Samsung Lions sign ex-MLB, NPB player MacKinnon

The Samsung Lions announced Friday they have acquired former major league infielder David MacKinnon. MacKinnon, who also has experience in Japan, signed for US$1 million, the maximum amount for first-year foreign players in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). The one-year deal includes a $100,000 signing bonus. MacKinnon, 29, was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 32nd round in 2017 and made his major league debut with them in 2022. He was waived later in the same year and then picked

Dec. 15, 2023

Inspired by fan's gift, star KBO outfielder captures 1st Golden Glove

While playing for the Doosan Bears in 2017, outfielder Park Kun-woo enjoyed his best offensive season of his Korea Baseball Organization career. Park batted .366/.424/.582 with 20 home runs and 20 steals. He also smacked 40 doubles as part of his 177 hits. All of those numbers remain Park's career highs to this day. Somehow, they weren't good enough to bring Park his first Golden Glove, which, despite the word 'glove' in its name, is typically given to the best offensive play

Dec. 12, 2023

Bears catcher Yang Eui-ji wins 9th Golden Glove, 1 shy of KBO record

Doosan Bears catcher Yang Eui-ji captured his ninth career Golden Glove on Monday, moving within one of tying the record in the Korea Baseball Organization. Yang collected 214 out of 291 votes cast by members of KBO media, beating out LG Twins backstop Park Dong-won, who earned 63 votes. Yang has won a record eight Golden Gloves as catcher and one as designated hitter. Only Lee Seung-yuop, former Samsung Lions slugger and Yang's current manager with the Bears, has won more Golden Gloves tha

Dec. 11, 2023

Police question eyewitnesses concerning 'blackmail' of MLB player

South Korean police investigating legal complaints filed by San Diego Padres' infielder Kim Ha-seong, who has alleged that he is being blackmailed over a fight that occurred two years ago, have been questioning witnesses including local professional baseball players who were present at the fight. According to Seoul Gangnam Police Station on Saturday, officials have called in for questioning several acquaintances of Kim, including teammates from when he played with the Kiwoom Heroes of the K

Dec. 10, 2023

Hanwha Eagles re-sign pitcher Pena

The Hanwha Eagles announced Saturday they will bring back right-hander Felix Pena for his third season in South Korea. The Eagles said Pena agreed to a new one-year deal worth up to $1.05 million. The Dominican right-hander will receive $650,000 in salary and a $200,000 signing bonus and can earn up to $200,000 more in incentives. Pena first joined the Korea Baseball Organization, specifically the Hanwha Eagles, mid-season in 2022 as a replacement for Nick Kingham, achieving a 5-4 win-loss recor

Dec. 9, 2023

MLB player in dispute over assault accusation

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres is embroiled in a dispute over allegations that he assaulted his former staff, with the Gold Glove-winning utility player claiming that he was blackmailed for a mere scuffle. It has been reported Thursday that the 28-year-old has filed charges for blackmail against Im Hye-dong, a retired baseball player who was briefly on Kim's team when they played for the Nexon Heroes in the Korean Baseball League. Im retaliated by telling the local media that he had b

Dec. 8, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong files charges for blackmail against former teammate

San Diego Padres' infielder Kim Ha-seong has filed charges for alleged blackmail against a former teammate from his playing days in South Korea, local police said Thursday. Kim, 28, claimed that the yet-unidentified former baseball player coerced a large sum of money as compensation for his injuries from a fistfight at a bar in 2021, not long before he made his Major League Baseball debut. The charges were filed at Gangnam Police Station in Gangnam-gu, southern, Seoul, where the altercation

Dec. 7, 2023

KBO MVP Fedde signs with White Sox: reports

Erick Fedde, the reigning most valuable player award winner in South Korean baseball, has signed with the Chicago White Sox, US media reports claimed. ESPN and other outlets reported Tuesday that Fedde has agreed to a two-year deal worth $15 million with the White Sox. Fedde, 30, won the Korea Baseball Organization regular season MVP award for the NC Dinos this season, after winning the Triple Crown as the league leader with 20 wins, a 2.00 ERA and 209 strikeouts. The American right-hander becam

Dec. 6, 2023

KBO All-Star closer Go Woo-suk posted for MLB clubs

South Korean All-Star closer Go Woo-suk has been posted for Major League Baseball clubs, the league office here announced Tuesday. The Korea Baseball Organization said MLB notified its 30 clubs of Go's posting by his domestic club, LG Twins, on Monday (US time), confirming US media reports from earlier in the day. The 25-year-old right-hander is now able to sign with any big league team within the 30-day negotiating window, which opens at 8 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday and will end at 5 p.m

Dec. 5, 2023

9 foreign players not tendered contract for 2024 KBO season

Nine foreign players are among dozens of players not receiving a contract for next season in the top South Korean baseball league. The Korea Baseball Organization unveiled a list of 59 non-tendered players Thursday evening. Other than a handful of players in the group who have announced their retirements, non-tendered players immediately became free agents. Underachieving foreign players, including KT Wiz outfielder Anthony Alford, SSG Landers pitcher Kirk McCarty and NC Dinos pitcher Tanner Tul

