Baseball club admits to paying umpire as scandal snowballs

A South Korean baseball club on Wednesday admitted to paying an umpire only a day before winning a league title four years ago.The Samsung Lions in the Korea Baseball Organization said a senior club employee wired 4 million won ($3,560) to the then umpire, surnamed Choi, in October 2013, after Choi had contacted the employee for some quick cash. The employee has since left the Lions, and Choi retired in 2014.Financial transactions of any kind between umpires and club employees are strictly prohi

Aug. 30, 2017

Baseball club owner questioned in money scandal involving ex-umpire

A South Korean baseball club owner has been questioned in connection with a money scandal involving a retired umpire, a source said Wednesday. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office recently summoned Lee Chang-suk, the owner and former CEO of the Nexen Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization, to investigate his connection with a former umpire surnamed Choi, who had allegedly contacted multiple team officials for quick cash, according to the source.Also on Wednesday, prosecutors said th

Aug. 30, 2017

Pirates' Kang Jung-ho signs with Dominican club

Pittsburgh Pirates' third baseman Kang Jung-ho, his big league career in limbo following a drunk driving conviction, has signed with a Dominican Republic club.Aguilas Cibaenas, which competes in the Dominican Winter League, announced their signing of Kang on their Twitter page on Wednesday.The winter league season usually starts in late October and Dominican natives, prospects in search of playing time and major league veterans rehabbing from injuries often play there.Kang hasn't dressed for the

Aug. 30, 2017

Ex-MLB player James Loney leaves Korea after demotion

Former major league first baseman James Loney has cut his South Korean stint short after just 23 games, having returned to the United States in response to a demotion to the minors.The LG Twins in the Korea Baseball Organization said on Tuesday they have also placed Loney, 33, on the voluntarily retired list. Players on the list are ineligible to perform anywhere in the KBO without permission from their original club.The Twins signed Loney in July to replace injured infielder Luis Jimenez. A fir

Aug. 29, 2017

Top rookie makes provisional natl. baseball team for inaugural tournament

The top rookie in South Korean baseball this year on Monday made the provisional national team for an inaugural offseason tournament.The Korea Baseball Organization announced a 42-man roster for the Asia Professional Baseball Championship, which will take place from Nov. 16 to 19 in Tokyo. It will feature pros from South Korea, Japan and Chinese Taipei under 24 -- born on or after Jan. 1, 1993 -- or those with less than three years of professional experience. Teams are each allowed three players

Aug. 28, 2017

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin earns 5th win of season vs. Pirates

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers has earned his fifth win of 2017 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.Ryu improved to 5-6 after allowing just one run across six innings in the Dodgers' 5-2 victory at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Thursday (local time). He was lifted for pinch hitter Austin Barnes in the top seventh when the Dodgers were leading 3-1. It was Ryu's first victory since Aug. 6 when he pitched against the New York Mets. He had no-decisions in his last two outings. Ryu Hyun-jin (AP-Yonha

Aug. 25, 2017

Career in limbo, Pirates' Kang Jung-ho giving free youth clinics

Beleaguered major league infielder Kang Jung-ho has been giving free youth clinics and donating equipment, while his playing career remains in limbo, a source close to the player said Thursday.Kang remains without a work permit to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates, having received a suspended sentence over drunk driving charges earlier this year.Kang has kept a low profile while training on his own in South Korea, and the source said he's recently visited four different regions in the South Gyeong

Aug. 24, 2017

Korean baseball club to face ownership change after losing court battle

South Korea's professional Nexen Heroes baseball club are set to face a change in their ownership structure after they lost a trial against a US-based businessman on Friday.The Heroes filed a lawsuit claiming that it doesn't owe a debt to Hong Sung-eun, chairman of the Atlanta-based real estate developer Rainier Group, but the Seoul High Court dismissed the ball club's appeal and upheld the lower court's decision. Hong has been saying that he did not get a 40 percent stake of the ball club that

Aug. 18, 2017

Diminutive hitter chasing elusive .400 batting average

One of South Korean baseball's smallest players is in hot pursuit of one of the most hallowed and elusive marks in the game: a .400 batting average.Kim Sun-bin of the Kia Tigers, all of 165 centimeters, is leading the Korea Baseball Organization with a .392 mark through Thursday's games.After closing out the first half batting .380, Kim, the league's second shortest player, hasn't cooled off in the dog days of summer. He is batting at a .450 clip since the All-Star break. For the month of August

Aug. 18, 2017

Cardinals' Oh Seung-hwan to get save opportunities following closer's injury

St. Louis Cardinals reliever Oh Seung-hwan is expected to get more save opportunities following an injury to the club's incumbent closer.The South Korean right-hander, who started the season as the closer but was removed from the role last month, could be back in his old job after Trevor Rosenthal was placed on the 10-day disabled list with right posterior elbow irritation Thursday (local time).Rosenthal left Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox early. He'd converted seven consecutive save

Aug. 18, 2017

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin takes no-decision after worst start in 2 months

