Members of 2 baseball clubs test positive for COVID-19

Members of two South Korean baseball clubs have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, industry sources said Tuesday, though the season will proceed as usual after the rest of their teams all tested negative. According to the sources, one scout from a Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) team in the greater Seoul region tested positive for COVID-19 early Monday. Later Monday, a coach for another team in greater Seoul also got infected with COVID-19, forcing the rest of his team to be tested.

BaseballJune 29, 2021

KBO-leading Wiz counting on hustle, defense from new outfielder Hoying

They may be leading South Korean baseball as the season nears its halfway point, but the KT Wiz still see room for improvement. And they're hoping veteran outfielder Jared Hoying, who signed with the Wiz over the weekend for his second tour of duty in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), can help address multiple issues by himself. The Wiz announced their signing of Hoying, 32, on Saturday. He will make US$400,000 for the rest of the season. Hoying will replace Zoilo Almonte, who batted .27

BaseballJune 28, 2021

Serena Williams says she will not play at the Tokyo Olympics

WIMBLEDON (AP) -- Serena Williams said she will not go to the Tokyo Olympics, but did not want to say why during her pre-Wimbledon video conference with reporters Sunday. "I'm actually not on the Olympic list. ... Not that I'm aware of. If so, then I shouldn't be on it," Williams said. The 39-year-old Williams has won four gold medals at past Summer Games for the United States: in both singles and doubles at the 2012 London Olympics -- which held the tennis competition at the All Eng

More SportsJune 27, 2021

Bullpen session pays off as Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin regains changeup command

For the better part of June, Toronto Blue Jay's starter Ryu Hyun-jin has been trying to regain the command of his changeup, long his bread-and-butter pitch. He has even had in-between-starts bullpen sessions, something the veteran left-hander rarely does. And that extra work seems to be paying dividends. Ryu picked up his seventh win of the season against the Baltimore Orioles at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, on Saturday (local time). Ryu gave up four runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings i

BaseballJune 27, 2021

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin beats Orioles for 2nd straight start

Backed by an offensive explosion from his teammates, Toronto Blue Jays' starter Ryu Hyun-jin defeated the Baltimore Orioles for the second straight outing. Ryu gave up four runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings in a 12-4 victory at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, on Saturday (local time). Ryu improved to 7-4 for the year, while his ERA rose slightly from 3.25 to 3.41. Ryu struck out three and walked two. In his previous start, Ryu limited the same Orioles to a run over seven innings in Balti

BaseballJune 27, 2021

Cardinals' Kim Kwang-hyun takes no-decision in another abbreviated outing

Stuck at one win for the 2021 season for over two months, Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals has taken a no-decision in yet another brief outing. Kim gave up four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Friday (local time). The game was tied at 4-4 when Kim was pulled with one out in the fifth, and the Pirates won 5-4. Kim remained at 1-5 for the year, while his ERA went up from 3.60 to 3.98. His only win of the season came on

BaseballJune 26, 2021

2 nat'l baseball team players stuck in KBO minor league with Olympics fast approaching

With the start of the Tokyo Olympics about a month away, two key members of the South Korean baseball team are toiling in the minor league -- one sent down to rediscover his stroke and the other exiled for disciplinary reasons. A roster that already had a few question marks when it was announced on June 16 will be scrutinized even more in the coming days, as long as second baseman Park Min-woo and outfielder Park Kun-woo remain out of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) spotlight. The NC Din

BaseballJune 25, 2021

Tokyo-bound LPGA stars appreciate opportunity to compete at Olympics

Park In-bee has accomplished a lot in her LPGA Hall of Fame career, but the gold medal from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics occupies a special place in her heart. Now on the verge of qualifying for her second straight Olympics, Park can't wait to have that experience again. "I've achieved a lot in golf, won a lot of majors, won a lot of tournaments, but winning the gold medal was something really different," Park said at Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Georgia, on Tuesday (loc

Olympic GamesJune 23, 2021

Up to 10,000 fans allowed at Tokyo 2020 venues, despite warnings

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Up to 10,000 domestic spectators will be allowed in Tokyo 2020 venues, Olympics organisers said on Monday, a decision that cuts against the recommendation of medical experts who said holding the event without fans was the least risky option. The announcement ends months of speculation and highlights Japan's determination to push on with the Games and salvage the multi-billion-dollar extravaganza amid public opposition and deep concern about a resurgence in infections. The de

Olympic GamesJune 21, 2021

A member of BTS Army, teen table tennis star wants to be 'dope' at Olympics

MUNGYEONG -- Watch the South Korean teen phenom Shin Yu-bin play table tennis, and you can imagine that she must listen to music with beats as dynamic as her strokes. Shin, two weeks from her 17th birthday and the youngest member of the national team for the Tokyo Olympics, is a proud member of BTS Army, the global fan base for the K-pop sensation. With the Olympics about a month away, Shin, who carries photos of BTS members in her backpack, said she already has set her BTS playlist for Tokyo.

