KBO sets pitch clock rules for 2025, expands ABS strike zone

The South Korean baseball league on Wednesday announced a series of rule changes for the 2025 season, including ones governing the pitch clock and the automated ball-strike system. The Korea Baseball Organization said the pitch clock will be put in place starting in the 2025 regular season, a year after the proposed implementation of the timer. Pitchers will have to start their delivery within 20 seconds with the bases empty, and 25 seconds with runners on. Major League Baseball, which introdu

Dec. 4, 2024

Wiz re-sign former KBO MVP Rojas

The KT Wiz announced their re-signing of former MVP Mel Rojas Jr. The Wiz said Rojas agreed to a new one-year deal worth $1.8 million to return for his sixth season in the Korea Baseball Organization. Rojas first played for the Wiz from 2017 to 2020 and won the regular-season MVP award in 2020. He then left for Japan before rejoining the Wiz ahead of the 2024 season. He made a successful return by ranking among the league leaders in major offensive categories. He finished second in runs (108), f

Dec. 3, 2024

Wiz sign starting pitcher De Jesus

The KT Wiz announced Sunday the signing of pitcher Enmanuel De Jesus, a year after the left-hander had an impressive season with a rival club in the Korea Baseball Organization. De Jesus agreed to a one-year contract worth $1 million, including a salary of $800,000 and a signing bonus of $200,000, the Wiz said. In his debut KBO season with the Kiwoom Heroes in 2024, the Venezuelan pitcher posted a 13-11 record with a 3.68 ERA in 30 starts. He recorded 178 strikeouts over 171 1/3 innings, ranking

Dec. 1, 2024

3 infielders named KBO Field Award winners for 2nd straight year

Three infielders were named winners of the top defensive award in South Korean baseball for the second straight year Monday. The Korea Baseball Organization announced the winners in the catcher and four infield positions for its second annual KBO Fielding Award on Monday. Three of the four infield winners were honored for the second straight season: Kiwoom Heroes second baseman Kim Hye-seong, Kia Tigers shortstop Park Chan-ho and KT Wiz third baseman Heo Kyoung-min, who spent the 2024 season wit

Nov. 25, 2024

KBO to hand out MVP award, top rookie prize on Nov. 26

The South Korean baseball league will hand out its regular-season MVP award and the top rookie prize, among other trophies, in an annual ceremony next week. The Korea Baseball Organization said Thursday that the 2024 KBO Awards ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul. Leaders of major hitting and pitching categories will receive trophies, and the league will also recognize top defensive players at each position for the second annual KBO Fielding Award. The ceremo

Nov. 21, 2024

Lack of starting pitching depth exposed as S. Korea takes quick exit from Premier12

In taking an early exit from the World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 in Taipei this month, South Korea was held back by its lack of depth among young, homegrown starting pitchers. South Korea's fate was sealed Sunday, its first offday of the tournament, when Japan and Chinese Taipei each won its game to grab spots in the Super Round as the top two teams in Group B. South Korea will not finish higher than third regardless of its result against Australia in the final Group B game

Nov. 18, 2024

Korean Series champions Tigers give manager new 3-year deal

The 2024 South Korean baseball champions Kia Tigers said Sunday they have given manager Lee Bum-ho a new three-year contract. The announcement came six days after Lee led the Tigers to the Korean Series title over the Samsung Lions in his first season in charge. Lee, 42, will make 2.6 billion won ($1.88 million) total in his new deal, which will take effect immediately in place of the second year of the two-year, 900 million-won contract Lee had signed in February. Under the new pact, Lee will e

Nov. 3, 2024

Lions defeat Tigers for 1st win in Korean Series

The Samsung Lions homered their way past the Kia Tigers 4-2 at home on Friday for their first win in the Korean Series after dropping two straight games. The Lions launched four solo home runs to tie the Korean Series record to back starter Denyi Reyes, who threw seven innings of one-run ball and struck out eight at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, 235 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The Lions will look to even the best-of-seven series in Game 4, which starts at 2 p.m. in Daegu. They are tryi

Oct. 25, 2024

Lions slugger Park Byung-ho ties KBO postseason home run record

Samsung Lions slugger Park Byung-ho tied the Korea Baseball Organization postseason home run record with his 14th career dinger Friday. Park belted a solo home run off Kia Tigers reliever Jeon Sang-hyun in the bottom of the seventh inning in Game 3 of the Korean Series at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, 235 kilometers southeast of Seoul. With 14 homers, Park has pulled into a tie with the retired Lions legend Lee Seung-yuop. Park has one home run in the wild card round, nine in the first ro

Oct. 25, 2024

Lions legends participate in Korean Series pregame ceremony

Two of the greatest players in Samsung Lions history participated in a pregame ceremony before the first Korean Series game in a new home stadium. Former Lions ace Kim Si-jin threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and his former catcher Lee Man-soo crouched behind the plate to do the catching before Game 3 of the Korean Series against the Kia Tigers at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, 235 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Jang On-yu, grandson of the late Lions outfielder Jang Hyo-jo, stood in th

