Padres' Kim Ha-seong leaves game with shoulder injury

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres has suffered an apparent shoulder injury on a slide at home plate. Kim exited the Padres' home game against the Texas Rangers at Petco Park in San Diego on Sunday after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Xander Bogaerts in the bottom of the third inning. As Kim slid home headfirst, his right hand got jammed underneath the left knee of catcher Sam Huff. The ball bounced past Huff and toward the backstop, and Kim immediately grabbed his right shoulder after sli

July 31, 2023

[Graphic News] MLB to hold 2024 season opener in Seoul

Major League Baseball will open its 2024 season in South Korea with two games between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. MLB and the MLB Players Association announced their plans for four international series outside the United States and Canada in 2024, with regular season stops in Mexico City and London, as well as spring training action in the Dominican Republic. Dubbed the “Seoul Series” as part of the MLB World Tour, the games in South Korea between the two Nation

July 28, 2023

KBO suspends 3 minor leaguers for physical abuse of teammates

The South Korean baseball league on Wednesday imposed lengthy bans on three minor league players for the physical abuse of their teammates. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) handed down a 72-game ban on SSG Landers minor league pitcher Lee Won-joon, while banning their minor league infielder Lee Geo-yeon and outfielder Choi Sang-min for 30 games each. The KBO had been investigating the abuse cases since last week. According to the KBO, the incident took place in the Landers' minor lea

July 19, 2023

Ulsan midfielder Qazaishvili named K League's top player for June

Valeri Qazaishvili, Georgian midfielder for first-place Ulsan Hyundai FC, was named the top player in South Korean football for June. The Korea Professional Football League announced Qazaishvili, known as Vako here, as the winner of the Player of the Month award for June in the top-flight K League 1. It is his first career monthly award. In four matches last month, Vako scored five goals and recorded an assist as well. The winner was chosen based on votes by the K League's technical study

July 17, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong hits 2nd career leadoff home run

For the second time in his major league career, Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres has hit a leadoff home run. Kim greeted Philadelphia Phillies starter Zack Wheeler with a home run in the top of the first inning at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Sunday, staking his visiting team to a 1-0 lead. Wheeler threw Kim a 2-2 sweeper below the zone, and Kim went down and got all of the pitch. Kim's homer traveled 352 feet over the left field fence at a launch angle of 32 degrees. It was Ki

July 17, 2023

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin pitches 5 solid innings in minor league rehab start

Working his way back from elbow surgery, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin now has a solid Triple-A start under his belt. Pitching for the Buffalo Bisons, the South Korean left-hander gave up a run on three hits in five innings against the Toledo Mud Hens, the Detroit Tigers affiliate, at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, on Saturday. It was Ryu's third minor league outing since undergoing Tommy John surgery to repair ligament damage in his left elbow in June 2022. He has been gradual

July 16, 2023

Sluggers old and young battle for home run crown; American starter leads ERA race in KBO

As the first half of the season drew to a conclusion in South Korean baseball this week, a familiar name sat atop the home run leaderboard. Choi Jeong of the SSG Landers is tied for the home run lead in the Korea Baseball Organization with 19 after 73 games. He is chasing his fourth home run crown, which would make him the oldest player to lead the KBO in that category at 36 years and eight months old. The player on level with Choi is at the other end of the age spectrum. Roh Si-hwan of the Hanw

July 14, 2023

Son of ex-KBO slugger drafted by Diamondbacks

Kevin Sim, son of a former star slugger in the top South Korean baseball league, has been drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in Major League Baseball. The Diamondbacks selected Sim, third baseman for the University of San Diego, with their 148th overall pick in the fifth round of the annual draft. Sim, 21, is son of Shim Chong-soo, who smacked 328 home runs in his 15-year career in the Korea Baseball Organization to rank 10th on the all-time list. In 2003, Shim, then playing for the Hyundai Uni

July 11, 2023

Pirates' Choi Ji-man hits 1st homer since return from injury

Choi Ji-man of the Pittsburgh Pirates has gone deep for the first time since his return from a long injury layoff. Choi belted a two-run homer against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Pirates' 4-2 victory at Chase Field in Phoenix on Sunday. It was Choi's third home run of the season, and his first since ending a three-month absence Friday. Batting fifth as designated hitter, Choi homered off Zach Davies in the second inning and hit a double in the ninth inning, before being lifted for

July 10, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong injures toe after kicking water cooler in frustration

After getting thrown out at third base in a key moment of an eventual loss, San Diego Padres infielder Kim Ha-seong took out his frustration on a water cooler. The action may end up costing Kim time on the field. The Padres said Saturday that Kim is listed as day to day after jamming his right big toe on the cooler during a 7-5 loss to the New York Mets the previous day. Kim made a baserunning gaffe with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning at Petco Park in San Diego, with the game tied a

