Late-blooming slugger learns to keep emotions in check

Given the impressive frequency with which he's been hitting balls out of Korea Baseball Organization stadiums lately, it's difficult to believe Doosan Bears' slugger Kim Jae-hwan was only a fringe player just three years ago, not deemed good enough to compete in the top-tier league.Along the way, he hasn't just improved as a hitter. The 30-year-old has also learned how to control his emotions so that he is better equipped to survive the six-month grind that is a baseball season. In this file pho

Sept. 27, 2018

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin spins another gem vs. Padres

Los Angeles Dodgers' South Korean starter Ryu Hyun-jin has thrown his second straight gem to take his club closer to the postseason.Ryu blanked the San Diego Padres over six impressive innings, allowing four hits while striking out eight at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday (local time). The Dodgers went on to rout the Padres 14-0. (Yonhap)At 87-69, the Dodgers hold a 1.5-game lead over the Colorado Rockies atop the National League (NL) West. They have six games left after Sunday, while t

Sept. 24, 2018

S. Korea's pro baseball league sets salary cap on new foreign players

South Korea's top pro baseball league on Tuesday set an annual salary cap of $1 million on new foreign players.The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said it established the hard cap to curb teams' spending on imports and to ensure fair competition. The figure includes wages, incentives, signing bonuses and transfer fees. (Yonhap)The KBO said the rule only applies to new foreign players and that there's no cap when a club wants to re-sign a player whose rights are already reserved by the club. Bu

Sept. 11, 2018

Former Chicago Cubs prospect selected in draft

Former Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Rhee Dae-eun was selected first overall in the annual South Korean pro baseball draft on Monday.　The KT Wiz picked the 29-year-old right-hander with their top pick in the Korea Baseball Organization draft in Seoul.　Those who finished high school in South Korea and played for foreign professional clubs without having competed in the KBO were eligible for the draft, as long as their first pro contract expired before Jan. 31, 2017.　Rhee signed with the Cubs in

Sept. 10, 2018

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin 1st career loss vs. Mets

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Dodgers' South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin suffered his first career loss against the New York Mets on Wednesday, as a promising start turned ugly quickly.Ryu gave up 11 hits and five runs -- two unearned -- in six innings in the Dodgers' 7-3 loss at Dodger Stadium. The left-hander dropped to 4-2 for the season and his ERA rose from 2.24 to 2.47.The three earned runs tied for season-worst for Ryu, who missed three months of action beginning in May with a groin injury.

Sept. 6, 2018

Pro baseball league to halt practice of Asian Games break in 2022

The nation's top professional baseball league announced Wednesday it will halt the practice of a midseason break during the Asian Games starting with the next competition.The decision by the Korea Baseball Organization hints at the possibility of picking at least some amateur players for the quadrennial event.At the recently concluded Asian Games in Jakarta, South Korea won its third straight gold medal by defeating a Japanese team of amateurs 3-0 in the final. (Yonhap)Baseball joined the Asian

Sept. 5, 2018

S. Korea reaches baseball gold medal game

Two-time defending champion South Korea reached baseball's gold medal game at the 18th Asian Games on Friday with a convincing win over China. (Yonhap)Cleanup Park Byung-ho launched a three-run home run and starter Im Gi-yeong held China to a run over 6 1/3 innings, as South Korea prevailed 10-1 in its last super round game at GBK Baseball Field.In Saturday's gold medal game, South Korea will face either Chinese Taipei or Japan, depending on the result of their super round game later Thursday.So

Aug. 31, 2018

South Korea and Japan meet for a spot in LLWS championship

The international bracket final Saturday at the Little League World Series will be a rematch of the two teams that have looked the best so far on that side the tournament _ Kawaguchi, the representative of defending champion Japan, and Seoul, South Korea.The twist is that Japan, the LLWS team of the decade, may be the underdog.The winner gets either Hawaii or Georgia, the teams in the US final, in the championship on Sunday. South Korea’s Ji Hying Choi (17) is greeted by teammates Han Kyeol Kim

Aug. 25, 2018

Ex-Korean baseball star leads fledgling Laos baseball team to Jakarta

JAKARTA -- When former South Korean star catcher Lee Man-soo launched efforts to spread the gospel of baseball in Laos in December 2014, he said his goal was to take the Laotian national team to an international event.Nearly four years later in August 2018, Lee finds himself with the fledgling team at an international competition -- the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta."Baseball is growing in popularity in Laos now, and if we can manage a victory here, it would lead to even bigger and better things,"

Aug. 20, 2018

S. Korean baseball manager not taking any opponent lightly

Despite his team's favorite status at the Asian Games baseball tournament in Indonesia, South Korean manager Sun Dong-yol said Saturday he won't take any opponent lightly.Sun gathered his 24-man team for the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games on Saturday, with the first practice scheduled for later in the day at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. The team is made up entirely of players from the Korea Baseball Organization, the top domestic league. (Yonhap)South Korea defeated Chinese Taipei in the finals of th

