Pirates' Choi Ji-man hits 1st homer since return from injury

Choi Ji-man of the Pittsburgh Pirates has gone deep for the first time since his return from a long injury layoff. Choi belted a two-run homer against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Pirates' 4-2 victory at Chase Field in Phoenix on Sunday. It was Choi's third home run of the season, and his first since ending a three-month absence Friday. Batting fifth as designated hitter, Choi homered off Zach Davies in the second inning and hit a double in the ninth inning, before being lifted for

July 10, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong injures toe after kicking water cooler in frustration

After getting thrown out at third base in a key moment of an eventual loss, San Diego Padres infielder Kim Ha-seong took out his frustration on a water cooler. The action may end up costing Kim time on the field. The Padres said Saturday that Kim is listed as day to day after jamming his right big toe on the cooler during a 7-5 loss to the New York Mets the previous day. Kim made a baserunning gaffe with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning at Petco Park in San Diego, with the game tied a

July 9, 2023

Kia Tigers sign new pitcher Mario Sanchez

The S. Korean baseball club Kia Tigers announced Thursday they have signed new pitcher Mario Sanchez. The Korea Baseball Organization club acquired the Venezuelan right-hander for $280,000 for the rest of the season, and the move comes two days after releasing slumping starter, Adonis Medina. Sanchez, 28, comes over from Taiwan, where he'd been pitching for the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions in the Chinese Professional Baseball League. He was leading the CPBL with a 1.44 ERA and was tied for

July 6, 2023

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin gives up 1 run in 3 innings in minor league rehab game

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays has taken an important step in his recovery from last year's elbow operation, giving up one run in three innings in a minor league rehab appearance. Ryu pitched for the Blue Jays' Rookie ball affiliate in the Florida Complex League in Dunedin, Florida, on Tuesday, and struck out five batters and allowed four hits against an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The South Korean left-hander did not walk a batter. This was Ryu's first game action sin

July 5, 2023

KBO club manager demotes veteran to minors for detrimental conduct

With his club in danger of falling out of midseason postseason contention, NC Dinos manager Kang In-kwon has demoted a healthy veteran to the minors for conduct detrimental to the team. Before facing the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Tuesday, Kang explained that his decision to drop outfielder Park Kun-woo from the active roster had nothing to do with his performance on the field and everything to do with his actions away from it. "Actually, he did complain about some bump

July 4, 2023

Kia Tigers release pitcher Medina

The slumping South Korean baseball club Kia Tigers announced Tuesday they've released pitcher Adonis Medina. The Tigers asked the Korea Baseball Organization to place the Dominican right-hander on waivers and said they will soon name his replacement in the rotation. Medina signed with the Tigers during the offseason but had a disappointing 2-6 record with a 6.05 ERA in 12 starts. He was removed from the active roster after allowing three runs on two hits and three walks in two innings again

July 4, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong smacks 10th homer of season

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres has reached double figures in home runs for the second straight season. Kim smoked his 10th home run of the 2023 season against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Sunday, though it came in a 4-3 loss for the Padres. Batting leadoff, Kim went 1-for-3 with that home run, an RBI, a run scored and a walk. Kim's line drive home run, which left his bat at 19 degrees, cut the Padres' deficit to 2-1 in the top of the eighth inn

July 3, 2023

Pirates' Bae Ji-hwan placed on injured list with sprained ankle

Bae Ji-hwan of the Pittsburgh Pirates has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a left ankle sprain, bringing his first half of the season to a premature conclusion. The Pirates made the move Sunday (local time), a day after the South Korean utility player suffered the injury while making a diving play on a groundball against the Milwaukee Brewers. Bae will miss a minimum of 10 days, and with the Pirates having seven more days of action left in the first half, Bae won't be back in act

July 3, 2023

June's greatest Sho: A look back at Ohtani's best month in the majors

ANAHEIM, California -- Shohei Ohtani’s walkup music most of last season was the theme to “The Greatest Showman.” After the Los Angeles Angels star’s June, he should consider returning to it. The Japanese two-way phenom has amazed fans, teammates and opponents since coming to the majors in 2018. June, though was “The Greatest Sho” at the plate. “I’m in a good spot right now,” Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara when asked if he was

July 2, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong belts solo shot; Bae Ji-hwan, Pirates sweep series

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres has won the battle but lost the war to a fellow South Korean player. Kim smacked a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Thursday. However, the Pirates, featuring their own South Korean player in infielder Bae Ji-hwan, won the game 5-4 to complete a three-game sweep of the Padres. Kim, after batting leadoff in the past several games, hit out of the seventh spot in this game, and went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Bae, who also bat

