Understanding Ex-MLB pitcher Noesi‘s sudden KBO dominance

Kia Tigers pitcher Hector Noesi delivers a pitch against the NC Dinos in a game on July 11, 2017. (Yonhap)After a season and a half in the Korean Baseball Organization, Hector Noesi has become a bonafide star as the ace of the first place Kia Tigers. Noesi has won his last 15 decisions, a KBO record, and is on pace to break the KBO single season record for wins by a foreign-born pitcher.With all this success, one would be easily forgiven for thinking this Hector Noesi is a different player than

July 18, 2017

Nexen Heroes release slumping American hitter Danny Dorn

The South Korean baseball club Nexen Heroes announced Tuesday they've released struggling American hitter Danny Dorn.The former Arizona Diamondbacks player batted just .140 (7-for-50) with a home run and two RBIs in 20 games this season. The 32-year-old was one of the least productive import bats this season, after hitting .295 with 16 homers and 70 RBIs in his first KBO season in 2016. In this file photo taken on March 15, 2017, Danny Dorn, then of the Nexen Heroes, watches a pitch against the

July 18, 2017

Foreign hitters find mixed results in first season in KBO

Halfway into the 2017 Korean Baseball Organization season, foreign hitters new to the KBO have experienced mixed results, some adapting quickly and thriving, and others struggling to grasp the nuances of playing baseball in Korea.The success stories are impressive. Roger Bernadina has slashed .314/.375/.529 for the league-leading Kia Tigers, and was elected as an All-Star starter. Samsung’s Darin Ruf has overcome his slow start, and is slashing .294/.394/.528. NC’s Xavier Scruggs is currently on

July 17, 2017

Sports ministry requests prosecution probe into baseball league's alleged bid rigging

The sports ministry said Monday it has requested a prosecution probe into suspected bid rigging by the national professional baseball league.The ministry said its own preliminary investigation revealed a series of wrongdoings by the Korea Baseball Organization when it solicited bids for a company to handle its business in China.The KBO sought to break into the Chinese market in 2016, and a senior official in charge of the tender, surnamed Kang, rigged the process so that a company run by his fam

July 17, 2017

Kia Tigers set to resume chase of wins record in Korean baseball

When the second half of the 2017 Korea Baseball Organization season begins Tuesday, the first-place Kia Tigers will resume their quest for a single-season record for victories.The Tigers closed out the first half at 57-28, leading the NC Dinos by eight games. They need 37 wins in their remaining 59 games to establish a new record with 94 wins.Last year, the Doosan Bears won 93 games to set the mark. The Bears had 55 wins, along with 27 losses and one tie, at the All-Star break at the time.The Ti

July 17, 2017

Troubled veteran eligible to return to KBO after incident

South Korean baseball veteran Kim Sang-hyun has been ruled eligible to return to the top professional league a year after an off-field incident forced him out of competition.The KT Wiz in the Korea Baseball Organization said Friday they will reinstate Kim, 36, from their restricted list and then will waive him.The Wiz placed Kim on that list on July 13 last year, after Kim was charged with engaging in lewd conduct in public. Players on the restricted list are ineligible to perform anywhere in th

July 16, 2017

Sluggers lead team to victory in KBO's All-Star Game

DAEGU -- Two of South Korean baseball's biggest sluggers led their team to victory at the annual Korea Baseball Organization All-Star Game on Saturday.Choi Jeong of the SK Wyverns and Lee Dae-ho of the Lotte Giants each belted two home runs, as their Dream Team defeated the Nanum Team 13-8 at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul.Choi got the All-Star Game MVP honors, earning 40 out of 53 votes from the media after going 2-for-3 with three RBIs, three runs sco

July 16, 2017

Korean baseball's greatest slugger 'happy' after final All-Star Game

DAEGU -- The greatest slugger ever in South Korean baseball played in his final All-Star Game before home fans on Saturday, picking up a double while doing everything in his power to deflect attention from himself.Lee Seung-yuop of the Samsung Lions was 1-for-5 with a double and an RBI, as his Dream Team defeated the Nanum Team 13-8 in the annual Korea Baseball Organization All-Star Game. The midsummer classic was played at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, the home park of the Lions located in

July 16, 2017

Sluggers locked in MVP duel; aces lead 1st-place club

As the 2017 Korea Baseball Organization season enters the annual All-Star break, two sluggers surnamed Choi are locked in a duel for the league's highest individual honor.Choi Hyoung-woo of the Kia Tigers and Choi Jeong of the SK Wyverns are not related, but they'll keep hearing their names mentioned together in MVP conversations the rest of the season.After starring for the Samsung Lions for several years, Choi Hyoung-woo signed a four-year, 10 billion-won (US$8.79 million) free agent deal with

July 14, 2017

Kia Tigers sitting pretty at top in 1st half of KBO season

As the first half of the 2017 Korea Baseball Organization season came to an end Thursday, the Kia Tigers were sitting pretty atop the standings, having faced few challenges along the way.A wild card team last year, the Tigers now hold an eight-game lead over the second-place NC Dinos, with a record of 57-28. They swept the Dinos in the final three-game series of the first half and are entering the All-Star break this weekend on a five-game winning streak.The season resumes next Tuesday.The Tiger

