Crucial postseason series opener decided by defense, base running

BUSAN -- The well-worn baseball cliche has it that pitching and defense help teams win championships. And in their crucial postseason victory in the Korea Baseball Organization on Saturday, the NC Dinos enjoyed some stellar pitching while exploiting their opponents' shoddy defense. They had smart base running to boot, making for a lethal combination against any team.The Dinos defeated the Lotte Giants 9-2 at Sajik Stadium in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in Game 1 of their best-of-fi

Oct. 9, 2017

NC Dinos take series opener in baseball postseason

BUSAN -- The NC Dinos stole a road game in the Korea Baseball Organization postseason Sunday, beating the Lotte Giants 9-2 in 11 innings to open their best-of-five first round series.The Dinos exploded for seven runs in the top of the 11th at Sajik Stadium in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, powered by Mo Chang-min's grand slam.The winner of Game 1 in the first round has gone on to take the series in six of the past 10 years, including each of the last three. Game 2 is back at Sajik Sta

Oct. 9, 2017

Kia Tigers win S. Korean baseball pennant

The Kia Tigers won the South Korean baseball pennant on Tuesday, the final day of the regular season.The Tigers finished first among 10 clubs in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) regular season with a record of 87 wins, 56 losses and one tie, after defeating the KT Wiz 10-2 at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, 40 kilometers south of Seoul.The Tigers edged out the Doosan Bears (84-57-3) by two games for their first pennant since 2009.Kia players celebrate their win of the pro-baseball pennant on Tuesday.

Oct. 3, 2017

Korean left-hander closing in on 20th win

In this age of advanced metrics in baseball, the number of wins for pitchers may not carry quite the same luster that it once did. 　But for starting pitchers, 20 is still a nice round number that represents overall excellence, consistency and durability -- not to mention a little bit of luck.　This season in the Korea Baseball Organization, Yang Hyeon-jong is the only starter with a chance of reaching 20 wins.　The 29-year-old left-hander picked up his 19th win of the season Tuesday, after tossing

Sept. 27, 2017

Baseball players' association calls for revisions to rule on agents

South Korean baseball players' interest group on Wednesday called for revisions to a recent rule introduced to allow players to have representation starting next year.The Korea Professional Baseball Players Association welcomed the decision by the Korea Baseball Organization to permit agents to represent its players beginning in 2018, putting into effect a rule that was initially written in 2001.The KPBPA will be responsible for running qualification tests for those hoping to work with KBO playe

Sept. 27, 2017

Final game for retiring baseball legend sold out

The final game for retiring South Korean baseball legend Lee Seung-yuop has sold out, his club Samsung Lions said Tuesday.The Korea Baseball Organization club said the 24,000 tickets to the regular season finale on Oct. 3 between the Lions and the Nexen Heroes at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, have all been snapped up. The game will begin at 5 p.m.The first 15,000 tickets went on sale for the club's Blue Members on Sunday, and they were gone by Monday. Then

Sept. 26, 2017

Baseball league to allow agents starting in 2018

Players in the nation's top baseball league will be allowed to have agents starting next year.The Korea Baseball Organization said it will permit player representation beginning in 2018, putting into effect a rule that was initially introduced in 2001.Following a meeting of its board of directors, the KBO said only those who have passed a qualification test set by the Korea Professional Baseball Players Association will be allowed to represent KBO players. Each agent or agency may only work with

Sept. 26, 2017

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin lifted early after getting struck by comebacker

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers had his start cut short after getting struck in his pitching arm by a batted ball.Ryu left his start against the San Francisco Giants at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday (local time) after just 2 1/3 innings, after taking a line drive by Joe Panik to his left forearm.Ryu managed to pick up the ball and throw out Panik at first, before dropping his glove and grabbing his left arm in apparent pain. In this Associated Press photo, Ryu Hyun-jin of th

Sept. 24, 2017

Korean high school shortstop signs with Atlanta Braves

South Korean high school shortstop Bae Ji-hwan has signed with the Atlanta Braves.The National League club announced its signing of the 18-year-old on its Twitter page Saturday (local time). Financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.The Braves also uploaded a photo of Bae standing on the field at SunTrust Park, their home stadium, in a suit. In another picture, Bae poses with fellow South Korean and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kim Hyun-soo, whose club is visiting Atlanta. T

Sept. 24, 2017

Schedules announced for baseball postseason

Schedules for South Korean baseball's postseason were announced on Wednesday.The wild card game between the fourth- and fifth-ranked teams at 2 p.m. on Oct. 5 will launch the postseason play, the Korea Baseball Organization said. The 144-game regular season is scheduled to finish on Oct. 3.The fourth seed will be the host, and it can advance to the first round of the playoffs either with a victory or a tie in the first game. If the fifth seed wins the first wild card game, then there will be a s

