Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin earns 1st win of season

For the first time in 15 months, Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin has picked up a win. Ryu gave up two runs on two hits against the Chicago Cubs at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sunday, helping them to an 11-4 victory in his third start back from Tommy John surgery. Both of the Cubs' runs against Ryu were unearned, as they were scored after an error by first baseman Brandon Belt in the first inning. Ryu struck out three and walked two while lowering his ERA from 4.00 to 2.57 fo

Aug. 14, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong extends hitting streak to 16 games

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres has pushed his hitting streak to 16 games with a two-hit effort. Kim batted 2-for-5 with an RBI to help the Padres defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-5 at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday (local time). Kim raised his batting average to .290, tied for the sixth-highest mark in the National League. Kim's 16-game run is the longest active hitting streak in Major League Baseball (MLB). Batting leadoff, Kim popped out in the first, grounded out in the third

Aug. 12, 2023

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin announced as probable starter vs. Cubs

With his right knee bruised after taking a line drive, Toronto Blue Jays starter Ryu Hyun-jin has been announced as a probable starter for an upcoming home game against the Chicago Cubs. The Blue Jays unveiled their rotation for the three-game home series against the Cubs while on a road trip to Cleveland on Thursday. Ryu was slotted in as the starter for the series finale at 1:37 p.m. Sunday at Rogers Centre in Toronto, which is 2:37 a.m. Monday in South Korea. The South Korean left-hander was

Aug. 11, 2023

S. Korean high school pitcher Jang Hyun-seok signs with Dodgers

South Korean high school pitching prospect Jang Hyun-seok has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, his agency in Seoul announced Wednesday. Leeco Sports Agency said Jang agreed to a $900,000 signing bonus as an international free agent. Jang will have a press conference in Seoul next Monday, the agency added. Jang had announced on Aug. 1 that he would skip this year's Korea Baseball Organization draft to pursue his major league dreams. The 19-year-old right-hander for Masan Yongma High Scho

Aug. 9, 2023

Blue Jays 'optimistic' Ryu Hyun-jin will make next start after negative X-rays on knee

The Toronto Blue Jays are "optimistic" that their South Korean starter Ryu Hyun-jin will be able to pitch on the weekend after the X-rays on his right knee, bruised after taking a comebacker, returned negative. "With the way he's feeling today, we're pretty optimistic he's going to be good," Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters in Cleveland on Tuesday. Ryu suffered a right knee contusion after a comebacker by Oscar Gonzalez of the Cleveland Guardians

Aug. 9, 2023

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin suffers right knee contusion after taking comebacker

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin has been forced to leave his start early with a right knee contusion after taking a line drive off his leg. Ryu was struck by a comebacker off the bat of Oscar Gonzalez of the Cleveland Guardians in the bottom of the fourth inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Monday. The batted ball, with an exit velocity of 97.7 miles per hour, went off Ryu's leg and dropped near the mound. Ryu immediately began limping in pain but had the presence of mind to

Aug. 8, 2023

Kim Ha-seong's hitting streak reaches 13 games

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres is as hot as the California sun. The leadoff hitter for the Padres has now hit safely in 13 straight games and reached base multiple times in 15 straight games. The South Korean infielder batted 2-for-5 in a 13-7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park in San Diego on Monday. During his current hitting streak, which began on July 24, Kim has raised his batting average from .270 to .288, with seven multihit games thrown in. In August, Kim is batting .421

Aug. 8, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong nominated for Heart & Hustle Award in MLB

The San Diego Padres' South Korean infielder Kim Ha-seong has been nominated for a major league award recognizing passion for the game of baseball and work ethic. The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association announced 30 nominees, one from each team, for its annual Heart & Hustle Award on Thursday. Kim was chosen as the Padres' nominee by 30 MLBPAA committees made up of alumni players. Created by the MLBPAA in 2005, the award is given each year to "an active player who

Aug. 4, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong hits 4th leadoff homer of season

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres has gone deep for the first time in eight games as he inches closer to a milestone. Kim hit a leadoff homer as part of his 2-for-3 day at the plate against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver on Wednesday. Kim also drew two walks from the top of the lineup, helping the Padres to an 11-1 rout. After seven highly productive offensive seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization, Kim is finally showing off his hitting prowess in his third major league se

Aug. 3, 2023

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin charged with loss in return from injury

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays struggled in his first major league start in 14 months, constantly pitching with traffic on the bases against a division rival. Ryu took the loss in the Orioles' 13-3 rout of the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Tuesday (local time), after giving up four runs on nine hits in five innings. Ryu left the game with the Orioles leading 4-3 following Gunnar Henderson's solo shot to begin the top of the sixth. The bullpen coughed up nine runs over