Los Angeles Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin has taken a no-decision after throwing his worst outing in two months.The South Korean left-hander allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday (local time). He left the game with the Dodgers trailing 3-1 through five, but they rallied to beat the Padres 6-3.Ryu walked two and struck out five in his seventh no-decision in 17 starts. Ryu remained at 4-6, while his ERA went up from 3.53

Aug. 13, 2017

Scruggs walks off Lotte, NC wins 3-2

Xavier Scruggs hit a walk-off two-run home run in the ninth inning of Thursday’s Korean Baseball Organization game between the Lotte Giants and NC Dinos to give NC a come from behind 3-2 victory. NC Dinos first baseman Xavier Scruggs celebrates after a hit on August 9, 2017. (Yonhap)Lotte entered the bottom of the ninth inning with a 2-1 lead, and with closer Son Seung-rak entering the game, they looked to be in a good position to win their sixth straight game. Son had converted 24 of 28 save op

Aug. 11, 2017

On retirement tour, Korean baseball legend seeking low profile

Having embarked on South Korean baseball's first retirement tour, Samsung Lions slugger Lee Seung-yuop just wants to keep a low profile.Modest to a fault, the career home run leader in the Korea Baseball Organization, who will retire this year after 15 seasons here, says he doesn't want to get in the way of his teammates or his opponents -- literally and figuratively.Nine other KBO clubs have planned ceremonies for Lee's final visits to their ballparks. The Hanwha Eagles, based in Daejeon, some

Aug. 11, 2017

Baseball's rookie sensation eager for chance to play for father on natl. team

South Korean baseball's rookie sensation Lee Jung-hoo knew he'd never be able to play with his famous father, Lee Jong-beom, who retired in 2012 when his son was just 13.But this year, the junior Lee has a chance to play for his father -- on the national team, at that.Earlier Thursday, Lee Jong-beom, a former MVP and Rookie of the Year in the Korea Baseball Organization, was named a base running coach for South Korea at the inaugural Asia Professional Baseball Championship in Tokyo. The Nov. 16-

Aug. 11, 2017

Korea names natl. baseball coaches for offseason tournament

South Korea on Thursday announced the national baseball team coaches for an inaugural offseason tournament this fall.The Korea Baseball Organization brought six coaches on board for manager Sun Dong-yol at the Nov. 16-19 Asia Professional Baseball Championship in Tokyo. The tournament will feature pros from the KBO, Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan and the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Chinese Taipei.Lee Kang-chul, former KBO star pitcher currently managing Doosan Bears' minor lea

Aug. 10, 2017

Choo reaches base 5 times, Rangers beat Mets 5-1

Choo Shin-soo reached base five times and scored the game’s opening run, leading his Texas Rangers to a 5-1 victory over the New York Mets on Wednesday. Texas Rangers right fielder Choo Shin-soo in a game on August 3, 2017. (Yonhap)Choo led off for the Rangers, and got the offense started early, doubling to center to open the game in the first inning. He then moved to third on a Nomar Mazara single and scored on a balk by Mets starter Rafael Montero.Choo then drew walks in the second and third i

Aug. 10, 2017

Players to take field with nicknames for first MLB ‘Players Weekend’

Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association have announced the first ever MLB “Players Weekend,” a celebration that will take place during games held from Aug. 25 to 27.The highlight of the celebration is a freeing of the uniform restrictions for players, who for that weekend will be allowed to wear custom equipment such as cleats and gloves, and will wear special jerseys that feature a player’s chosen nickname on the back, rather than their standard surname. A screen

Aug. 10, 2017

Slugger ruled out for 3 months with gruesome foot injury

SK Wyverns' slugger Han Dong-min has been ruled out for three months with a torn ligament in his left foot, a gruesome injury that has cut short his breakthrough Korea Baseball Organization season.Han suffered the injury when he stole second base against the NC Dinos at Incheon SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon on Tuesday. He slid feet first into the bag, and his left foot was bent awkwardly underneath.An initial MRI showed a torn ligament, and a second round of tests on Wednesday revealed the same

Aug. 9, 2017

Doosan Bears roaring up KBO standings in 2nd half

Don't look now. Here come the Bears.After months of mediocre play, the Doosan Bears are on the prowl for their third straight Korea Baseball Organization title, as they continue to roar up the standings in the second half of the season.On Tuesday, they extended their winning streak to a season-high eight games with an 8-1 victory over the Hanwha Eagles at Jamsil Stadium in the nation's capital. The win pushed their second-half record to 16-2-1 (wins-losses-ties).The Bears, which entered last mon

Aug. 9, 2017

Pittsburgh Pirates planning for a future without Kang Jung-ho

Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said in an interview Sunday that the team is preparing for a possible future without troubled infielder Kang Jung-ho, who has spent the entirety of the 2017 season unable to enter the US after his visa was rescinded due to an off-season drunk driving incident.Huntington described Kang’s situation as “an unfortunate reality,” and renewed the team’s commitment to work with Kang and try to get him back on the field.But Huntington added, “We do need

Aug. 7, 2017