Sept. 20, 2017

In absence, Pirates' Kang Jung-ho misses camaraderie with teammates

GWANGJU  -- On the Pittsburgh Pirates' roster this season, South Korean third baseman Kang Jung-ho has been conspicuous by his absence.The 30-year-old hasn't been able to secure his US work permit this year after his drunk driving conviction. He had his third impaired driving arrest in South Korea last December, and got an eight-month jail term, suspended for two years, in March. He lost his appeal two months later and his big league career remains in limbo sans visa.Sitting out the entire seaso

Sept. 20, 2017

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin pulled in 5th vs. Nationals in another no-decision

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers has picked up another no-decision despite a solid outing, getting pulled just one out shy of qualifying for a win.The South Korean left-hander tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington on Sunday (local time). He cruised through four innings, but nursing a 1-0 lead with two outs in the bottom fifth, Ryu walked the final two batters he faced before Ross Stripling came in to clean up the mess.Stripling esc

Sept. 18, 2017

Dodgers’ Ryu Hyun-jin dates broadcaster Bae Ji-hyun

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers has been seeing broadcaster Bae Ji-hyun, Bae's agency confirmed Wednesday.“The two are in a romantic relationship and are considering getting married when Ryu's current season is over,” Koen Stars said in a statement. Ryu Hyun-jin (left) and Bae Ji-hyun (Yonhap)“They have been seeing and supporting each other for the past two years after meeting while working in sports,” read the statement. “Nothing about a marriage has been confirmed yet and we would like

Sept. 13, 2017

Korea finishes runner-up at U-18 Baseball World Cup

South Korea's youth baseball team has finished second at a world championships in Canada after losing to the United States. South Korea was blanked by the US 8-0 in the final at the U-18 Baseball World Cup at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Canada, on Sunday (local time). It was South Korea's first runner-up finish at the competition formerly known as the World Junior Baseball Championship.  In this photo provided by the Korea Baseball Softball Association on Sept. 7, 2017, South Korea`s Kan

Sept. 11, 2017

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin gets no-decision vs. Diamondbacks

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers has picked up a no-decision against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the same club that knocked him around just a week ago.Ryu held the Diamondbacks to just one earned run on three hits in six innings at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday (local time). He left the game with the score tied at 1-1 and remained at 5-7 for the season.Ryu lowered his ERA from 3.71 to 3.59. In this Associated Press photo, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch aga

Sept. 6, 2017

Slugger becomes 5th with back-to-back 40-homer seasons

SK Wyverns' third baseman Choi Jeong on Tuesday became the fifth player in South Korean baseball to hit 40 home runs in back-to-back seasons. Choi Jeong of the SK Wyverns launches a three-run home run off the Hanwha Eagles during the clubs` Korea Baseball Organization game at Incheon SK Happy Dream Park in June. (Yonhap)Choi launched his 40th homer of the 2017 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season off Song Seung-jun of the Lotte Giants in the bottom of the first at Incheon SK Happy Dream Park

Sept. 5, 2017

Top-ranked baseball club dealing with nagging bullpen woes

In the Korea Baseball Organization this year, no lead is safe against the Kia Tigers. But on the flip side, no deficit seems too big against them either.Take last Sunday's game, for instance. The Tigers took a 7-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth against the Nexen Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. Then the Heroes put up seven runs on the board against four Kia relievers to complete the largest ninth-inning comeback victory in the KBO's 35-year history.Kia starter Hector Noesi struck out six

Sept. 4, 2017

San Francisco Giants designate Hwang Jae-gyun for assignment: report

South Korean third baseman Hwang Jae-gyun has been designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants, a report claimed Friday.The San Francisco Chronicle said the Giants removed Hwang, their Triple-A third baseman at Sacramento, from their 40-man roster to clear a spot for catcher Tim Federowicz. Major league rosters expand from 25 men to 40 on Sept. 1 every year.Hwang must now wait and see if any other team claims him off waivers over the next seven days. If he clears waivers -- meaning, if

Sept. 1, 2017

Baseball club admits to giving money to umpire in snowballing scandal

A fourth baseball club admitted to giving money to an umpire in a rapidly-snowballing scandal on Thursday.The Nexen Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization issued an apology, saying one of its former executives wired 3 million won ($2,670) to the then umpire surnamed Choi on Nov. 22, 2013, after Choi had contacted him for cash."We'll accept any punishment that comes our way," the Seoul-based club said. "We'll cooperate with any future investigation by prosecutors."Financial transactions of any

Aug. 31, 2017

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin suffers 1st loss in 2nd half

Los Angeles Dodgers' starter Ryu Hyun-jin suffered his first loss in the second half after getting torched by the Arizona Diamondbacks.The South Korean left-hander allowed a season-high six earned runs on eight hits, including three home runs, in four innings against the D-Backs at Chase Field in Phoenix on Wednesday (local time).With the Dodgers down 6-0 in the top fifth, Ryu was lifted for pinch hitter Adrian Gonzalez. The Dodgers lost 6-4 as their late rally came up short.Ryu dropped to 5-7 a

Aug. 31, 2017