Baseball manager sidelined with benign brain tumor

South Korean baseball club NC Dinos said Tuesday their manager Kim Kyung-moon will be sidelined indefinitely with a benign brain tumor.The Korea Baseball Organization club said Kim has been diagnosed with a small benign tumor in his pituitary gland. The Dinos said while an operation won't be necessary, Kim has been advised to take a few more days of rest.Kim left last Friday's game against the KT Wiz in Suwon, some 45 kilometers south of Seoul, with dizziness and symptoms of acute indigestion. H

BaseballAug. 1, 2017

In remembering Marlins’ Fernandez, Nationals’ Gonzalez spins a gem

On what would have been Jose Fernandez’s 25th birthday, his friend and Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez stepped onto the mound at Fernandez’ old home, Marlins Park in Miami, and pitched a gem befitting of the Marlins’ erstwhile ace, throwing eight innings of no-hit ball, and striking out 5.Fernandez, who died in a boating accident last September, was remembered by the 18,962 fans in attendance, including his daughter, mother and grandmother.  Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Go

BaseballAug. 1, 2017

Dodgers, Yankees, White Sox big winners at MLB trade deadline

The Los Angeles Dodgers were the biggest buyers during the deadline for the Major League Baseball player-trade on Monday, adding pitching reinforcements to solidify an already strong roster as the presumptive World Series favorites. The Dodgers, in first place in the National League West at 74-31 with a commanding 14 game lead, were already a virtual lock for the playoffs. Playoff predictors from sites such as Fangraphs and FiveThirtyEight both put the Dodgers at over 99 percent odds to take the

BaseballAug. 1, 2017

Korea not to introduce 'ABBA' penalty shootout format this year

South Korea's football governing body said Tuesday it doesn't plan to adopt a new penalty shootout format this year in its cup competition.The Korea Football Association said its officials discussed using the new "ABBA" penalty shootout system in its competitions, but it has yet to decide on the details, adding that this year's FA Cup will go with the traditional "ABAB" pattern, in which teams take turns in a shootout.Under the "ABBA" system, a player from the first team takes a penalty, followe

SoccerAug. 1, 2017

Korea looking to call-up China-based footballers early for World Cup qualifiers

New South Korea football coach Shin Tae-yong is looking to call up China-based national players early for upcoming World Cup qualifiers as he plans to visit the neighboring country later this week.Shin, who took the helm of the men's senior squad last month, will travel to China with his assistant Kim Nam-il on Friday to check on the South Korean players there, according to a Korea Football Association official Tuesday. The 46-year-old head coach will watch the Chinese Super League match between

SoccerAug. 1, 2017

Latest LPGA winner soars in world rankings

South Korean golfer Lee Mi-hyang, the latest LPGA Tour winner, soared to a season-high No. 33 in the women's world rankings released Tuesday.Lee jumped 16 spots from the previous week, thanks to her come-from-behind victory at the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open.The 24-year-old rallied from six shots down at the start of the final round to capture her second career LPGA win. This was the largest final round comeback on the tour this year.Lee is the third consecutive South Korean c

GolfAug. 1, 2017

Korean baseball league to open draft for overseas-based players

The top South Korean baseball league said Monday it will open its annual draft to overseas-based amateurs and ex-professionals with Korean passports.The Korea Baseball Organization said it started accepting applications on Monday, and the deadline is Aug. 11. The draft is Sept. 11.Those who finished high school in South Korea and played for foreign professional clubs without having competed in the KBO may enter the draft, as long as their initial pro contract expired before Jan. 31, 2016.Oversea

BaseballAug. 1, 2017

Football coach wants to look on bright side of Korean All-Stars' loss vs. Vietnam

South Korean football coach Hwang Sun-hong said Monday local fans should not be too critical of their pro football All-Star team's disappointing loss to the Vietnamese under-22 national team.The All-Star team of the top-flight K League Classic fell 1-0 to the Vietnamese team for the 29th Southeast Asian Games in a friendly match at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on Saturday.Although this match was tagged as the 2017 K League All-Star Game, it was also considered to be an international showdow

SoccerAug. 1, 2017

Ex-US pitcher promoted as pitching coach for former KBO club

Former Korea Baseball Organization pitcher Brandon Knight was promoted to pitching coach for his former club Monday.The Nexen Heroes announced they've brought up Knight from their minor league club in the Futures League. Knight, who pitched for the Heroes from 2011 to 2014, had been the pitching coordinator for the Heroes' Futures League club since the fall of 2015.The 41-year-old American is taking over from Park Seung-min, who will now be the main pitching coach in the Futures League.The Heroe

BaseballJuly 31, 2017

74 footballers find new clubs through K League summer transfer window

South Korea's pro football league office said Monday that 74 players have found new clubs through this season's summer transfer window.The K League, operator of domestic pro football competitions, said 74 players switched clubs or newly joined teams from overseas during the transfer period from June 29 to last Friday.The league data showed 12 clubs in the top-flight K League Classic signed 27 players this summer, and 13 of them were foreigners. Gwangju FC brought in the league's first Northern I

