Rangers' Choo Shin-soo proud to see more Koreans in majors

It wasn't all that long ago that Choo Shin-soo, a veteran entering his ninth full season in the majors, was the only South Korean on baseball's ultimate stage.Things have changed dramatically over the past few years. And in 2016, aside from the Texas Rangers' outfielder, there could be as many as seven other South Koreans on big league rosters at the start of the season.As the Rangers' position players reported to spring training here in Arizona on Tuesday, Choo said he was proud to see so many

Feb. 24, 2016

Korean slugger Lee Dae-ho focused only on winning big league job

Having signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners, South Korean slugger Lee Dae-ho has an option to return to Asia -- where he built an All-Star career -- if his U.S. stint doesn't pan out.The 33-year-old first baseman/designated hitter said Monday, however, he is only focused on winning a big league job."I am only thinking about making the 25-man roster," Lee said after his practice here in Arizona, where the Mariners will have their first full workout Thursday. "I don't want to have

Feb. 23, 2016

Korean stars looking to win big league jobs at spring training

Four South Koreans with All-Star resumes in Asia will look to win their first Major League Baseball jobs as spring training gets underway this week.The 30 big league clubs have different reporting dates, with pitchers and catchers reporting a few days before position players.They will all have their first full workouts later this week.It was a hectic offseason for South Korean stars who made their jumps from the domestic Korea Baseball Organization or the Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan.Fo

Feb. 22, 2016

Korean reliever Oh Seung-hwan to embrace setup role with Cardinals

Though he has been a closer for the majority of his career, South Korean reliever Oh Seung-hwan said Thursday's he will embrace a setup role with his new major league club.Oh left home Thursday to join the St. Louis Cardinals in their spring training in Jupiter, Florida. Pitchers and catchers are to report next Wednesday.Oh, who signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals on Jan. 11, has been a lights-out closer in both South Korea and Japan. He's the all-time saves leader in the Korea Baseball Or

Feb. 11, 2016

Mariners' Lee Dae-ho remains 'confident' ahead of preseason competition

He might not have signed the major league deal that he'd earlier envisioned, but South Korean slugger Lee Dae-ho, who recently joined the Seattle Mariners on a minor league contract, said Friday he's seeing the glass half full.The first baseman/designated hitter will have to battle for a big league job when the Mariners' position players report to spring training in three weeks. It may not be what the 2015 Japan Series MVP, who'd earlier won a regular season MVP in South Korea, had in mind when

Feb. 5, 2016

Lee Dae-ho faces uphill battle for regular gig

With a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners in the bag, here comes the hard part for the South Korean star Lee Dae-ho: landing a regular gig in the big league lineup.Lee has joined the Mariners on a one-year minor league contract, reportedly worth up to $4 million with incentives. The Mariners have invited him to their camp but haven't yet placed him on their 40-man roster.Lee, 33, has played first base and served as designated hitter in recent seasons after getting some reps at third bas

Feb. 4, 2016

Korean slugger Lee Dae-ho signs minor league deal with Seattle Mariners

After mashing dingers into the seats across South Korea and Japan for over a decade, slugger Lee Dae-ho will now try to win a major league job in the United States.The Seattle Mariners announced Wednesday (local time) they've signed the 33-year-old first baseman/designated hitter to a one-year minor league contract, which includes an invitation to the big league camp later this month.Financial terms were not disclosed, either by the Mariners or by Lee's Seoul-based agency, Montis Sports Manageme

Feb. 4, 2016

Ex-big league pitcher Seo Jae-weong retires with Korean club

Former major league pitcher Seo Jae-weong announced his retirement Thursday with his South Korean hometown club.The Kia Tigers in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said Seo, 38, informed the club Thursday that he has thrown his last pitch. Through the club, the right-hander said he wanted to open up more opportunities for younger players.The Tigers said they would be willing to bring Seo back to their coaching staff if he desired to stay in the game. They added they will schedule a retiremen

Jan. 28, 2016

Free agent Lee Dae-ho pushes back scheduled trip home to continue

South Korean free agent slugger has postponed his scheduled trip home from his Arizona training base to continue contract talks with a major league club, his agency said Thursday.Lee had been set to return to South Korea on Friday, but an official with Montis Sports Management Group said Lee has pushed the trip back "by three to four days.""He's going over some contract details with a big league club," the official added, without identifying the team.The 33-year-old first baseman/designated hitt

Jan. 28, 2016

With no MLB deal yet, free agent Lee Dae-ho set to return home

South Korean free agent slugger Lee Dae-ho is scheduled to return home this week from his U.S. training camp, sources said Monday, with hopes of having a big league contract with him by then.The 33-year-old first baseman/designated hitter has been working out with his former Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club, the Lotte Giants, in Arizona this month. An official from his South Korean agency, Montis Sports Management Group, also flew to the United States with the player, working with Lee's U.