July 9, 2023

Kia Tigers sign new pitcher Mario Sanchez

The S. Korean baseball club Kia Tigers announced Thursday they have signed new pitcher Mario Sanchez. The Korea Baseball Organization club acquired the Venezuelan right-hander for $280,000 for the rest of the season, and the move comes two days after releasing slumping starter, Adonis Medina. Sanchez, 28, comes over from Taiwan, where he'd been pitching for the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions in the Chinese Professional Baseball League. He was leading the CPBL with a 1.44 ERA and was tied for

July 6, 2023

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin gives up 1 run in 3 innings in minor league rehab game

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays has taken an important step in his recovery from last year's elbow operation, giving up one run in three innings in a minor league rehab appearance. Ryu pitched for the Blue Jays' Rookie ball affiliate in the Florida Complex League in Dunedin, Florida, on Tuesday, and struck out five batters and allowed four hits against an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The South Korean left-hander did not walk a batter. This was Ryu's first game action sin

July 5, 2023

KBO club manager demotes veteran to minors for detrimental conduct

With his club in danger of falling out of midseason postseason contention, NC Dinos manager Kang In-kwon has demoted a healthy veteran to the minors for conduct detrimental to the team. Before facing the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Tuesday, Kang explained that his decision to drop outfielder Park Kun-woo from the active roster had nothing to do with his performance on the field and everything to do with his actions away from it. "Actually, he did complain about some bump

July 4, 2023

Kia Tigers release pitcher Medina

The slumping South Korean baseball club Kia Tigers announced Tuesday they've released pitcher Adonis Medina. The Tigers asked the Korea Baseball Organization to place the Dominican right-hander on waivers and said they will soon name his replacement in the rotation. Medina signed with the Tigers during the offseason but had a disappointing 2-6 record with a 6.05 ERA in 12 starts. He was removed from the active roster after allowing three runs on two hits and three walks in two innings again

July 4, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong smacks 10th homer of season

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres has reached double figures in home runs for the second straight season. Kim smoked his 10th home run of the 2023 season against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Sunday, though it came in a 4-3 loss for the Padres. Batting leadoff, Kim went 1-for-3 with that home run, an RBI, a run scored and a walk. Kim's line drive home run, which left his bat at 19 degrees, cut the Padres' deficit to 2-1 in the top of the eighth inn

July 3, 2023

Pirates' Bae Ji-hwan placed on injured list with sprained ankle

Bae Ji-hwan of the Pittsburgh Pirates has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a left ankle sprain, bringing his first half of the season to a premature conclusion. The Pirates made the move Sunday (local time), a day after the South Korean utility player suffered the injury while making a diving play on a groundball against the Milwaukee Brewers. Bae will miss a minimum of 10 days, and with the Pirates having seven more days of action left in the first half, Bae won't be back in act

July 3, 2023

June's greatest Sho: A look back at Ohtani's best month in the majors

ANAHEIM, California -- Shohei Ohtani’s walkup music most of last season was the theme to “The Greatest Showman.” After the Los Angeles Angels star’s June, he should consider returning to it. The Japanese two-way phenom has amazed fans, teammates and opponents since coming to the majors in 2018. June, though was “The Greatest Sho” at the plate. “I’m in a good spot right now,” Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara when asked if he was

July 2, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong belts solo shot; Bae Ji-hwan, Pirates sweep series

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres has won the battle but lost the war to a fellow South Korean player. Kim smacked a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Thursday. However, the Pirates, featuring their own South Korean player in infielder Bae Ji-hwan, won the game 5-4 to complete a three-game sweep of the Padres. Kim, after batting leadoff in the past several games, hit out of the seventh spot in this game, and went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Bae, who also bat

June 30, 2023

Kiwoom Heroes sign veteran infielder to 1st multiyear deal in team history

The Kiwoom Heroes said Wednesday they have signed veteran infielder Lee Won-seok to the first multiyear contract in franchise history. Lee, 36, agreed to a new two-year contract, plus a vesting option for a third year -- meaning, if Lee reaches a certain performance incentive threshold, the third season becomes guaranteed. Lee was scheduled to become a free agent following the 2024 season, but the Heroes gave him additional security with Wednesday's deal. In July 2021, the Korea Baseball

June 28, 2023

Bogaerts, Soto and Kim homer to back Musgrove in the Padres' 13-3 win over the Nationals

Xander Bogaerts, Juan Soto and Kim Ha-seong hit home runs and Joe Musgrove threw seven strong innings to lead the San Diego Padres to a 13-3 victory against the Washington Nationals on Friday night. The superstar-laden Padres, who have struggled at the plate most of the season to tumble into fourth place in the NL West, scored in double digits in consecutive games for the first time this year. They won 10-0 at San Francisco on Thursday to avoid a four-game sweep. Bogaerts hit a three-run shot,

June 24, 2023