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Korea Herald
7 days ago
- Sport
- Korea Herald
KBO sets new single-season sellout record
The South Korean baseball league has set a single-season record for sellouts. With three of the five games held at full houses Friday night, the Korea Baseball Organization reached 224 sellouts for the season. The league had a then-record 221 sellouts in 720 games last year. That mark came down after just 470 games this season. The Hanwha Eagles are leading the way with 40 sellouts at their brand new stadium, Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark in Daejeon, 140 kilometers south of Seoul. Their latest sellout came Friday night, when they shut out the SSG Landers 4-0 before 17,000 fans. The KT Wiz beat the Samsung Lions 8-5 with 18,700 fans packing KT Wiz Park in Suwon, 30 kilometers south of Seoul. In the southeastern city of Busan, 22,669 fans watched as the home team Lotte Giants beat the Kia Tigers 7-4 at Sajik Baseball Stadium. The KBO surpassed 8 million fans in a record 465 games Thursday night and is closing in on the single-season record of 10.88 million set last year. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Korea Herald
KBO surpasses 1 mln fans in fewest games
The South Korean baseball league said Sunday it has topped the 1 million mark in season attendance in the fewest games in its history. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said after three of the five games on Sunday were sold out, its 10 teams had combined to draw 1,059,380 fans after a record 60 games. The previous mark had been 65 games it took to reach 1 million fans in 2012. The league-leading LG Twins extended their sellout streak to seven games at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, where they defeated the Kia Tigers 5-1 in front of 23,750 fans. At Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, some 235 kilometers southeast of the Seoul, the home team Samsung Lions blanked the Hanwha Eagles 10-0 with 24,000 fans on hand. The Lotte Giants hosted the Doosan Bears before a sellout crowd of 22,665 fans at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan, about 320 kilometers southeast of the capital. The SSG Landers had 18,679 fans at their 23,000-seat Incheon SSG Landers Field in Incheon, just west of Seoul, for their 1-0 win over the KT Wiz. Gocheok Sky Dome, with a capacity of 16,000, had 7,041 fans for the game between the home team Kiwoom Heroes and the NC Dinos. There have been 30 sellouts so far this season. Last year, the KBO established new records with 10.88 million fans and 221 sellouts. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
01-04-2025
- Sport
- Korea Herald
Wiz veteran Hwang Jae-gyun embraces mid-career position change
Since 2009, his third professional season, Hwang Jae-gyun has been a third baseman, manning the hot corner for three different clubs in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) while making cameos at first base and shortstop. He also had a cup of coffee as third baseman for the San Francisco Giants. At age 37 playing for the KT Wiz, Hwang is about to undergo a mid-career change. The Wiz signed an All-Star third baseman Heo Kyoung-min in free agency in November, and Heo, a more accomplished defender than Hwang and three years younger, will be the Wiz's new primary third baseman. The Wiz plan to turn Hwang into a utility man and ask him to play second base, shortstop and even an outfield position. Because he had to take reps at multiple positions, Hwang said this year's spring training was different than previous camps. And he claimed Thursday he had no issues whatsoever with being moved around the diamond. "I think I had a pretty satisfying camp, though it wasn't easy," Hwang told reporters at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, after arriving back from training camp in Japan. "As a professional athlete, I am supposed to do the best I can under the circumstances to prepare for a new season." Hwang added he embraced the utility role because "I had to find a way to survive" in the KBO. "I've braced myself for that change, and at the same time, I didn't want to feel stagnant," Hwang said. "I am confident I can win the competition for playing time, and hopefully, that will translate to good numbers." Hwang said he didn't find either second base or shortstop overly challenging. Playing in the outfield, however, was a different animal. "I could make catches in the outfield just fine, but when I threw, the ball didn't travel as far as I thought it would," Hwang said. "I asked my outfield teammates and they told me to use my legs more. I am used to making throws by flicking my wrist in the infield, but now I have to pay more attention to my legs when I play catch." Last year, Hwang was officially listed as 96 kilograms. He said he has shed 12kg so that he could be nimble enough to handle multiple positions. "I tried to reshape my body so that I could play whatever position I am asked," he said. "At the same time, I've been doing a ton of weight training. I don't think my weight loss will affect my power at the plate so much." Hwang said he doesn't have any statistical goal for himself in 2025. "I just want to be able to play every day," he said. "If I can stay healthy and learn how to play multiple positions, I will be able to fill whatever hole there is on the field every day."(Yonhap)