SoccerJuly 31, 2017

Ryu throws 7 strong, Dodgers walk-off Giants for sweep

Ryu Hyun-jin threw seven shutout innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but did not receive a decision in the Dodgers’ 3-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday night. Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin delivers a pitch in a game on July 30, 2017. (Yonhap)Ryu was masterful, scattering five hits and a walk over his seven innings pitched, also striking out seven. He did not allow a baserunner to reach second base until the seventh inning, aided greatly by his defense, which

BaseballJuly 31, 2017

Tour de France champion Chris Froome to visit Korea

Four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome will visit South Korea this fall to participate in an event for amateur cyclists, a sports marketing firm here said Monday.WAGTI said Froome will arrive in South Korea for the second L'Etape Korea by Le Tour de France, which will be held Oct. 14 to 15. The event is designed to allow amateur cyclists to ride the same route and conditions as pro cyclists do in the Tour de France stage. South Korea became the first Asian country to host the L'Etape ser

More SportsJuly 31, 2017

Figure skating phenom aggravates ankle, hip injuries during Olympic trials: source

South Korean figure skating phenom Cha Jun-hwan aggravated his ankle and hip injuries during the recent Olympic trials, a source close to the athlete said Monday.The source said Cha, 15, had been training with lingering right ankle pain, which in turn caused pain in his hip, when he entered the Figure Skating Korea Challenge in Seoul last weekend. The event doubled as the first round of the Olympic trials for next year's PyeongChang Winter Games."I think his injuries got worse after the competit

More SportsJuly 31, 2017

In possible playoff preview, Tigers, Bears split tight weekend series

In a possible playoff preview, the first place Kia Tigers came to Jamsil Stadium on Friday for a three-game series against the third-place Doosan Bears -- the winners of the last two Korea Baseball Organization championships. Doosan entered the series on a hot streak, having won their last seven games, but Kia came in with a three-game win streak of its own.  Kia Tigers left fielder Choi Hyoung-woo (L) congratulated after singling in a game on July 28, 2017. (Yonhap)The vaunted Tigers offense st

BaseballJuly 31, 2017

Korea sets new medals record for Deaflympics

South Korea has set its medals record at a multisport event for deaf athletes.South Korea added one gold, one silver and one bronze medal on the final day of the 23rd Summer Deaflympics in Samsun, Turkey, on Sunday (local time) to finish third in the medal tally with 18 gold, 20 silver and 14 bronze medals after Russia and Ukraine.This is South Korea's best Deaflympics medal tally with a haul of 52. The country previously earned 42 medals at the 22nd Deaflympics in Sofia, Bulgaria, with 19 gold,

More SportsJuly 31, 2017

First-place baseball club trades for reigning saves leader

The best team in South Korean baseball traded for last year's saves leader on Monday, hoping to bolster a shaky bullpen with an eye on the championship.The Kia Tigers in the Korea Baseball Organization acquired right-hander Kim Se-hyun from the Nexen Heroes as part of a four-player deal.The Tigers, in first place with a 63-33-1 (wins-losses-ties) record, are also getting outfielder You Jae-sin and sent two left-handers, Son Dong-wook and Lee Seung-ho, the other way. In this file photo taken on O

BaseballJuly 31, 2017

Adrian Beltre collects 3,000th hit

Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre stands at second base after collecting his 3000th hit on July 30, 2017. (Yonhap)Texas Rangers’ third baseman Adrian Beltre doubled in the fourth inning of the Rangers’ Sunday game against the Orioles for his 3,000th career hit, becoming only the 31st player in major league history to reach that mark. However, the visiting Orioles spoiled the day, pounding Rangers starter Martin Perez for 8 runs and a 10-6 victory.Beltre entered the game at 2,999 hits. He

BaseballJuly 31, 2017

Inaugural pro baseball tournament to open with Korea-Japan showdown

The inaugural Asian professional baseball tournament will start this fall with a showdown between archrivals South Korea and Japan.The Korea Baseball Organization on Monday released the schedules for the Asia Professional Baseball Championship, which will be played from Nov. 16 to 19 at Tokyo Dome. It will feature players from professional leagues in South Korea, Japan and Chinese Taipei.The opener will pit South Korea against Japan on Nov. 16. South Korea will then face Chinese Taipei the follo

BaseballJuly 31, 2017

US-born ice dancer acquires Korean passport

A US-born ice dancer has acquired a South Korean passport ahead of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, a national skating official said Monday.An official with the Korea Skating Union said the justice ministry approved Alexander Gamelin's application for special naturalization last Thursday. The 24-year-old will represent his adopted country should he and his partner, Min Yu-ra, qualify for next year's Winter Olympics.Gamelin and Min have been skating together since 2015. They have been able t

More SportsJuly 31, 2017