Oct. 25, 2024

BTS member J-Hope throws out ceremonial pitch in Korean Series

J-Hope, a member of the global K-pop sensation BTS, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 2 of the Korean Series in his hometown Wednesday. Wearing a cap and a jacket bearing the Korean Series logo, J-Hope tossed the pitch prior to the second game of the South Korean baseball championship round between the home team Kia Tigers and the Samsung Lions at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 270 kilometers south of Seoul. J-Hope is from Gwangju. J-Hope was discharged from mandatory mil

Oct. 23, 2024

[Graphic News] Dodgers, Yankees meet in first World Series in 43 years

The Los Angeles Dodgers have secured a spot in the World Series for the first time in four years after defeating the New York Mets. With the Dodgers claiming the National League Championship, a World Series showdown between two of Major League Baseball’s most prestigious teams, the New York Yankees and the Dodgers, will take place for the first time in 43 years. The Dodgers triumphed over the Mets 10-5 in Game 6 of the 2024 MLB National League Championship Series on Monday.

Oct. 23, 2024

Opening game of Korean Series suspended due to rain

The opening game of the South Korean baseball championship series was suspended by rain in the southern city of Gwangju on Monday, the first such occurrence in Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason history. Game 1 of the Korean Series between the home team Kia Tigers and the Samsung Lions was put on hold at 9:24 p.m., with the Lions leading 1-0 in the top of the sixth inning at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 270 kilometers south of Seoul. The Lions had runners at first and second

Oct. 21, 2024

KBO's bright young stars on collision course in Korean Series

The two third basemen for the contestants in this year's Korean Series, Kim Do-yeong of the Kia Tigers and Kim Young-woong of the Samsung Lions, are two of the brightest young stars in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) today, former high school phenoms who finally lived up to their hype in their third season in 2024. Starting Monday, the two 21-year-olds will try to make sure their regular-season success will translate to championship glory. Kim Do-yeong had one of the greatest offens

Oct. 20, 2024

Lions slugger Diaz vows revenge vs. ex-MLB teammate in KBO postseason

Samsung Lions first baseman Lewin Diaz leads all players in the second round of the Korea Baseball Organization postseason with three home runs in three games, but he couldn't hit one out Thursday against his former major league teammate now pitching for his playoff opponent, the LG Twins. LG Twins reliever Elieser Hernandez threw 3 2/3 shutout innings to earn a save in the Twins' 1-0 win in Game 3 of this best-of-five series at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Thursday. He retire

Oct. 18, 2024

Twins shut out Lions to stave off elimination in KBO postseason

The LG Twins defeated the Samsung Lions 1-0 on Thursday to stave off elimination in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason. Twins starter Im Chan-kyu threw 5 1/3 shutout innings at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, and Elieser Hernandez added 3 2/3 scoreless frames to combine for the narrow win before a sellout crowd of 23,750. The Twins scored the only run of the game via a sacrifice fly by Hong Chang-ki in the bottom fifth. The Lions still lead this best-of-five series 2-1 and will

Oct. 17, 2024

KBO postseason contestants alter pitching plans

Both the Samsung Lions and the LG Twins have altered their pitching plans for the ongoing Korea Baseball Organization postseason series -- with the latter team deciding to switch things up after Monday's game was postponed due to rain. The two teams were scheduled to play Game 2 of their best-of-five series at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, 235 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Monday, but rain pushed the contest to Tuesday, back at the same venue. Speaking to reporters before the postp

Oct. 14, 2024

Wiz walk off Twins to stay alive in KBO postseason

The KT Wiz walked off the LG Twins 6-5 in 11 innings Wednesday to stay alive in the Korea Baseball Organization postseason. No. 9 hitters Sim Woo-jun delivered an infield single with the bases loaded in the bottom 11th before a sellout crowd of 17,600 at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, just south of Seoul. The Wiz scored three times in the bottom of the third inning to rally from a 3-1 deficit before a sellout crowd of 17,600 at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, just south of Seoul. Cleanup Kang Baek-ho gave the home

Oct. 9, 2024

[Graphic News] Ohtani’s Dodgers jersey tops 2024 MLB merchandise sales

According to MLB.com, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ new superstar Shohei Ohtani topped merchandise sales this season, with his No. 17 jersey being the most popular. Ohtani, in his debut season with the Dodgers, made history by becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. This year, he recorded a .310 batting average, 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, 134 runs scored and 59 stolen bases, positioning him as a frontrunner for his third MVP title. Trailing Ohtani in

Oct. 9, 2024

Twins outlast Wiz to reach verge of KBO postseason series win

Powered by a pair of homers and a dominant relief outing from a young hurler, the LG Twins outlasted the KT Wiz 6-5 on Tuesday to move within a win of reaching the next round in the Korea Baseball Organization postseason. Austin Dean slugged a three-run homer off starter Wes Benjamin in the fifth to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 lead at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, just south of Seoul, after Park Dong-won had opened the scoring with a solo homer in the second. Starter-turned-reliever Son Ju-young twirl

Oct. 8, 2024