June 30, 2023

Kiwoom Heroes sign veteran infielder to 1st multiyear deal in team history

The Kiwoom Heroes said Wednesday they have signed veteran infielder Lee Won-seok to the first multiyear contract in franchise history. Lee, 36, agreed to a new two-year contract, plus a vesting option for a third year -- meaning, if Lee reaches a certain performance incentive threshold, the third season becomes guaranteed. Lee was scheduled to become a free agent following the 2024 season, but the Heroes gave him additional security with Wednesday's deal. In July 2021, the Korea Baseball

June 28, 2023

Bogaerts, Soto and Kim homer to back Musgrove in the Padres' 13-3 win over the Nationals

Xander Bogaerts, Juan Soto and Kim Ha-seong hit home runs and Joe Musgrove threw seven strong innings to lead the San Diego Padres to a 13-3 victory against the Washington Nationals on Friday night. The superstar-laden Padres, who have struggled at the plate most of the season to tumble into fourth place in the NL West, scored in double digits in consecutive games for the first time this year. They won 10-0 at San Francisco on Thursday to avoid a four-game sweep. Bogaerts hit a three-run shot,

June 24, 2023

Kim Ha-seong ends homer drought, helps Padres snap losing streak

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres has homered for the first time in June. Batting leadoff, the South Korean infielder went 1-for-3 with a home run, an RBI, two walks and two runs scored, as the Padres blanked the San Francisco Giants 10-0 at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thursday. Kim's previous home run came on May 24 against the Washington Nationals. He now has six home runs on the season, along with 22 RBIs, 13 steals and a .251/.342/.377 line in 71 games. Kim drew a leadoff walk ag

June 23, 2023

Hanwha Eagles sign ex-MLB outfielder Nick Williams

The Hanwha Eagles announced Sunday they have signed former major league outfielder Nick Williams. Williams will make US$450,000 for the rest of this season as a replacement for Brian O'Grady, who was released on May 31. The Eagles entered Sunday's game in last place among 10 teams in the Korea Baseball Organization at 23-35-4 (wins-losses-ties), a half game back of the Samsung Lions. The Eagles have finished last in each of the past three seasons, too. Williams, 29, was a second-round

June 18, 2023

[Graphic News] S. Korea’s Asian Games baseball roster

　The Korea Baseball Organization, the national governing body of professional baseball, announced the 24-man roster for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games in September, which had been postponed to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 　The team, composed of 24 players, features not only veteran talent but rising young stars. The infield is fortified by players like Kang Baek-ho of KT Wiz, while the outfield boasts talents like Lee Jung-hoo from Kiwoom Heroes, at 23 and 24 years old respectively. 　The

June 16, 2023

Rookie reliever looking to thrive in any given role

Wins can be hard to come by for middle relievers, who do the grunt work, while starters and closers get more of the spotlight by picking up victories and saves. LG Twins rookie reliever You Young-chan picked up his first career win in his 24th appearance Tuesday night, after tossing 1 2/3 shutout innings against the Lotte Giants in a 3-1 victory. One may be tempted to say You is lucky to get the first win out of the way so early in his career. Dig a little deeper into his career, though, and you

May 31, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong hits 5th homer of season, scores 100th career run

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres has homered for the fifth time this season, reaching a career milestone in the process. Kim hit a solo home run to lead off the top of the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington on Wednesday. Kim's blast to the right-center field, off Nationals starter Trevor Williams, cut the Padres' deficit to 5-3. Kim drilled a 1-1 fastball from Williams for his first home run off a fastball this season. It was Kim's fi

May 25, 2023

Veteran pitcher earns 1st win in 5 years in gutsy outing

Veteran pitcher Jang Won-jun needed 15 days to go from career win No. 128 to No. 129 in 2018. It then took the Doosan Bears left-hander five years to get to his 130th victory in the Korea Baseball Organization. That long-awaited win came Tuesday night in a "turn-back-the-clock" performance against the Samsung Lions at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. The 37-year-old allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings, but his Bears teammates gave him plenty of run support in a 7-5 victory

May 24, 2023

Teams tied at top of KBO standings set for midweek clash

Through Sunday's action in South Korean baseball, the SSG Landers and the LG Twins shared first place with identical records. Something will have to give this week, when the two best teams in the Korea Baseball Organization square off for three games starting Tuesday. The Landers and the Twins are both at 26-14-1 (wins-losses-ties), two games ahead of the Lotte Giants in a tie for first place. The Landers will host the Twins for a three-game series at home, Incheon SSG Landers Field, some 3

May 22, 2023

KBO club's new manager trying to lay groundwork for long-term success

INCHEON -- Taking over a franchise trying to get out of the abyss in South Korean baseball, new Hanwha Eagles manager Choi Won-ho said Friday he will look to lay the foundation for success for the longer term, if not this year. In an abrupt announcement that caught many in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) by surprise Thursday night, Choi was named successor to Carlos Subero, who was sacked 31 games into the final season of his three-year contract. Choi, who had been the Eagles' minor

May 12, 2023