Stingy pitching staff to face best slugging team for KBO's wild card

The 2019 postseason in South Korean baseball will begin this week with a wild-card game between one of the league's top pitching staffs and its best slugging club. The LG Twins, which finished at 79-64-1 (wins-losses-ties), will host the NC Dinos (73-69-2) at 2 p.m. Thursday at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. As the higher seed, the Twins will have two cracks at trying to win or tie one game to advance to the next stage.  If the Twins claim Thursday's game or end up in a tie after 15 innings,

Oct. 2, 2019

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin clinches ERA title with 7 shutout innings in final reg. season start

Los Angeles Dodgers' starter Ryu Hyun-jin has finished the 2019 season with the lowest ERA in the majors.The South Korean left-hander tossed seven shutout innings in the Dodgers' 2-0 win over the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Saturday (local time), lowering his major league-best ERA from 2.41 to 2.32.Ryu was lifted for pinch hitter Jedd Gyorko to begin the top of the eighth, with the Dodgers leading 2-0. The bullpen made the score stand, and Ryu finished the year at 14-

Sept. 29, 2019

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin to make final regular season start on weekend with ERA title at stake

It's come down to one last outing.Los Angeles Dodgers' South Korean left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin will make his final start of the regular season this weekend against the San Francisco Giants. The game will be at 1:05 p.m. Saturday at Oracle Park in San Francisco -- that's 5:05 a.m. Sunday in Seoul.Ryu (13-5) will try to win his 14th game of 2019 and match his single-season career high. He previously won 14 games in each of his first two big league seasons in 2013 and 2014.More importantly, Ryu will

Sept. 27, 2019

Ex-Chicago Cubs scout hired as new GM for KBO's Lotte Giants

Former Chicago Cubs scout Sung Min-kyu has been named the new general manager for the South Korean club Lotte Giants.The Korea Baseball Organization team announced Tuesday that Sung will succeed Lee Yoon-won, who resigned in July, in the front office.Sung, 37, had been in the Cubs organization for more than a decade, first as a minor league player, then as a minor league coach and, most recently, as the Pacific Rim scouting supervisor and special assignment professional scout.Sung has also dabbl

Sept. 3, 2019

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin roughed up by Yankees, loses 2nd straight game

Los Angeles Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin seems to be losing his grip on the Cy Young Award.The South Korean left-hander got rocked by the New York Yankees to the tune of three homers and seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday (local time). The Dodgers lost 10-2 as Ryu suffered his second straight loss and dropped to 12-4 for the season. He hadn't lost consecutive starts since Sept. 5 and 11 last year.Ryu entered the game with a major league-best 1.64 ERA, but it h

Aug. 24, 2019

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin 'honored' to start MLB All-Star Game

For Los Angeles Dodgers' left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin, getting to start this week's All-Star Game in Cleveland isn't just a big deal for himself."Starting the All-Star Game is an honor for my family, and I think it's going to be a special day back home in South Korea," Ryu said at a press conference at Huntington Convention Center on Monday, the eve of the Midsummer Classic. "It's definitely a great occasion. This feels like being in the postseason, because starting pitchers get to si

July 9, 2019

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin wins final start of 1st half

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Ryu Hyun-jin has wrapped up a terrific first half of the season with a long-awaited victory.The South Korean left-hander shut down the San Diego Padres over six innings at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday (local time), holding them to three singles while striking out five. The Dodgers went on to win 5-1.He improved to 10-2 for the season to reach win No. 10 on his fifth try and lowered his major league-best ERA from 1.83 to 1.73. Now in his sixth season, with

July 5, 2019

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin expected to start 1st All-Star Game

In the midst of an outstanding season, Los Angeles Dodgers' South Korean starter Ryu Hyun-jin is expected to start the All-Star Game next week in his Midsummer Classic debut.Ryu was announced as one of 12 pitchers for the National League All-Star squad by Major League Baseball on Sunday (local time). The All-Star Game will be played on July 9 at Progressive Field in Cleveland.And Dave Roberts, Ryu's manager with the Dodgers who will be the NL skipper at the All-Star Game, told reporters, "I

July 1, 2019

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin settles for 2nd straight no-decision

Los Angeles Dodgers' starter Ryu Hyun-jin will have to wait for another chance to reach win No. 10 for the season.The South Korean left-hander settled for his second straight no-decision against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday (local time). Ryu gave up two runs, both unearned, over seven solid innings but was relieved at the start of the eighth with the score tied at 2-2. The Dodgers went on to win 3-2. Ryu remains at 9-1 for the year, but he lowered his major league-

June 17, 2019

[Graphic News] Ryu Hyun-jin named best pitcher for May

　Los Angeles Dodgers’ Ryu Hyun-jin is lately showing off outstanding performances in each and every measure. He has capped it off by winning the National League Pitcher of the Month for May.　Ryu is the second Korean, after then-Dodger Park Chan-ho. Park was the NL’s top pitcher in July 1998, when he was 4-0 in six starts with a 1.05 ERA.