Jan. 25, 2016

Doosan Bears sign ex-big leaguer Nick Evans

The reigning South Korean baseball champion Doosan Bears said Monday they've signed a former major leaguer Nick Evans to a one-year deal worth $550,000.The 29-year-old will join the 2015 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) champion at their training camp in Australia on Thursday.With the acquisition, the Bears have filled their foreign player quota. They've retained right-hander Dustin Nippert for his sixth KBO season and added right-hander Michael Bowden to the staff last November.Evans played pa

Jan. 25, 2016

Hanwha Eagles sign ex-big league catcher-1B Rosario

The Hanwha Eagles on Friday announced their signing of former major league catcher Wilin Rosario.The Korea Baseball Organization club inked the 26-year-old from the Dominican Republic to a one-year deal worthUS$1.3 million, which included a signing bonus of $300,000.Rosario has also played first base during his five-year big league career, all with the Colorado Rockies.After making his debut and playing just 16 games in 2011, Rosario exploded for 28 home runs and 71 RBIs in 117 games the followi

Jan. 22, 2016

Doosan Bears bring back right-hander Nippert for 6th season

Reigning South Korean baseball champions Doosan Bears are bringing back American right-hander Dustin Nippert for his sixth season.The Korea Baseball Organization club announced Nippert, 34, will return for $1.2 million, $300,000 less than what he made in 2015.In 2015, Nippert suffered through his worst regular season in the KBO, with injuries limiting him to a 6-5 record and a 5.10 ERA in 20 appearances. He bounced back in style in the postseason, however, setting a KBO record with 26 2/3 consec

Jan. 6, 2016

Free agent pitcher Oh Seung-hwan to travel to U.S. for MLB talks

South Korean free agent pitcher Oh Seung-hwan will soon travel to the United States for talks with interested big league clubs, a source close to the player said Monday."Multiple Major League Baseball clubs have taken interest in his service," the source said. "And Oh will travel to the United States sometime this week."Oh, South Korea's all-time saves leader who has also enjoyed a successful stint in Japan, has been training on his own in Guam since Dec. 18. He had previously traveled to the Un

Jan. 4, 2016

Three KBO clubs sign new foreign players

Three South Korean baseball clubs announced signings of new foreign players Monday.The Doosan Bears, the reigning Korea Baseball Organization champion, acquired right-hander Michael Bowden on a one-year deal worth $650,000.A first-round pick for the Boston Red Sox in 2005, Bowden made 103 Major League Baseball appearances from 2008 to 2013, with a record of 3-5 and a 4.50 in 103 appearances. The 29-year-old American spent the 2014 season with the Seibu Lions in Japan and split his 2015 season be

Nov. 16, 2015

Dodgers' Ryu well on way to recovery from shoulder operation: agency

South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers is well on his way to recovery from a shoulder operation, his domestic management company said Thursday.A-Spec Corp. said in a press release that Ryu, who underwent season-ending surgery on his left shoulder in May, began following a strict diet in June along with some cardio work. He started playing catch in early October and is also doing weight training, the company added."He has been speeding up his rehab," A-Spec added. "He's been

Nov. 12, 2015

Japan Series MVP Lee Dae-ho declares intent to play in MLB

South Korean baseball slugger Lee Dae-ho on Tuesday declared his intent to play in Major League Baseball, saying it's always been his dream to become a big league player.  At a press conference in Seoul, the reigning Japan Series MVP for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks said he will exercise his option with the Nippon Professional Baseball club and become a free agent.  "All baseball players dream of playing in the majors, and I'd like to pursue that dream," he said. "If I can give 100 percent, like I

Nov. 3, 2015