MLB hopeful Lee Jung-hoo trying to block out distractions in WBC buildup

TUCSON -- South Korean outfielder Lee Jung-hoo has had many watchful eyes of major league scouts following his moves this week, as he is gearing up for next month's World Baseball Classic with an opportunity to move to Major League Baseball next year on the horizon. The reigning MVP in the Korea Baseball Organization said Saturday here that he has been trying to stay focused, with some helpful tips offered by his uber-agent, Scott Boras. "I've been told that major league clubs hav

BaseballFeb. 19, 2023

Sidearm pitcher for S. Korea brimming with confidence after 1st pre-WBC scrimmage

TUCSON -- Of seven South Korean pitchers to take the mound in their first scrimmage before the World Baseball Classic here on Thursday, sidearmer Ko Young-pyo threw the fewest pitches with 16. He wasn't just the most efficient one, as seven pitchers each worked an inning. Ko was also the sharpest, as he struck out two and pitched around a hit by the NC Dinos of the Korea Baseball Organization at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. South Korea prevailed 8-2. In international

BaseballFeb. 17, 2023

Tiger Woods set to return at Genesis Invitational this week

Tiger Woods is ready to make this season’s PGA Tour debut at the 2023 Genesis Invitational taking place from Thursday to Sunday at the Riviera Country Club in California. Woods, who is making a comeback to an official PGA tour after a seven-month hiatus, will be joined by 19 of the top 20 golfers in the Official World Golf Ranking, including the top-three ranked -- Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and John Rahm. According to Hyundai Motor Group’s premium brand Genesis, a total of 132

GolfFeb. 16, 2023

S. Korean players wary of Japanese sluggers at WBC

TUCSON -- Japan has no shortage of star power as world No. 1 in baseball and a title favorite at the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani is a transcendent two-way phenom, and San Diego Padres starter Yu Darvish can dominate any lineup with his impressive arsenal of pitches. From the domestic league, Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger Munetaka Murakami is coming off a 56-homer campaign. South Korean catcher Yang Eui-ji, however, is keeping a close eye on another

BaseballFeb. 16, 2023

Incheon United coach looking to become mainstay in K League upper echelon

CHANGWON -- For years in the top South Korean football league, Incheon United barely avoided getting relegated to the second division, collecting just enough points near the end of the season to stay alive. That changed in 2022, when they finished in fourth place and punched their first ticket to the Asian Football Confederation Champions League, the top club competition on the continent. Head coach Jo Sung-hwan now wants his Incheon team to be a regular in the big tournament. "We have to

SoccerFeb. 15, 2023

Veteran pitcher eager to learn from younger teammates at WBC

TUCSON-- Young pitchers on the South Korean national team for the World Baseball Classic have said they grew up admiring Yang Hyeon-jong, the MVP-winning left-hander for the Kia Tigers and now captain of the national team pitching staff. Yang, who will be 35 by the start of the big tournament in March, may be in the position to lead, but Yang said Tuesday he also wants to learn from his younger teammates. "These young guys are fearless on the mount. I want to learn everything from them,&q

BaseballFeb. 15, 2023

Leaner and meaner, Padres infielder Kim Ha-seong ready to attack fastballs in Year 3

LOS ANGELES -- In his second major league season in 2022, San Diego Padres infielder Kim Ha-seong was named a finalist for the National League Gold Glove at shortstop. He didn't win the big prize but earned wide acclaim as one of the game's top defenders. And for Year 3, Kim would like his hitting to catch up to his fielding. To that end, Kim has changed both his body and his swing. "I've cut down on some fat and added muscle, and I've also simplified my swing," Kim

BaseballFeb. 14, 2023

[Graphic News] Messi named best player of 2022

A panel of 206 judges have selected the world’s top-100 male soccer players of 2022. Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who led Argentina to World Cup glory for the first time since 1986, was voted the No. 1 player of 2022, with Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe coming in at second place and Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema at third, according to British newspaper The Guardian. South Korea’s Son Heung-min placed at 26th, climbing 13 ranks from 39th place the previous year.

SoccerFeb. 7, 2023

Pirates' Choi Ji-man says 'deeply hurt' to be dropped from WBC team

The Pittsburgh Pirates' South Korean first baseman Choi Ji-man said Monday he was "deeply hurt" to miss out on a chance to represent the country at the upcoming World Baseball Classic (WBC), saying the club's decision to block his participation for medical reasons disappointed him.    Earlier in the day, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) had announced it had cut Choi from the 30-man roster for the WBC, after the "medical objection" submitted by the Pirates ha

BaseballFeb. 6, 2023

With two gold medals, short tracker Park Ji-won closes in on World Cup overall title

South Korean short track speed skater Park Ji-won has strengthened his grip on the World Cup overall lead with two more gold medals in Germany over the weekend. Park won the men's 1,500 meters in the fifth stop of the International Skating Union World Cup Short Track Speed Skating in Dresden, Germany, on Sunday (local time). The 26-year-old had won the 1,000m gold medal on Saturday. With the two latest victories, Park improved to 868 points in the World Cup overall standings for the season,

