The Korea Herald

Ryu predicts success for Kang

SURPRISE, Arizona (Yonhap) ― Ryu Hyun-jin, the South Korean pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, on Saturday predicted a successful major league career for his compatriot and friend Kang Jung-ho, a shortstop who recently signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates.The two 27-year-olds have been close friends throughout their pro careers. As Kang joined his former KBO team, the Nexen Heroes, for their spring training here Saturday, Ryu watched his buddy from the sidelines. Ryu had earlier arrived in Glend

Jan. 18, 2015

New Pirate Kang Jung-ho feeling responsibility

Having recently reached a history-making agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates, South Korean shortstop Kang Jung-ho said Saturday he feels added responsibility as a trailblazer for baseball in his native country.Kang's four-year deal with the Pirates was made official Friday, making him the first position player from the Korea Baseball Organization to sign a big league contract via the posting process. He will reportedly earn $11 million in guaranteed money over four years, with a club option fo

Jan. 18, 2015

Baseball: Korean slugger Kang headed to Pittsburgh

Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates have inked South Korean slugger Kang Jung-Ho to a four-year contract with a club option for the 2019 season.Kang hit .356 with 36 doubles, 40 home runs and 117 runs-batted-in in 117 games with the Nexen Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization in 2014.He led the league in slugging percentage (.739) and OPS (1.198) while ranking second in on-base percentage (.459), home runs and total bases (309)."First I want to thank the Nexen Heroes for allowing me

Jan. 18, 2015

After strong year, Yang hoping for better 2015

INCHEON (Yonhap) ― South Korean pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong, who was honored as the top homegrown hurler in the nation’s top league last year, said Friday he is hoping for an even better season in 2015, both for himself and for his pitching brethren.Yang and his Korea Baseball Organization club, the Kia Tigers, left for their spring training site in Okinawa, Japan, on Friday. Speaking to reporters at Incheon International Airport, Yang said he wants to improve on his 2014 season.The 26-year-old led

Jan. 16, 2015

After strong year, Yang hoping for better 2015

Mariners closer Rodney to visit Korea next week

The Seattle Mariners’ closer Fernando Rodney said Thursday he will visit South Korea next week and meet with the Little League World Series championship team here.Rodney is scheduled to meet with the 2014 Little League world champs from South Korea, whose players mimicked Rodney’s signature bow-and-arrow celebration during their 8-4 victory over Illinois in the final.“I’m going to Korea because I feel really connected and supported by the Korean fans,” Rodney was quoted as saying on MLB.com. “Si

Jan. 15, 2015

MLB dream on hold, Kim moves on

INCHEON (Yonhap) ― With his dream of playing in Major League Baseball on hold, South Korean pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun said Thursday he has chosen only to look forward.Kim, a left-hander for the SK Wyverns in the Korea Baseball Organization, departed for the team’s spring training site in Florida with his teammates. Speaking to reporters at Incheon International Airport ahead of the flight, Kim said he will try to put his past disappointments behind him.“I’ve had some difficult times and I was at fi

Jan. 15, 2015

Bears acquire Lutz

The South Korean baseball club Doosan Bears on Wednesday announced their acquisition of former big league infielder Zach Lutz.The team said Lutz, 28, has agreed to a one-year deal worth $550,000.Lutz appeared in 22 games for the New York Mets in 2012 and 2013, going 7 for 31 at the plate with two RBIs.He has spent the majority of his career in the minors. In 2014, he played 59 games for the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas, batting .291 with seven homers and 37 RBIs. (Yonhap)

Jan. 14, 2015

Kang Jung-ho confident he can be starter

INCHEON (Yonhap) ― On the verge of joining the Pittsburgh Pirates with his first Major League Baseball contract, South Korean shortstop Kang Jung-ho said Wednesday he is confident he can outplay the Bucs’ incumbent shortstop if given an opportunity.Kang left for Pittsburgh on Wednesday, a day after a U.S. report claimed that he and the Pirates had agreed to a four-year deal worth about $16 million. Speaking to reporters at Incheon International Airport, Kang insisted no deal was in place yet, bu

Jan. 14, 2015

Kang Jung-ho confident he can be starter

Feeling black and gold

South Korean shortstop Kang Jung-ho has agreed to a multiyear contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, a U.S. report claimed Tuesday.ESPN.com reported, citing a source, that Kang has reached a four-year deal worth approximately $16 million, with an option for a fifth year.The deal is pending a physical, the report added.Kang’s Korea Baseball Organization club, the Nexen Heroes, said Monday that the player was scheduled to depart for Pittsburgh on Wednesday and to undergo a physical on Thursday and

Jan. 13, 2015

With deal in sight, Kang set to visit Pittsburgh

Reportedly close to getting a deal done with the Pittsburgh Pirates, South Korean shortstop Kang Jung-ho will depart for Pittsburgh this week, his current South Korean club announced Monday.The Nexen Heroes said Kang will leave for the U.S. city on Wednesday. Once there, Kang will undergo medical tests on Thursday and Friday, the Heroes added.The Heroes posted Kang last month, after the slugging shortstop belted 40 home runs and drove in 117 runs in 117 games in the 2014 season. The home run and

