Aug. 2, 2023

Choi Ji-man joins countryman Kim Ha-seong in San Diego following trade

South Korean infielder Choi Ji-man will join countryman Kim Ha-seong on the San Diego Padres. The Pittsburgh Pirates traded Choi, along with pitcher Rich Hill, to the Padres on Tuesday, in exchange for three prospects: pitcher Jackson Wolf, outfielder Estuar Suero and first baseman Alfonso Rivas. The deal was made prior to the annual trade deadline of 6 p.m. Tuesday. Choi had been teammates with South Korean infielder Bae Ji-hwan in Pittsburgh and will now join another Korean infielder in Kim. C

Aug. 2, 2023

Once in last place, KT Wiz claw back into KBO postseason contention

On May 18, the KT Wiz was in last place in South Korean baseball, with a record of 10-24-2 (wins-losses-ties). They were stuck at a season-worst 14-games under .500 with little hope for a quick bounceback as injuries were piling up. Since May 19, however, the Wiz have reeled off the best record in the Korea Baseball Organization at 34-19. They tied for the league lead with 15 wins in June and led everyone with 13 wins in July. A nine-game losing streak from the end of April is now a distant memo

July 31, 2023