More SportsFeb. 6, 2023

Braves minor leaguer Park Hoy-jun not invited to spring training

A long winter for Atlanta Braves minor leaguer Park Hoy-jun has just gotten longer, as the South Korean utility player did not earn an invitation to the Braves' spring training. The Braves announced a list of 26 non-roster invitees to their big league camp on Wednesday, with 11 pitchers, four catchers, six infielders and five outfielders set to battle those on the 40-man roster for major league jobs. Park was not invited to camp. He joined the Braves organization in December in a trade from

BaseballFeb. 2, 2023

Woman’s Sports Association VP tapped to promote diversity in canoeing

A South Korean former athlete and local sports body executive has been named by a global federation of canoe organizations to lead diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity for women. Park Gi-young, vice president of South Korea’s Woman’s Sports Association, was tapped by International Canoe Federation President Thomas Konietzko as the chairman of the Lausanne-based organization’s diversity and inclusion committee as well as the person in charge of the body’s women&rsq

More SportsFeb. 1, 2023

S. Korea to demand clarification from top Asian sports body over Russia's Asian Games participation

The South Korean national Olympic body said Wednesday it will seek further clarification from the top Asian sports organization, in light of the latter's decision to allow Russia to compete in the continent's largest multisport event. The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee plans to send a formal letter to the Olympic Council of Asia this week demanding answers on how the continental body will operate this year's Asian Games with athletes from Russia and also Belarus on hand. Del

More SportsFeb. 1, 2023

Chasing knockout berth at Women's World Cup, top scorer sees parallels with men's tournament

ULSAN -- Preparing for her third FIFA Women's World Cup, South Korean star Ji So-yun couldn't help but notice parallels with the men's national team at their World Cup in Qatar last year. Starting in July in Australia, South Korea will play in Group H at the Women's World Cup against Colombia, Morocco and Germany: a South American team, an African side and a heavily favored European team, respectively. The South Korean men also played in Group H at their tournament against Ur

SoccerJan. 31, 2023

Teen pitcher Shim Jun-seok officially signs with Pirates in dream-come-true moment

His deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates now official, South Korean pitching prospect Shim Jun-seok has realized his dream. "It's been my dream to play in the United States," Shim was quoted as saying by MLB.com, during his introduction as a new member of the Pirates' international class at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Thursday. "I wanted to pursue my dream to come here and play baseball." The Pirates announced their signing of Shim, a product of Seoul-based Duksoo High Sc

BaseballJan. 27, 2023

S. Korean defender Park Ji-su signs with Portuguese club Portimonense

South Korean international defender Park Ji-su has signed with the Portuguese club Portimonense. The club unveiled Park as one of their five new signings on Thursday. Park, 28, is the second South Korean on the team, alongside the 19-year-old winger Kim Yong-hak. Park made his club debut with Incheon United in the K League 1 in 2013 and also had a stint with the Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande starting in 2019. Park spent the past two seasons with the South Korean military club Gimcheon Sangmu

SoccerJan. 26, 2023

Scottish football champions Celtic sign S. Korean forward Oh Hyeon-gyu

The reigning Scottish club football champions Celtic have signed South Korea international Oh Hyeon-gyu. Celtic, who won the Scottish Premiership title last season and are also leading the competition this campaign, announced their acquisition of the 21-year-old Wednesday evening. Celtic said Oh's five-year deal is subject to international clearance. Financial terms weren't disclosed, but the transfer fee was reportedly 2.5 million euros ($2.7 million). Oh, formerly of Suwon Samsung Bl

SoccerJan. 26, 2023

Key reliever more excited than nervous ahead of WBC debut

The top closer in South Korean baseball last year will make his World Baseball Classic debut in March. But if Go Woo-suk is feeling nervous, he isn't telling anyone. "There is still a lot of time left. Rather than feeling any sort of pressure, I am excited more than anything else," Go said at a national team press conference in Seoul on Monday. "Every time I play wearing the national flag, it gets my heart pumping." Go led the Korea Baseball Organization with 42 saves la

BaseballJan. 17, 2023

S. Korean coach ends successful Vietnam tenure with loss in regional tournament

It was a bitter ending of an otherwise successful run for South Korean football coach Park Hang-seo, as his Vietnamese team bowed out to Thailand with a regional title on the line Monday night. Thailand successfully defended their ASEAN Football Federation Championship title with a 1-0 victory over Vietnam in the second leg of the final, prevailing on a 3-2 aggregate. Thai captain Theerathon Bunmathan scored the lone goal in the match at Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani, Thailand. This was Park

SoccerJan. 17, 2023

S. Korean Kim Si-woo earns fourth career PGA Tour win in Hawaii

South Korean Kim Si-woo has collected his fourth career victory on the PGA Tour in Hawaii, rallying from a three-shot deficit to find the winner's circle. Kim shot an 18-under 262 to win the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Sunday. With a final round of six-under 64, Kim held off Hayden Buckley of the United States by one stroke. Kim, world No. 84, began the final round three shots off the lead held by Buckley. But Kim was clutch down the stretch Sunday, w

GolfJan. 16, 2023