June 6, 2019

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin collects 9th win in another scoreless start

This is getting to sound like a broken record: Los Angeles Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin has thrown another scoreless gem.The Arizona Diamondbacks were the victims this time, as the South Korean left-hander held them to three hits over seven shutout innings in the Dodgers' 9-0 rout at Chase Field in Phoenix on Tuesday (local time).Ryu improved to 9-1 and lowered his major league-best ERA from 1.48 to 1.35. He struck out two and walked none while retiring a dozen straight batters in one stretch. This was

June 5, 2019

Rangers' Choo Shin-soo hits 200th homer

Texas Rangers' Choo Shin-soo has belted his 200th homer of his career to become the first Asian MLB player to achieve the feat.Batting leadoff, the South Korean left fielder smacked a solo home run in his first plate appearance of the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday (US time). It is his 11th homer of the season and the 200th of his 15-year career in the Major League Baseball.Also Choo, 36, became the first Asian player to hit 200 homers in th

June 5, 2019

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin shuts down Mets for 8th win, cements NL Pitcher of Month case

Los Angeles Dodgers' starter Ryu Hyun-jin has wrapped up an outstanding May in style, picking up his eighth win of the season with a gem against the New York Mets at home.Ryu tossed 7 2/3 shutout innings in the Dodgers' 2-0 victory at Dodger Stadium on Thursday (local time). Ryu held the Mets to just four hits, while striking out seven and walking one. Ryu improved to 8-1 with a major league-best 1.48 ERA. The left-hander remains the only qualified starter in baseball with a sub-2.00 ERA this ye

May 31, 2019

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin wins 7th game of '19, has scoreless streak snapped at 32 innings

Los Angeles Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin has won his fifth straight game despite having his scoreless streak snapped and giving up a season-high 10 hits.Ryu labored through six innings, working around those 10 hits to limit the Pittsburgh Pirates to two runs in a 7-2 victory at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Saturday (local time). Ryu improved to 7-1 for the season, striking out three and giving up no walks on 93 pitches, 66 for strikes. Ryu entered the game not having allowed a run in 31 straight innings,

May 26, 2019

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin extends scoreless streak to 31 innings, earns 6th win of '19

Scoring off Los Angeles Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin is the toughest thing for major league hitters these days. The South Korean left-hander improved to 6-1 for the season after shutting down the Cincinnati Reds over seven innings at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Sunday (local time). Ryu scattered five hits while striking out five and walking one, as the Dodgers prevailed 8-3. Ryu extended his scoreless streak to a career-best 31 innings and lowered his ERA from 1.72 to 1.52, cu

May 20, 2019

Dodgers' pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin earns top NL weekly honor

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers has been named the National League Player of the Week for the first time in his career.The left-hander earned the honor Monday (local time) after throwing 17 scoreless innings with 15 strikeouts, one walk and five hits allowed over his last two starts. (AFP)He pulled off a four-hit shutout against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, marking his first shutout since May 28, 2013, against the Los Angeles Angels as a big league rookie.On Sunday, he picked up his fi

May 14, 2019

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin earns 5th win vs. Nationals

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers picked up his fifth win of the season after delivering eight scoreless innings against the Washington Nationals.The South Korean left-hander kept the Nationals to one hit in eight innings with nine strikeouts and one walk in his side's 6-0 win at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday (local time).He had a no-hitter through the seventh inning but allowed the National's only hit to Gerardo Parra in the eighth. Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin

May 13, 2019

Dodgers' Ryu prevails over Pirates' Kang in all-Korean pitcher-batter duel

In their first head-to-head showdown in Major League Baseball, Los Angeles Dodgers' South Korean starter Ryu Hyun-jin came out on top against Pittsburgh Pirates' third baseman Kang Jung-ho in LA on Friday.   Kang was 1-for-3 with a single and a strikeout against his friend at Dodger Stadium, as Ryu picked up his third win of 2019 in a 6-2 win.   These two 32-year-olds were All-Stars in the Korea Baseball Organization before they took their talents to the United States. In December 2012, Ryu beca

April 27, 2019

Pirates' Kang Jung-ho donates to help forest fire relief efforts in S. Korea

South Korean major leaguer Kang Jung-ho has donated money to help relief efforts following a forest fire that engulfed the east coast regions of his native country, his Seoul-based agency said Monday.Leeco Sports Agency said the Pittsburgh Pirates infielder sent 30 million won ($26,240) to the Korea Disaster Relief Association and another 10 million won to the Korea Firefighting Welfare Foundation.Through his agency, Kang said he was "heartbroken" by the news of the devastating fire and added: "

April 8, 2019

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin earns 2nd win of season vs. Giants

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers has picked up his second win of the season after delivering a quality start against the San Francisco Giants.The South Korean left-hander kept the Giants to two runs in seven innings with five strikeouts in his side's 6-5 win at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday (local time). Ryu collected his second straight win of the 2019 Major League Baseball season following his Opening Day action last week.Ryu allowed six hits, including one home run, against

April 3, 2019