Aug. 18, 2018

On-base streak ends at 52 games for Rangers' Choo Shin-soo

Choo Shin-soo's on-base streak for the Texas Rangers has come to an end at 52 games.The South Korean designated hitter went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts against the Cleveland Indians at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday (local time), as the longest on-base run by an active major leaguer ended. The Rangers were routed 16-3.Choo began his streak on May 13 against the Houston Astros. (Yonhap)During his run, Choo kept his streak alive in his final plate appearance on four occasions --

July 22, 2018

Batting average leader tops All-Star voting in Korean baseball

A veteran catcher currently leading the league in batting average has emerged as the top vote-getter for the Korea Baseball Organization All-Star Game.The KBO announced the starting lineups for the Dream and Nanum Teams for the annual midseason affair to take place on July 14 at Munsu Baseball Stadium in Ulsan, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)Doosan Bears' catcher Yang Eui-ji, representing the Dream side, led all starters with 484,185 votes from fans and 213 more from players, coaches

July 2, 2018

Rangers' Choo Shin-soo extends on-base streak to 39 games with 9th inning hit

Texas Rangers' South Korean outfielder Choo Shin-soo has extended his career-high on-base streak to 39 games.Batting leadoff and playing right field, Choo picked up a ninth inning single against the San Diego Padres to keep his streak alive at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday (local time).He has been on base safely in every game since May 13 against the Houston Astros. This is the longest active streak in Major League Baseball, and the second longest of the season after a 40-game

June 27, 2018

Rangers' Choo Shin-soo reaches twice to extend on-base

Texas Rangers' South Korean outfielder Choo Shin-soo has extended his on-base streak to 37 games.Batting leadoff and playing left field, Choo went 1-for-3 with a walk in the Rangers' 2-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sunday (local time).Choo has been on base in every game since May 13. It's the longest active streak in Major League Baseball (MLB) and also the longest of Choo's career. (Yonhap)During his current streak, Choo is batting .326 (45-for-138)

June 25, 2018

Rangers' Choo Shin-soo stretches on-base streak to career-high 36 games

The Texas Rangers' Choo Shin-soo has extended his on-base streak to a new career-high 36 games.Batting leadoff and playing left field, the South Korean outfielder kept his impressive run alive with a double in the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday (local time).He batted 1-for-4 with a walk for the day, as the Rangers beat the Twins 9-6 for their seventh straight victory. Choo Shin-soo of the Texas Rangers watches his ground rule doub

June 24, 2018

Kang Jung-ho taken off Pirates' restricted list, moves closer to bigs

The Pittsburgh Pirates have taken their South Korean infielder Kang Jung-ho off the restricted list, putting him back on the 40-man roster and moving him closer to a return to the majors. Kang Jung-ho (Yonhap)The Pirates made the move on Friday (local time), and decided to keep him in Triple-A Indianapolis, where he's been playing since Monday.Kang began his major league comeback bid in Advanced A ball at the start of June, after acquiring his U.S. work visa in April. He missed the entire last s

June 16, 2018

Last-place baseball club replaces manager

The last-place club in the top South Korean baseball league has replaced its manager.The NC Dinos, mired in 10th place in the Korea Baseball Organization, announced late Sunday that Kim Kyung-moon will be replaced by general manager Yoo Young-joon. Kim will serve in an advisory role for the club, though his specific responsibilities haven't been defined. Kim, who has 896 wins, 774 losses and 30 ties in his career, has been the only manager for the Dinos, which joined the KBO in 2013. This was th

June 4, 2018

Pirates' Kang Jung-ho hits grand slam in 2nd minor league game since return

The Pittsburgh Pirates' South Korean infielder Kang Jung-ho has hit a grand slam in his second minor league game since returning to America, as he works his way back to the bigs.Starting at shortstop and batting third for the Pirates' Advanced Single-A team, Brandenton Marauders, Kang launched a grand slam in the bottom fifth against the Charlotte Stone Crabs at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida, on Saturday (local time). The Marauders went on to win 7-6.Kang's blast broke a 1-1 tie, and the Mara

June 3, 2018

Brewers' Choi Ji-man goes hitless on return to majors

Milwaukee Brewers' South Korean player Choi Ji-man has gone hitless on his return to a big league lineup.Batting sixth as designated hitter, Choi went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago on Saturday (local time). The Brewers won the game 5-0.Choi was called up by the Brewers the previous day, likely to use him as DH and pinch hitter against right-handers during their inter-league road trip. After facing the White Sox for another game Sund

June 3, 2018

Blue Jays' Oh Seung-hwan suffers 1st loss of season

Toronto Blue Jays' South Korean reliever Oh Seung-hwan has suffered his first loss of the season.Oh was roughed up for three earned runs on four hits in 2/3 of an inning in relief against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday (local time), as the Jays went down 7-4. Oh is now 1-1 for the season.Oh entered the game in the bottom of the eighth as the Jays' third pitcher, with the score knotted at 4-4.The right-hander retired Nick Castellanos on a fly out to right to begin the

June 3, 2018