Jan. 12, 2015

With deal in sight, Kang set to visit Pittsburgh

Reportedly close to getting a deal done with the Pittsburgh Pirates, South Korean shortstop Kang Jung-ho will depart for Pittsburgh this week, his current South Korean club announced Monday.The Nexen Heroes said Kang will leave for the U.S. city on Wednesday. Once there, Kang will undergo medical tests on Thursday and Friday, the Heroes added.The Heroes posted Kang last month, after the slugging shortstop belted 40 home runs and drove in 117 runs in 117 games in the 2014 season. The home run and

Jan. 12, 2015

Lions sign Cloyd

The reigning South Korean baseball champs Samsung Lions said Thursday they’ve signed former big league right-hander Tyler Cloyd.The Korea Baseball Organization club said they inked the 27-year-old pitcher for $550,000, along with a signing bonus of $100,000.Cloyd pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2012 and 2013, going 4-9 with a 5.89 ERA in 19 appearances, 17 of them starts. (Yonhap)

Jan. 8, 2015

Johnson, Martinez among 4 voted into Hall of Fame

NEW YORK (AP) ― Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz dominated in an era of offense, each in their own way.The 6-foot-10 Big Unit became the tallest of 215 players elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame and the 5-foot-11 Martinez the shortest pitcher picked for Cooperstown since Whitey Ford in 1974.Smoltz, who found unusual success both as a starting pitcher and a reliever, also was voted in Tuesday along with Craig Biggio, the first time since 1955 writers picked a quartet of players in on

Jan. 7, 2015

Johnson, Martinez among 4 voted into Hall of Fame

Jang seeks ‘turning point’ on new team

Jang Won-jun takes part in a press conference on Wednesday. (Yonhap)Jang Won-jun, South Korea’s most expensive pitcher who signed a record-setting free-agent contract with the Doosan Bears, said Wednesday he wants to have a “turning point” in his Korea Baseball Organization career on a new club.The Bears formally introduced Jang at their home park, Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, on Wednesday, a little more than a month after inking him to a four-year, 8.4 billion won ($7.6 million) contract. It was th

Jan. 7, 2015

Reigning MVP to start with clean slate

By all accounts, Nexen Heroes second baseman Seo Geon-chang had a season to remember in 2014, setting Korea Baseball Organization single-season records with 201 hits, 135 runs scored and 17 tripes, en route to winning his first MVP award. For his accomplishments ― which included his first batting title with a .370 average ― Seo also grabbed multiple trophies at several year-end baseball award ceremonies.Yet with the Heroes’ spring training set to open next week, Seo said Tuesday he will forget a

Jan. 6, 2015

Pedro Martinez waits for call from Hall of Fame

BOSTON (AP) ― As a Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster, Nomar Garciaparra watched Clayton Kershaw become the dominant pitcher in the National League, winning three of the last four NL Cy Young Awards ― the last one unanimously.But when fans ask if he’s ever witnessed anyone as good as the L.A. left-hander, Garciaparra stops them cold.“Hang on,” he says, “I got to play with Pedro Martinez.”The former Red Sox shortstop was already in Boston when the reigning NL Cy Young winner arrived from the Montrea

Jan. 4, 2015

Pedro Martinez waits for call from Hall of Fame

Doosan Bears bring back Dustin Nippert

South Korean baseball club Doosan Bears announced Monday they have re-signed their right-hander Dustin Nippert, bringing back the steady starter for his fifth season in the Korea Baseball Organization.The Bears said Nippert has agreed to a $1.5 million deal to return to the Seoul-based club. Foreign players are only allowed to sign one-year contracts with the KBO clubs.Nippert, 33, has gone 52-27 with a 3.25 ERA in 107 appearances for the Bears and holds the record for most victories by a foreig

Dec. 29, 2014

Crowded infield

Of the 30 Major League Baseball clubs, the Pittsburgh Pirates seemed one of the least likely teams to put in a bid when South Korean shortstop Kang Jung-ho was posted earlier this month.For one, their infield appeared set for next season with players still in or entering their prime in their late 20s. And the Pirates had one of the smallest payrolls in MLB in 2014, ranking 27th with $78.1 million. Bidding millions of dollars just to have the rights to talk to an international player with no big

Dec. 25, 2014

MLB average salary exceeds $3.8 million

NEW YORK (AP) ― Major League Baseball’s average salary shot up to more than $3.8 million this year following the steepest rise in more than a decade, putting big leaguers on track to top the $4 million barrier for the first time in 2015.The Major League Baseball Players Association said the average salary was $3,818,923, up from $3,386,212 last year. The 12.78 percent hike was the biggest since a 12.83 percent rise from 2000 to 2001.Player salaries are spurting after several years of more modest

Dec. 25, 2014

Little room on Pirates' roster for shortstop Kang Jung-ho without trades

Of the 30 Major League Baseball clubs, the Pittsburgh Pirates seemed one of the least likely teams to put in a bid when the South Korean shortstop Kang Jung-ho was posted earlier this month.For one, their infield appeared set for next season with players still in or entering their primes in their late 20s. And the Pirates had one of the smallest payrolls in MLB in 2014, ranking 27th with $78.1 million. Bidding millions of dollars just to have the rights to talk to an international player with no

Dec. 24, 2014