TUCSON -- As international performances go, South Korea had a dismal showing at the Tokyo Olympics baseball tournament in 2021, finishing fourth in a six-nation tournament despite being seen as a strong medal contender. Two Korea Baseball Organization players in particular, first baseman Kang Baek-ho and reliever Go Woo-suk had a tournament they'd rather forget. Some two years later, they are trying to put those memories behind as they gear up for the World Baseball Classic, whose opening r

TUCSON-- South Korean bats stayed hot and young pitchers put in a solid day's work, as the national team enjoyed its second straight scrimmage victory Sunday in the buildup to next month's World Baseball Classic. South Korea pounded out 19 hits to defeat the Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization 12-6 at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. Nine pitchers worked an inning apiece in this informal game, where pitchers were allowed to meet their pitch count target, r

TUCSON -- South Korean outfielder Lee Jung-hoo has had many watchful eyes of major league scouts following his moves this week, as he is gearing up for next month's World Baseball Classic with an opportunity to move to Major League Baseball next year on the horizon. The reigning MVP in the Korea Baseball Organization said Saturday here that he has been trying to stay focused, with some helpful tips offered by his uber-agent, Scott Boras. "I've been told that major league clubs hav

TUCSON -- Of seven South Korean pitchers to take the mound in their first scrimmage before the World Baseball Classic here on Thursday, sidearmer Ko Young-pyo threw the fewest pitches with 16. He wasn't just the most efficient one, as seven pitchers each worked an inning. Ko was also the sharpest, as he struck out two and pitched around a hit by the NC Dinos of the Korea Baseball Organization at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. South Korea prevailed 8-2. In international

Hyundai Motor Group’s premium brand partners with PGA Tour for 7th consecutive year

TUCSON -- Japan has no shortage of star power as world No. 1 in baseball and a title favorite at the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani is a transcendent two-way phenom, and San Diego Padres starter Yu Darvish can dominate any lineup with his impressive arsenal of pitches. From the domestic league, Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger Munetaka Murakami is coming off a 56-homer campaign. South Korean catcher Yang Eui-ji, however, is keeping a close eye on another

CHANGWON -- For years in the top South Korean football league, Incheon United barely avoided getting relegated to the second division, collecting just enough points near the end of the season to stay alive. That changed in 2022, when they finished in fourth place and punched their first ticket to the Asian Football Confederation Champions League, the top club competition on the continent. Head coach Jo Sung-hwan now wants his Incheon team to be a regular in the big tournament. "We have to

TUCSON-- Young pitchers on the South Korean national team for the World Baseball Classic have said they grew up admiring Yang Hyeon-jong, the MVP-winning left-hander for the Kia Tigers and now captain of the national team pitching staff. Yang, who will be 35 by the start of the big tournament in March, may be in the position to lead, but Yang said Tuesday he also wants to learn from his younger teammates. "These young guys are fearless on the mount. I want to learn everything from them,&q

LOS ANGELES -- In his second major league season in 2022, San Diego Padres infielder Kim Ha-seong was named a finalist for the National League Gold Glove at shortstop. He didn't win the big prize but earned wide acclaim as one of the game's top defenders. And for Year 3, Kim would like his hitting to catch up to his fielding. To that end, Kim has changed both his body and his swing. "I've cut down on some fat and added muscle, and I've also simplified my swing," Kim

A panel of 206 judges have selected the world’s top-100 male soccer players of 2022. Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who led Argentina to World Cup glory for the first time since 1986, was voted the No. 1 player of 2022, with Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe coming in at second place and Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema at third, according to British newspaper The Guardian. South Korea’s Son Heung-min placed at 26th, climbing 13 ranks from 39th place the previous year.

The Pittsburgh Pirates' South Korean first baseman Choi Ji-man said Monday he was "deeply hurt" to miss out on a chance to represent the country at the upcoming World Baseball Classic (WBC), saying the club's decision to block his participation for medical reasons disappointed him.    Earlier in the day, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) had announced it had cut Choi from the 30-man roster for the WBC, after the "medical objection" submitted by the Pirates ha

South Korean short track speed skater Park Ji-won has strengthened his grip on the World Cup overall lead with two more gold medals in Germany over the weekend. Park won the men's 1,500 meters in the fifth stop of the International Skating Union World Cup Short Track Speed Skating in Dresden, Germany, on Sunday (local time). The 26-year-old had won the 1,000m gold medal on Saturday. With the two latest victories, Park improved to 868 points in the World Cup overall standings for the season,

A long winter for Atlanta Braves minor leaguer Park Hoy-jun has just gotten longer, as the South Korean utility player did not earn an invitation to the Braves' spring training. The Braves announced a list of 26 non-roster invitees to their big league camp on Wednesday, with 11 pitchers, four catchers, six infielders and five outfielders set to battle those on the 40-man roster for major league jobs. Park was not invited to camp. He joined the Braves organization in December in a trade from

A South Korean former athlete and local sports body executive has been named by a global federation of canoe organizations to lead diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity for women. Park Gi-young, vice president of South Korea’s Woman’s Sports Association, was tapped by International Canoe Federation President Thomas Konietzko as the chairman of the Lausanne-based organization’s diversity and inclusion committee as well as the person in charge of the body’s women&rsq

The South Korean national Olympic body said Wednesday it will seek further clarification from the top Asian sports organization, in light of the latter's decision to allow Russia to compete in the continent's largest multisport event. The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee plans to send a formal letter to the Olympic Council of Asia this week demanding answers on how the continental body will operate this year's Asian Games with athletes from Russia and also Belarus on hand. Del