New York Times
22-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
State of the Padres: Yu Darvish headed to the IL, roster battles headed to the wire
MESA, Ariz. — The Padres will head into Opening Day amid significant questions about their rotation depth. Manager Mike Shildt confirmed Friday that Yu Darvish will miss the start of the season because of the elbow inflammation that has largely halted the right-hander's throwing since he pitched in a Cactus League game last week. With Darvish poised to join fellow starters Matt Waldron (oblique strain) and Joe Musgrove (Tommy John surgery rehab) on the injured list, Shildt sought to downplay the severity of what was largely expected news. Advertisement 'I don't know what the time frame will be. It's too early to tell,' Shildt said. 'The best-laid plans … don't always go in a perfectly straight line. Yu's had a little bit of a setback, and we'll evaluate as it goes. 'We feel pretty comfortable that some rest and getting ramped back up will be the answer at the moment.' At the moment, the Padres also have other questions to address. Less than a week before the season opener, 38 healthy players remain in camp. San Diego, with Darvish's injury, has decisions to make regarding the final two spots in the rotation, one or two spots in the bullpen, and the entire bench. 'This is the most competitive position player camp I've ever had at the end of a camp,' Shildt said. 'Usually, it comes down to, like, picking your 26th guy between a guy or two or three. And now we've got legitimately 10 guys for four or five spots.' Here's the latest on the state of the Padres' yet-to-be-finalized roster. Locked into spots: Michael King, Dylan Cease, Nick Pivetta Also on the 40-man roster: Kyle Hart, Stephen Kolek, Randy Vásquez Also in camp: Wes Benjamin Injured: Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, Matt Waldron The Padres entered this spring intending to err on the side of caution with Darvish. Now, the 38-year-old's injury is cause for concern, if not yet alarm. Darvish has dealt with elbow inflammation in each of the past few seasons. Pivetta's arrival could make up for Musgrove's absence, but the Padres might be challenged to replace Darvish if he misses extended time. With the five-time All-Star down, the final two spots in the Opening Day rotation will go to some combination of Hart, Kolek and Vásquez. Hart, whose only major-league experience came in 2020, is trying to prove he is a much-improved pitcher after he starred last season in the Korea Baseball Organization. Kolek has started in the minors but never in the majors. Vásquez posted a 4.87 ERA in 20 starts for the 2024 Padres; his 'expected ERA,' according to Statcast, was 5.94. Advertisement Shildt indicated that one of these three pitchers — whoever does not make the Opening Day roster — will begin the season in Triple-A El Paso's rotation. The Padres aren't swimming in upper-level starting depth, and they need someone to stay stretched out in the event of another injury. Locked into spots: Robert Suarez, Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morejon, Yuki Matsui, Wandy Peralta Also on the 40-man roster: Logan Gillaspie, Alek Jacob, Ron Marinaccio, Juan Nuñez Injured: Jhony Brito, Bryan Hoeing, Sean Reynolds If the Padres aren't going to carry Hart, Kolek or Vásquez as a long reliever, they'll need someone who can provide some multi-inning ability. San Diego will open the season with seven games in seven days, and there are potential members of the rotation — Hart, in particular — who may not be fully built up. Jacob, who's had a strong camp, got 11 outs in a game last August. The more-experienced Marinaccio has worked two innings at a time throughout his career. The Padres took Nuñez, a low-minors starter, in the Rule 5 draft because they liked his arm; they still do, and injuries to others may make it easier to justify rolling the dice on the 24-year-old. Gillaspie, who's out of minor-league options, went three innings in his most recent Cactus League appearance. Brito would be an obvious long-relief