Aug. 2, 2023

Choi Ji-man joins countryman Kim Ha-seong in San Diego following trade

South Korean infielder Choi Ji-man will join countryman Kim Ha-seong on the San Diego Padres. The Pittsburgh Pirates traded Choi, along with pitcher Rich Hill, to the Padres on Tuesday, in exchange for three prospects: pitcher Jackson Wolf, outfielder Estuar Suero and first baseman Alfonso Rivas. The deal was made prior to the annual trade deadline of 6 p.m. Tuesday. Choi had been teammates with South Korean infielder Bae Ji-hwan in Pittsburgh and will now join another Korean infielder in Kim. C

Aug. 2, 2023

Once in last place, KT Wiz claw back into KBO postseason contention

On May 18, the KT Wiz was in last place in South Korean baseball, with a record of 10-24-2 (wins-losses-ties). They were stuck at a season-worst 14-games under .500 with little hope for a quick bounceback as injuries were piling up. Since May 19, however, the Wiz have reeled off the best record in the Korea Baseball Organization at 34-19. They tied for the league lead with 15 wins in June and led everyone with 13 wins in July. A nine-game losing streak from the end of April is now a distant memo

July 31, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong leaves game with shoulder injury

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres has suffered an apparent shoulder injury on a slide at home plate. Kim exited the Padres' home game against the Texas Rangers at Petco Park in San Diego on Sunday after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Xander Bogaerts in the bottom of the third inning. As Kim slid home headfirst, his right hand got jammed underneath the left knee of catcher Sam Huff. The ball bounced past Huff and toward the backstop, and Kim immediately grabbed his right shoulder after sli

July 31, 2023

[Graphic News] MLB to hold 2024 season opener in Seoul

Major League Baseball will open its 2024 season in South Korea with two games between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. MLB and the MLB Players Association announced their plans for four international series outside the United States and Canada in 2024, with regular season stops in Mexico City and London, as well as spring training action in the Dominican Republic. Dubbed the “Seoul Series” as part of the MLB World Tour, the games in South Korea between the two Nation

July 28, 2023

KBO suspends 3 minor leaguers for physical abuse of teammates

The South Korean baseball league on Wednesday imposed lengthy bans on three minor league players for the physical abuse of their teammates. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) handed down a 72-game ban on SSG Landers minor league pitcher Lee Won-joon, while banning their minor league infielder Lee Geo-yeon and outfielder Choi Sang-min for 30 games each. The KBO had been investigating the abuse cases since last week. According to the KBO, the incident took place in the Landers' minor lea

July 19, 2023

Ulsan midfielder Qazaishvili named K League's top player for June

Valeri Qazaishvili, Georgian midfielder for first-place Ulsan Hyundai FC, was named the top player in South Korean football for June. The Korea Professional Football League announced Qazaishvili, known as Vako here, as the winner of the Player of the Month award for June in the top-flight K League 1. It is his first career monthly award. In four matches last month, Vako scored five goals and recorded an assist as well. The winner was chosen based on votes by the K League's technical study

July 17, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong hits 2nd career leadoff home run

For the second time in his major league career, Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres has hit a leadoff home run. Kim greeted Philadelphia Phillies starter Zack Wheeler with a home run in the top of the first inning at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Sunday, staking his visiting team to a 1-0 lead. Wheeler threw Kim a 2-2 sweeper below the zone, and Kim went down and got all of the pitch. Kim's homer traveled 352 feet over the left field fence at a launch angle of 32 degrees. It was Ki

July 17, 2023

Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin pitches 5 solid innings in minor league rehab start

Working his way back from elbow surgery, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin now has a solid Triple-A start under his belt. Pitching for the Buffalo Bisons, the South Korean left-hander gave up a run on three hits in five innings against the Toledo Mud Hens, the Detroit Tigers affiliate, at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, on Saturday. It was Ryu's third minor league outing since undergoing Tommy John surgery to repair ligament damage in his left elbow in June 2022. He has been gradual

July 16, 2023

Sluggers old and young battle for home run crown; American starter leads ERA race in KBO

As the first half of the season drew to a conclusion in South Korean baseball this week, a familiar name sat atop the home run leaderboard. Choi Jeong of the SSG Landers is tied for the home run lead in the Korea Baseball Organization with 19 after 73 games. He is chasing his fourth home run crown, which would make him the oldest player to lead the KBO in that category at 36 years and eight months old. The player on level with Choi is at the other end of the age spectrum. Roh Si-hwan of the Hanw

July 14, 2023

Son of ex-KBO slugger drafted by Diamondbacks

Kevin Sim, son of a former star slugger in the top South Korean baseball league, has been drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in Major League Baseball. The Diamondbacks selected Sim, third baseman for the University of San Diego, with their 148th overall pick in the fifth round of the annual draft. Sim, 21, is son of Shim Chong-soo, who smacked 328 home runs in his 15-year career in the Korea Baseball Organization to rank 10th on the all-time list. In 2003, Shim, then playing for the Hyundai Uni

July 11, 2023