July 14, 2017

Baseball pitcher suspended for 72 games following DUI charge

A South Korean baseball pitcher recently charged with driving under the influence of alcohol was suspended for 72 games on Thursday.The Korea Baseball Organization also ordered 120 hours of community service for LG Twins' left-hander Yoon Ji-woong, who was booked without physical detention Monday in Seoul.The KBO also issued a warning to the Twins for their lack of oversight. In this file photo taken on April 13, 2017, Yoon Ji-woong of the LG Twins leaves the mound in the bottom fifth in a Korea

July 13, 2017

KBO to bid adieu to legend in his final All-Star Game

The South Korean baseball league will bid adieu to one of its greatest players with a series of special events in his final All-Star Game this weekend.The Korea Baseball Organization said Thursday that Samsung Lions slugger Lee Seung-yuop will take the field with his two sons, Eun-hyuk and Eun-yuop, prior to the midsummer classic at 6 p.m. Saturday at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu. Eun-hyuk, 13, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, with his younger brother Eun-yuop, 7, standing at the

July 13, 2017

Lotte Giants reacquire ex-ace Josh Lindblom

The South Korean baseball club Lotte Giants on Thursday reacquired their former ace Josh Lindblom.The 30-year-old American right-hander is rejoining the Korea Baseball Organization team that he left seven months ago, so that he could be back home with his ailing daughter, Monroe.Lindblom signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates and made four appearances there, posting a 7.84 ERA in 10 1/3 innings without a win-loss record.The Giants said Lindblom agreed to a $475,000 deal for the rest of the season. H

July 13, 2017

Lotte Giants release struggling pitcher Additon

South Korean baseball club Lotte Giants on Wednesday released struggling American pitcher Nick Additon.The 29-year-old left-hander went just 2-7 with a 5.91 ERA in 15 appearances for the Korea Baseball Organization club this year. He joined the Giants on March 29, two days prior to the start of the season, as a last-minute replacement for Parker Markel, who asked to be released after struggling to adjust to the new league in spring training. In this file photo taken on June 8, 2017, Nick Additon

July 12, 2017

Ex-MLB pitcher ties winning streak record in Korean league with smarts, guile

Former major league pitcher Hector Noesi has been the most dominant starter in South Korea so far this year -- not simply because he has overpowered hitters but because he has relied on his considerable smarts and guile.As the first half of the 2017 Korea Baseball Organization season nears its end, Noesi, right-handed ace for the Kia Tigers, leads all hurlers with a perfect 14-0 record. He won his 14th game Tuesday against the NC Dinos to tie the KBO record for most consecutive wins by a starter

July 12, 2017

Diagnosing Kim Hyun-soo’s 2017 struggles

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Kim Hyun-soo singles in the fourth inning of a game against the Chicago White Sox on June 14, 2017. (Yonhap)For a second consecutive season, Baltimore Orioles left fielder Kim Hyun-soo has found himself fighting to hold down his starting spot. But compared to last season, stating his case in 2017 has proven to be a struggle, as his offensive production has unexpectedly deteriorated.Last season, Kim’s spring training struggles lost him the confidence of manager Buck S

July 11, 2017

Young guns shine in first half of KBO season

Hot-shot young guns have emerged as unlikely stars in the first half of the Korea Baseball Organization season, with the All-Star break just around the corner.At the plate, few rookies have been as impressive as Nexen Heroes' Lee Jung-hoo, who won't even turn 19 until August.Before the season, Lee's biggest claim to fame was being the son of retired KBO legend Lee Jong-beom, former league MVP and Rookie of the Year.The junior Lee is batting .331 to lead all first-year players through Sunday's ga

July 11, 2017

Brewers’ Thames a ‘Korean’ baseball success story

Eric Thames has been a surprise. Slashing .248/.374/.562, and tied for fourth in the National League with 23 home runs, he is a big reason the Milwaukee Brewers enter the All-Star break in first place, having far exceeded their pre-season expectations.Brewers fans aside, perhaps the keenest observers of Thames’ unexpected success have been fans and players in the Korean Baseball Organization. Thames, who played for the KBO’s NC Dinos from 2014-2016, averaging a .349/.451/.721 line with 41 home r

July 10, 2017

Baseball pitcher charged with DUI

A South Korean professional baseball pitcher was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol on Monday.Songpa Police Station in Seoul said Yoon Ji-woong, left-hander for the LG Twins in the Korea Baseball Organization, was booked without physical detention after failing his breathalyzer test following a fender bender near his apartment in the capital city.Police said Yoon's blood alcohol content level was 0.151 percent, enough to warrant the revocation of his license. The legal limit is

July 10, 2017

Few bright spots for Koreans in first half of MLB

The 2017 Major League Baseball season began with four South Korean players on active rosters; the first half has come to an end with six in big league uniforms, with few bright spots up and down the list.As the 30 big league teams closed out the first half Sunday (local time), St. Louis Cardinals closer Oh Seung-hwan has put up perhaps the strongest numbers among Korean players, with 18 saves and a 3.54 ERA in 38 appearances. But the right-hander, who was dominant in stretches last year while po

July 10, 2017