Japan Series MVP Lee Dae-ho declares intent to play in MLB

South Korean baseball slugger Lee Dae-ho on Tuesday declared his intent to play in Major League Baseball, saying it's always been his dream to become a big league player.  At a press conference in Seoul, the reigning Japan Series MVP for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks said he will exercise his option with the Nippon Professional Baseball club and become a free agent.  "All baseball players dream of playing in the majors, and I'd like to pursue that dream," he said. "If I can give 100 percent, like I

Nov. 3, 2015

Doosan beats Samsung to even Korean Series at one apiece

The Doosan Bears defeated the Samsung Lions 6-1 to even the South Korean baseball championship final at one game apiece on Tuesday.　Right-hander Dustin Nippert tossed seven shutout innings to extend his scoreless streak this postseason to 24 innings, as the Bears went out in front and stayed there in Game 2 of the Korean Series on the road at Daegu Stadium in Daegu, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul.　The series will move to the Bears‘ home, Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, for three games starting

Oct. 27, 2015

Korean baseball final opens under cloud of gambling scandal

When South Korea's version of the World Series opens Monday, an unsavory off-field scandal will threaten to take away some of the spotlight that should be reserved for action on the diamond.The four-time defending champion Samsung Lions will take on the Doosan Bears in the best-of-seven Korean Series starting at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Daegu Stadium, the Lions' home. The Korea Baseball Organization championship final is ripe with great storylines: this is the fifth Korean Series showdown between the

Oct. 25, 2015

NC rallies late to beat Doosan, evens playoff series in baseball

The NC Dinos rallied to defeat the Doosan Bears 2-1 on Monday to even their South Korean baseball playoff series at one game apiece.No. 8 hitter Ji Seok-hun lined a game-tying double in the bottom of the eighth and later came around to score the go-ahead run on a wild pitch at Masan Stadium, as the Dinos -- after losing 7-0 in Game 1 on Sunday -- got right back into the best-of-five second round playoff series in the Korea Baseball Organization.Game 3 will move to the Bears' home, Jamsil Stadium

Oct. 19, 2015

Choo Shin-soo stays hot as Rangers inch closer to AL West title

Choo Shin-soo of the Texas Rangers stayed hot to cap a strong September, as his club inched closer to the American League West division title on Wednesday at home.The South Korean outfielder went 1-for-4 and scored a run, as the Rangers beat the Detroit Tigers 6-2 at Globe Life Park in Arlington.Choo, one of Major League Baseball's hottest hitters since the All-Star break, ended September with a .404 batting average and a .515 on-base percentage, along with five home runs and 20 RBIs.The Rangers

Oct. 1, 2015

Amid MLB talks, KBO outfielder focused on race for playoff spot

Hours after a U.S. media report claimed Wednesday he has set his sights on Major League Baseball (MLB), Lotte Giants outfielder Son Ah-seop apologized to his teammates for causing a distraction at a key juncture late in the season.With the Giants battling for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), Yahoo Sports reported that Son plans to enter the posting this offseason, putting himself up for a silent auction among interested big league teams.The Giants must f

Sept. 23, 2015

Eric Thames of NC Dinos becomes first KBO player with two cycles in one season

Eric Thames of the NC Dinos on Tuesday became the first player in South Korean baseball to hit for the cycle twice in one season.The American slugger completed his second cycle of the season against the Nexen Heroes at Mokdong Stadium in Seoul. It was the 18th cycle in the 33-year history of the Korea Baseball Organization.Thames, formerly with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners, had his first cycle on April 9.Yang Joon-hyuk, a retired legend and the KBO's all-time leader in hits, is

Aug. 11, 2015

U.S. envoy Lippert to be named honorary ambassador for S. Korean baseball league

Mark Lippert, U.S. ambassador to Seoul, will be named an honorary ambassador for the top South Korean baseball league, its officials announced Thursday.The Korea Baseball Organization said Lippert will be introduced as its honorary ambassador Saturday during its annual All-Star Game at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, some 45 kilometers south of Seoul.Lippert's love for baseball has been well-documented. Last fall, he attended a game during the Korean Series -- the KBO's championship fin

July 16, 2015

Ex-MLB pitcher Park Chan-ho gives equipment, free lesson to Vietnamese youth team

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Park Chan-ho has provided equipment and a free lesson to a youth club in Vietnam, informed sources said Monday.Park, a goodwill ambassador for the Economic Development Cooperation Fund, met with the Hanoi-based club Hanoi Capitals last Friday, and offered them gloves and cleats, the sources said, adding the former right-hander also gave a brief clinic.The EDCF is a state fund launched in 1987 and is designed to help less-developed countries by giving loans wi

June 23, 2015

Historic homer lifts baseball star into rarefied air

With a milestone homer that further cemented his legacy in South Korean baseball, slugger Lee Seung-yuop on Wednesday entered rarefied air that no one has reached, and no one likely will for quite some time.The 38-year-old star for the Samsung Lions belted his 400thcareer home run off Koo Seung-min of the Lotte Giants at Pohang Baseball Stadium. It's the alternate home for the Lions, who are based in Daegu, west of Pohang.Lee became the KBO's career leader in home runs two years ago, hitting hom

June 3, 2015

S. Korea to face Japan in opening match of inaugural baseball tournament

South Korea will face its archrival, Japan, to open an inaugural international baseball tournament this fall, officials said Wednesday.  At a press conference held in Seoul jointly with the Korea Baseball Organization, the World Baseball Softball Confederation unveiled groupings for the new 12-nation competition called the Premier 12. The countries were chosen based on their world rankings as of November last year, and the first edition will be played from Nov. 8 to 21 in Chinese Taipei and Japa

May 20, 2015

Rangers' Choo stretches hitting streak to AL-best 14

South Korean outfielder Choo Shin-soo of the Texas Rangers has now hit safely in 14 straight games, the longest such streak in the American League this year.Choo went 3-for-4 against the Kansas City Royals at home, Globe Life Park in Arlington, for his second three-hit game of the week.He has recorded at least two hits in each of his past five games.Choo currently leads all major leaguers with 12 extra-base hits -- eight doubles and four home runs -- in May. Despite Choo's hot bat, the Rangers l

May 15, 2015

Slugger Lee Dae-ho hits 300th career home run

Slugger Lee Dae-ho, playing for the Softbank Hawks in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), hit his 300th career home run on Friday to become the second South Korean baseball player to achieve the honor in two leagues.Starting as the designated hitter at a home game against the Rakuten Eagles at Yahoo Auctions Dome in Fukuoka, Lee slammed a solo homer off starter Kenny Ray in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at 1-1. It was also his eighth homer of the season. Lee, 32, hit 22

May 8, 2015

Pitcher Yoon Suk-min blames himself for unsuccessful U.S. career

After rejoining his former South Korean team following an unsuccessful U.S. minor league season in the Baltimore Orioles system, right-hander Yoon Suk-min put the blame squarely on himself for his failure to reach the majors.Yoon arrived at Incheon International Airport Friday, hours after the Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization announced their signing of the pitcher to a four-year, 9 billion won ($8.2 million) contract. It's the largest contract ever handed out to a free agent in the

March 6, 2015

Park signs with agency in hopes of landing MLB deal

South Korean slugger Park Byung-ho, hoping to reach Major League Baseball next year, has signed on with the same U.S. agency that represents his ex-teammate and current Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Kang Jung-ho, an informed industry source told Yonhap on Wednesday.The source, privy to big league player movements, said Park, the hard-hitting first baseman for the Nexen Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization, has joined Octagon, and that the agency has been in touch with at least two MLB clubs,

Jan. 28, 2015