Samsung closer Oh Seung-hwan to stay in S. Korea

The Samsung Lions' closer Oh Seung-hwan decided on Monday to stay with his South Korean club for 2013 and put his dreams of playing overseas on hold, team officials said Monday.Song Sam-bong, general manager of the Korea Baseball Organization club, said Oh, the league's all-time saves leader, told him in their meeting he would pitch one more season for the Daegu-based team before testing the free agent market.The Lions have won the past two KBO championships. Song said he told Oh the Lions would

Nov. 12, 2012

Hanwha Eagles accept MLB posting bid for pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin

The Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said Saturday they've accepted the highest of sealed bids by a Major League Baseball (MLB) club for their star pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin, clearing the path for the left-hander to reach the big leagues in 2013.The Eagles said the bid was worth about US$25.7 million. It is the highest amount of bid ever for a South Korean player attempting to reach the majors.The MLB club that has submitted the bid has not yet been disclosed. Reports earlier sa

Nov. 10, 2012

Yomiuri beats Australia's Perth in Asia Series baseball

The Japanese champions Yomiuri Giants defeated the Perth Heat of Australia 7-1 Friday at the Asia Series baseball tournament.At Sajik Stadium in this southeastern city, some 450 kilometers from Seoul, Shinnosuke Abe hit a pinch-hit, go-ahead single in the seventh as the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) champions came back from 1-0 down against the underdogs.The Giants tagged on two more runs that inning and added three more in the eighth off the Heat’s South Korean pitcher, Koo Dae-sung.The As

Nov. 9, 2012

Eleven players declare free agency in Korean baseball

Eleven players have declared free agency in South Korea’s top baseball league, officials said Friday.The Korea Baseball Organization said veteran designated hitter Hong Sung-heon and speedy outfielder Kim Joo-chan, both of the Lotte Giants, are among the 11 players who exercised their rights to test the market.Under the league rule, the eight KBO teams, aside from the expansion NC Dinos, can acquire up to two free agents this offseason.If there are eight or fewer free agents, teams can only sign

Nov. 9, 2012

Samsung Lions not taking Taiwanese opponents lightly

BUSAN (Yonhap News) -- The South Korean baseball champions competing in a continental club tournament aren‘t taking their upcoming opponents from Taiwan lightly, their manager said Thursday, especially after the Taiwanese hammered a Chinese team earlier in the day.Ryu Joong-il, manager of the Samsung Lions, watched the Lamigo Monkeys of Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League pound the China Stars from the China Baseball League 15-1 to kick off the Asia Series in Busan. The game ended afte

Nov. 8, 2012

Managers in Asia Series baseball tournament predict S. Korea-Japan final

Managers participating in a continental baseball club championship here predicted on Wednesday a South Korea-Japan final for the regional bragging rights.On the eve of the Asia Series, to be held here in Busan from Thursday to Sunday, managers of the six clubs in action said representatives from the host country and its long-time rival will likely clash for the title.The Asia Series will pit six clubs from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China and Australia against each other.South Korea's Korea Bas

Nov. 7, 2012

Asia Series clubs in Korea to win

BUSAN (Yonhap News) -- A day ahead of a continental baseball tournament here between league champions and All-Stars, participating managers and players said Wednesday they’ve come to South Korea to win.The Asia Series, set for Thursday to Sunday this week, will pit six clubs from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China and Australia against each other. South Korea is the first-time host, and Sajik Stadium in Busan, about 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, will serve as the venue, as the teams will vie

Nov. 7, 2012

Ortiz aims to spur Sox rebound

BOSTON (AP) ― David Ortiz got what he wanted a lot easier than he ever expected.Ortiz, the face of the Red Sox since helping Boston end an 86-year World Series drought in 2004, finalized a $26 million, two-year contract on Monday, a deal that could be worth up to $30 million if he avoid another significant Achilles tendon injury next year.The soon-to-be 37-year old had expressed his preference for a two-year deal the past two seasons. The club decided that keeping him and agreeing to his desire

Nov. 6, 2012

KT to create 10th pro baseball team

SUWON (Yonhap News) -- South Korean telecom giant KT Corp. said Tuesday it will sponsor an expansion baseball team here in Gyeonggi Province.KT has signed on to launch the 10th club in the Korea Baseball Organization in the city of Suwon, just south of Seoul, with an eye on joining the top league by 2015.Lee Suk-chae, the chairman of KT, said the company will try to revitalize the local economy and incorporate its latest information and communications technologies into the sport to create new co

Nov. 6, 2012

Lotte Giants name Kim Si-jin as new manager

The Lotte Giants in South Korea's top baseball league on Monday named Kim Si-jin as their new manager.Kim, a former manager with the Nexen Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization, replaces Yang Seung-ho in the Giants’ dugout. Yang stepped down last week to take the fall for the Giants' failure to make the championship Korean Series during his two years in Busan.The Giants said Kim signed a three-year deal worth 300 million won per season ($274,800), along with a 300 million won signing bonus.

Nov. 5, 2012

Ryu up for MLB posting, confident of receiving good bid

Ryu Hyun-jin, the South Korean pitcher recently made available for bidding among Major League Baseball clubs, said Monday he was confident he would receive a good bid from the big leagues in the coming days.Ryu was posted by his current team, the Hanwha Eagles in the Korea Baseball Organization, last week and interested MLB clubs have four business days in which to submit their bids for the left-hander.Speaking on the sidelines of the KBO awards ceremony in Seoul, Ryu said he would be “disappoin

Nov. 5, 2012