The Korea Herald

Path to America

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been confirmed as the winning bidder for South Korean left-handed pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin. Major League Baseball announced early Sunday, Korean time, that the Dodgers submitted a bid of about $25.7 million for the service of the 25-year-old pitcher. Ryu’s South Korean club, the Hanwha Eagles, accepted the bid on Saturday, when only the amount of the bid, not the club that submitted it, had been known.The Dodgers had been said to be among the interested suitors for Ryu,

Nov. 11, 2012

Dodgers bid $25.7 million for South Korean lefty

The Los Angeles Dodgers have bid nearly $26 million for a chance to sign South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin.The Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization said on Saturday they accepted a posting fee of $25.7 million for the 25-year-old left-hander. Major League Baseball later announced that the team was the Dodgers.``We are thrilled to have this exciting opportunity,'' Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. ``We have watched Ryu pitch for a long time and he is another option to consid

Nov. 11, 2012

Dodgers bid $25.7 million for South Korean lefty

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

Dodgers, Cubs said to be among suitors for Ryu

At least two Major League Baseball clubs have submitted bids for the service of South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin, sources said Friday, as the South Korean league awaits confirmation from the MLB.The Los Angeles Dodgers are interested in the 25-year-old pitcher, an informed source in the U.S. told Yonhap News Agency Friday.Earlier, Chicago Tribune newspaper reported that the Chicago Cubs were among teams that handed in bids for Ryu. The deadline for teams to submit bids in the posting process wa

Nov. 9, 2012

Dodgers, Cubs said to be among suitors for Ryu

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

Yu Darvish won’t play in WBC for Japan

Yu Darvish decided that he won’t pitch for his native Japan in the World Baseball Classic next spring, and will instead focus on preparing for his second season in the major leagues.The Texas Rangers right-hander issued a statement that he made the decision after much deliberation, including consultation with his coaches and trainers.“Given my substantial workload over the last few seasons and the numerous changes I’ve endured in my move to the United States, I have decided with my team of advis

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

Korea to host Asia baseball event for first time this week

Top professional baseball clubs from Asia will compete for bragging rights in South Korea this week, as the country prepares to host an annual tournament among continental league champions and All-Stars for the first time.Sajik Stadium in Busan, about 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, will serve as the venue for the Asia Series from Thursday to Sunday. This year, six clubs from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China and Australia will vie for 500 million won ($458,000) in championship prize money.Ja

Nov. 5, 2012

Korea to host Asia baseball event for first time this week

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

Non-playoff club grabs major awards

A slugger and a young speedster from a non-playoff club were the big winners Monday at the awards ceremony in South Korea’s top baseball league.First baseman Park Byung-ho of the Nexen Heroes was voted the most valuable player of the Korea Baseball Organization, earning 73 of 91 possible votes cast by baseball journalists.The 26-year-old led the league with 31 home runs, 105 RBI and a .561 slugging percentage and played every game in the 133-game season. He also swiped 20 bases to become the 23r

Nov. 5, 2012

Recipe for success

Riding their bullpen in the crunch once again, the Samsung Lions have added yet another championship banner.The Lions clinched their second straight Korea Baseball Organization title, knocking off the SK Wyverns in the Korea Series in six games. It was the Lions’ fourth title since 2005.In those championship seasons, the common thread for the Lions has been pitching. Their rise as a consistent force in the KBO has coincided with the emergence of overpowering relief pitchers.In this year’s Korean

Nov. 2, 2012

Samsung Lions win S. Korean baseball championship

The Samsung Lions are the champions of South Korean baseball in 2012.At Seoul's Jamsil Stadium Thursday, the Lions beat the SK Wyverns 7-0 to clinch the best-of-seven Korean Series in six games.Park Seok-min blasted a two-run home run and Lee Seung-yeop hit a bases-loaded triple during the six-run fourth for the Lions, who have now won back-to-back Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) titles and their sixth overall. Last year, they defeated the same Wyverns in five games.Lee Seung-yeop was voted th

Nov. 1, 2012

Samsung Lions win S. Korean baseball championship

Giants paint city black, orange

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― Ecstatic baseball fans packed the streets of San Francisco on Wednesday for a confetti-drenched parade and rally honoring the World Series champion Giants ― a Halloween treat made even sweeter as a repeat performance from 2010.Tens of thousands of people decked out in the team’s holiday-appropriate orange and black stood 30 deep behind barriers, climbed trees, camped out overnight and mounted rooftops for a chance to see their favorite players wave from convertibles and get

Nov. 1, 2012

KBO to notify MLB of Ryu’s availability

South Korea’s top baseball league said Thursday it will inform Major League Baseball of the availability of a star Korean pitcher for posting.The Korea Baseball Organization said it will notify MLB Friday that the Hanwha Eagles left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin will be up for a silent auction as part of the posting process.The Eagles announced on Monday this week that they will make Ryu available for interested MLB clubs, clearing the way for the pitcher to join the big leagues as early as 2013.Ryu becam

Nov. 1, 2012