candidate in most instances, but he currently isn't an option. The right-hander's 2024 season was ended by an elbow strain, and Brito experienced more discomfort during a Cactus League outing early this month. Locked into a spot: Elias Díaz Also on the 40-man roster: Luis Campusano, Brett Sullivan Also in camp: Martín Maldonado Among the catchers in camp, only Campusano and Sullivan have produced an extra-base hit this spring. The Padres, of course, are prioritizing defense at the position. That explains why Maldonado, who was born on the same day as Darvish, remains in the mix. In a small sample last season with the Chicago White Sox, Maldonado did not grade well in terms of pitch-framing and blocking, but he continues to be respected for his acumen and leadership. Talk to 'em, @_tylerwade 👏 — San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 21, 2025 Locked into spots: Luis Arraez, Jake Cronenworth, Xander Bogaerts, Manny Machado Also on the 40-man roster: Eguy Rosario, Gavin Sheets, Tyler Wade Also in camp: Yuli Gurriel, Jose Iglesias, Mason McCoy The Padres added Sheets to their 40-man roster partly because he has performed and partly because he could have opted out of his minor-league deal if he wasn't added. Iglesias and Gurriel can opt out this weekend if they aren't added to the 40-man roster. Advertisement Like Sheets, Iglesias appears to have a strong chance of making the initial 26-man roster. Gurriel seems to have at least a decent chance. Carrying all three of these players wouldn't be ideal. On a four-man bench, that would leave room for only a backup catcher and no true reserve outfielder. Sheets, who does have minor-league options left, can fill in as a corner outfielder, but he might be better utilized as a designated hitter and occasional first baseman. Wade and Rosario are out of minor-league options. 'You … saw last year, at the end of the day, everyone's going to help us out at some point and have big roles,' Wade said Friday after hitting his first home run of the spring. 'So if it's not now, it's definitely later.' Still, options (or a lack thereof) and opt-outs will be a factor in deciding the composition of the roster. Locked into spots: Jason Heyward, Jackson Merrill, Fernando Tatis Jr. Also on the 40-man roster: Connor Joe, Brandon Lockridge, Tirso Ornelas Also in camp: Oscar Gonzalez Heyward might not be a lock for an Opening Day job, but he certainly appears headed for one. The veteran has started most of the Cactus League games that also were started by the Padres' surefire regulars. After a slow start to camp, he's come around a bit at the plate, although left field, for San Diego, figures to remain a question mark in terms of offense. While the Padres might be leaning toward starting Ornelas and Gonzalez in El Paso, Joe and Lockridge are recently proven contributors who have played well enough to earn big-league roles. The right-handed-hitting Joe could be the Opening Day starter in left field, with Chris Sale scheduled to pitch for the Atlanta Braves. Lockridge is a strong defender at all three outfield spots and leads the team in Cactus League stolen bases. But both players, unlike others, have minor-league options left. 'My instinct is we'll have a good idea about the roster before we leave (Arizona on Monday),' Shildt said. 'But never say never. It remains to be seen.' (Photo of Yu Darvish during Game 5 of the 2024 NLDS against the Dodgers: Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Imagn Images)
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Korea Herald
19-03-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
[Graphic News] Kim Kwang-hyun becomes KBO's highest-paid player
SSG Landers pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun has become the highest-paid player in Korean professional baseball, securing an annual salary of approximately 3 billion won ($2.06 million) for the 2025 season, according to a report from the Korea Baseball Organization. Kim's standout performance in the 2024 season, which included 13 wins, 3 losses and a 2.12 ERA, helped lead SSG to a Korean Series championship and earned him the top spot in the league's ERA rankings. Following Kim, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Hanwha Eagles, KT Wiz pitcher Ko Young-pyo and Samsung Lions outfielder Koo Ja-wook tied for second place, each with a salary of 2 billion won. This growing trend of multiyear contracts reflects teams' increasing efforts to retain key players and provide long-term financial stability. As a result, salaries in Korean professional baseball are rising, underscoring the league's increasing competitiveness and teams' financial commitment to securing top talent in pursuit of championship glory. don@