More SportsJune 21, 2021

Im Sung-jae, Kim Si-woo qualify for Olympic men's golf tournament

Former PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Im Sung-jae and three-time winner Kim Si-woo have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. On the latest world rankings announced Monday following the US Open, Im was the top South Korean at No. 26. Kim was next at No. 49. For men's golf at the Olympics, the top-15 players in the rankings as of Monday will automatically qualify, with a limit of four golfers per country. Beyond that, a maximum of two players from each country that doesn't already have two or more pla

Olympic GamesJune 21, 2021

Blue Jays' Ryu, Cardinals' Kim again miss out on chance to win on same day

One pitcher held up his end of the bargain. The other failed to join him in the win column. For the third time in 2021, the two South Korean left-handers in the majors, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays and Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals, started on the same day. And once again, they failed to pick up a victory together. Ryu got his "W" taken care of earlier Sunday afternoon in Baltimore, where he kept the Orioles to a run on three hits in seven innings in a 7-4 Toront

BaseballJune 21, 2021

With Tokyo Olympics one month out, S. Korean athletes look to extend successful run

The 32nd edition of the Summer Olympics had to be postponed by one year due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the July 23-Aug. 8 event will be the first Olympics to take place in an odd-numbered year. The countdown will reach 30 days Wednesday. Against this backdrop, South Korean athletes, vaccinated and itching to compete after a one-year delay, will try to extend the country's successful run at the Summer Olympics. South Korea has ranked inside the top 10 in medal races at each of the past fo

Olympic GamesJune 21, 2021

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin beats Orioles for 1st win of June

After overcoming some early trouble, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays finally got his first win of June. The South Korean left-hander held the Baltimore Orioles to a run on three hits in seven innings at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Sunday (local time) in a 7-4 victory. Ryu struck out four and walked one as the Jays took the rubber match of a three-game series. Ryu, who matched his season high with seven innings pitched, improved to 6-4 and lowered his ERA from 3.43 to 3.25

BaseballJune 21, 2021

Fueled by retirement talks, shooting legend takes aim at record-breaking medal in Tokyo

At 41, the South Korean Olympic shooting legend Jin Jong-oh knows his time as a competitive athlete may be reaching its end. But he insisted this week he doesn't want to get pushed to that point and that he will call his own shots. Jin will be competing at his fifth Olympics in Tokyo this summer. Over his four appearances, Jin captured four gold medals and two silver medals. He's tied with former archer Kim Soo-nyung for most Olympic medals by a South Korean athlete. To even qualify for the T

Olympic GamesJune 18, 2021

Rangers designate S. Korean pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong for assignment

The Texas Rangers have designated their South Korean pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong for assignment, putting the left-hander's future in the majors in further doubt. The Rangers announced the move Thursday (US local time), one day after optioning Yang to their Triple-A affiliate, Round Rock Express. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the 40-man roster and from the 25-man active roster if on it. The player must be traded, released or placed on irrevocable waivers

BaseballJune 18, 2021

Rangers' Yang Hyeon-jong demoted to minors

South Korean left-hander Yang Hyeon-jong has been demoted to the minor leagues by the Texas Rangers. In a roster move made Wednesday (US time), Yang was replaced with right-hander Ian Kennedy, who has been on a 10-day injury list. "Manager Chris Woodward said the staff wants Yang to get more reps and starts at Triple-A Round Rock before getting back up to the big leagues," the Texas Rangers said on its website. The 33-year old south paw was removed from the rotation in late May afte

BaseballJune 17, 2021

Cardinals' Kim Kwang-hyun takes no-decision in up-and-down start

St. Louis Cardinals' South Korean starter Kim Kwang-hyun took a no-decision in his first start back from a stint on the injured list (IL), as his struggles with command continued. Kim gave up a run on three hits in six innings against the Miami Marlins at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Tuesday (local time). He allowed a season-worst five walks and was lucky to keep the Marlins to a run, as the Cardinals rallied for a 2-1 win. Kim hasn't won since April 23 and had lost four consecutive decisions

BaseballJune 16, 2021

Two ex-MLB players among veterans left off Olympic baseball team as youth takes over

With six 20-something international rookies on the pitching staff alone, the South Korean baseball team for the Tokyo Olympics will have a youthful flavor. And the country could still put together a competitive team with veterans left off this time. National team manager Kim Kyung-moon unveiled his 24-man roster Wednesday at the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) headquarters in Seoul. Conspicuous by their absence were two former major leaguers currently plying their trade in the KBO: Choo Shi

BaseballJune 16, 2021

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin settles for no-decision after bullpen blows lead

Toronto Blue Jays' South Korean starter Ryu Hyun-jin saw his personal winless skid reach three games after his bullpen frittered away a lead in late innings. Ryu held the New York Yankees to three runs on three hits in six innings in a 6-5 Toronto loss at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, on Tuesday (local time). The left-hander walked a season-worst four batters, and both of the New York runs came via solo shots. Ryu handed the reins to the bullpen with a 5-3 lead through six, but reliever A

BaseballJune 16, 2021