Dec. 1, 2023

SSG Landers strip general manager of duties over mishaps

The South Korean baseball club SSG Landers said Saturday they have stripped general manager (GM) Kim Sung-yong of his duties over a recent series of mishaps. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) team said Kim will instead lead its research & development center, which oversees player development. Kim's reassignment is the latest development in what has been a tumultuous offseason for the Landers. They abruptly fired manager Kim Won-hyong on Oct. 31, soon after the team's eliminat

Nov. 25, 2023

Korean Series champions Twins re-sign 1B Austin Dean

The reigning Korean Series champions LG Twins announced Friday they have re-signed first baseman Austin Dean for one more season. The Korea Baseball Organization club said Dean, 30, has agreed to a new contract that could pay him up to $1.3 million. He will earn $800,000 in annual salary and $300,000 in a signing bonus, plus another $200,000 in incentives. The announcement comes four days after Dean helped the Twins win their first Korean Series crown in 29 years. Dean made $700,000 in 2023, his

Nov. 17, 2023

Seoul mayor to consider street festivities for LG Twins' victory

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated that the Seoul Metropolitan Government will consider holding street celebrations to commemorate the LG Twins’ victory during this year’s Korean Series on Monday. “As the mayor of Seoul, I am overjoyed that the LG Twins won the Korean Series, for the first time in 29 years,” said Oh in a post on his Facebook account. “The city government will actively consider organizing public celebrations at Seoul Plaza to congratulate the LG Twins.&rd

Nov. 14, 2023

LG Twins makes 29-year-long dream come true

The LG Twins nabbed the Korean Series trophy for the first time in 29 years, beating KT Wiz 6-2 in Game 5 of the Korean Series on Monday on their home turf at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa-gu, southeastern Seoul. After getting ahead with a victory in Suwon on Nov. 10 -- putting them at 3 games to 1 in the best of seven series -- the Seoul-based Twins hoped to close the series with a final victory in front of their 23,750 fans at Jamsil. The game was scoreless for two innings, but then Twin

Nov. 14, 2023

LG Twins crowned champions for 1st time since 1994 as S. Korean baseball season ends

The 2023 season in South Korean baseball ended Monday night the way it hadn't for nearly three decades: with the LG Twins as the champions. The Twins defeated the KT Wiz 6-2 in Game 5 of the Korean Series at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, claiming the best-of-seven series 4-1 for their first championship since 1994. The drought-busting victory capped a memorable season in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), which saw the attendance figure surpass the 8 million mark for the first time in fi

Nov. 14, 2023

LG Twins capture 1st Korean Series title in 29 years

The wait is over. The LG Twins are the champions of South Korean baseball for the first time in 29 years. The Twins defeated the KT Wiz 6-2 in Game 5 of the Korean Series on Monday, winning their fourth straight game after dropping the opener of this best-of-seven competition. This is the Twins' first title since 1994 and it ends one of the longest title droughts in the history of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), dating to 1982. The Seoul-based Twins got to celebrate their long-awaite

Nov. 13, 2023

Twins look to capture Korean Series title with ace Kelly on mound

A win away from capturing their first Korean Series title in 29 years, the LG Twins will send their top starter, Casey Kelly, to the hill in the potential clinching game. In a rematch of the opening contest of this best-of-seven series, the KT Wiz will counter with right-hander Ko Young-pyo on Monday as they try to stay alive. The starting pitching matchup was announced Sunday, the eve of Game 5 of the Korea Baseball Organization championship round. After dropping Game 1 last Tuesday, the Twins

Nov. 12, 2023

American lefty vs. S. Korean righty to duel in pivotal Game 3 of Korean Series

With the Korean Series against the LG Twins knotted at one game apiece, the KT Wiz will turn to their American ace Wes Benjamin trying to win their first home game in the best-of-seven set Friday. The Twins will send homegrown right-hander Im Chan-kyu to the hill, as they look to steal a game on the road. The Wiz won the opening game of the series 3-2 on Tuesday at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. Then on the following day, the Wiz opened up a 4-0 lead after the first inning before the Twins ra

Nov. 9, 2023

Be it playoff beard or routine, Wiz ace Benjamin not changing anything

KT Wiz left-hander Wes Benjamin is about to pitch in the biggest game of his career in South Korea this week, but he says he won't change anything -- including his facial hair. Benjamin last shaved after the Wiz dropped their second straight game against the NC Dinos in the previous Korea Baseball Organization postseason series on Oct. 31. Then the Wiz won three games in a row to take the best-of-five series and reach the Korean Series. Benjamin is now in full playoff beard mode. "I do

Nov. 8, 2023

LG Twins turn rare triple play in Korean Series

The LG Twins turned a rare triple play in the opening game of the Korean Series against the KT Wiz on Tuesday. With runners at first and second with nobody out in the top of the second inning, the Wiz's Moon Sang-chul put down a bunt trying to advance the runners. But the ball stopped right in front of the home plate in fair territory. Catcher Park Dong-won picked it up and threw out the lead runner Jang Sung-woo at third, where shortstop Oh Ji-hwan was covering the bag. Oh then threw to fi

Nov. 7, 2023