South Korean players in Major League Baseball will enter the 2023 season faced with varying degrees of uncertainty. One will switch positions, another may switch teams, and a third will try to establish himself in the big show. The fourth, and the most seasoned of them all, will try to come back in the summer from last year's surgery The new major league season will begin Thursday afternoon across the United States, or early Friday in South Korea. Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres will e

TOKYO -- The third time wasn't quite the charm for South Korea at this year's World Baseball Classic. South Korea crashed out of the first round at each of the past two WBCs in 2013 and 2017. The third crack at reaching the second round this year was supposed to be different. On paper, South Korea seemed to have just the right balance of veteran savvy and youthful exuberance. Over the course of four games in a five-day span in Tokyo, it turned out South Korea just had old players who w

TOKYO -- With his team's back against the wall at the ongoing World Baseball Classic, South Korean manager Lee Kang-chul decided to make several lineup changes Sunday. South Korea will take on the Czech Republic at noon Sunday at Tokyo Dome in Pool B. Lee's team must win this game to stay alive in its quest to reach the quarterfinals. Having dropped the first two games by a combined 21-11, Lee will drop Tommy Edman from the leadoff spot to the No. 9 hole. Edman has batted 1-for-8 in

Tokyo -- Having dropped its first two games of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), South Korea no longer controls its own destiny. In order to reach the quarterfinals as one of the top two teams in Pool B, South Korea must win its two remaining games and pray for help from other countries. South Korea lost to Australia 8-7 on Thursday and then to Japan 13-4 on Friday. It will next play the Czech Republic at noon Sunday and close out the first round against China at 7 p.m. Monday. All games are at

TOKYO -- The South Korean national team lodged a complaint with the organizers of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) after a Japanese fan brought his country's imperial-era flag to a game between South Korea and Japan here Friday. The Rising Sun Flag was seen in the upper deck in the left field at Tokyo Dome prior to the Pool B game between the rival nations. Koreans regard the flag as a symbol of Japan's past militarism, because it was hoisted during Japan's invasion of Asian count

TOKYO -- South Korean pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun has pitched in some huge games for the country at earlier international competitions, but it won't get much bigger than the must-win affair against Japan at the World Baseball Classic Friday evening. Kim was announced as South Korea's starter in the aftermath of the team's stunning, 8-7 loss to Australia in Pool B action Thursday afternoon at Tokyo Dome. There are five teams in Pool B, with China and the Czech Republic being the others,

TOKYO -- After wielding a hot bat in exhibitions and scrimmages, South Korean backup outfielder Park Kun-woo will be the designated hitter in the team's opening game of the World Baseball Classic against Australia on Thursday. Park will bat sixth for South Korea against left-handed starter Jack O'Loughlin. The first pitch is set for 12:08 p.m. at Tokyo Dome. Park was seen as a backup to right fielder Na Sung-bum, and he is the only right-handed batting outfielder on the 30-man squad. P

　The World Baseball Classic has officially begun on Wednesday and ends March 21. 　South Korea will compete in Pool B and the first game at WBC is against Australia on Thursday at Tokyo Dome. South Korea will then take on Japan on Friday, the Czech Republic on March 12 and China on March 13. 　South Korea finished third at the inaugural WBC in 2006 and was the runner-up to Japan at the 2009 edition. However, it crashed out of the first round in each of the next two tournaments, in 2013 and 201

TUCSON -- When his South Korean team faces Australia to start the World Baseball Classic in Tokyo next week, third baseman Choi Jeong may see a familiar face on the mound -- someone whose bid at history Choi foiled nearly three years ago. On May 5, 2020, Australian right-hander Warwick Saupold, then pitching for the Hanwha Eagles in the Korea Baseball Organization, was working on a perfect game against Choi's SK Wyverns. Saupold was seven outs away from becoming the first KBO pitcher to tos

TUCSON -- South Korea's last training camp game in Arizona for the World Baseball Classic was canceled by rain Sunday, costing the team a precious opportunity to test itself ahead of the big tournament. South Korea was set to face the LG Twins of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tucson at noon Sunday, but early morning rain rendered the ground unplayable. The national team is due back in Seoul early Wednesday and the canceled scrimmage will not be

TUCSON -- South Korea won its third straight scrimmage in its World Baseball Classic training camp in Tuscon, Arizona, on Thursday, with key batters staying in midseason form and pitchers putting on solid performances on the mound. Cleanup Kang Baek-ho belted a two-run homer for his second long ball in camp, as South Korea beat the KT Wiz of the Korea Baseball Organization 8-2 at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium. Leadoff Lee Jung-hoo went 2-for-3, while slugger Park Byung-ho chipped in a solo shot

TUCSON -- South Korea's third scrimmage ahead of the World Baseball Classic was canceled Wednesday due to severe winds in Arizona. The national team was set to face the KT Wiz of the Korea Baseball Organization at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tucson. However, on the heels of a rainy day, the wind was blowing at a maximum 31 kph at 11 a.m., two hours before the scheduled first pitch. Per forecast, the wind was expected to hit the area at 27 kph, and officials from both sides decided to

PEORIA-- The only two major leaguers for South Korea at the World Baseball Classic, Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres and Tommy Edman of the St. Louis Cardinals, will join the national team earlier than expected next month. The two players are in spring training with their respective clubs, while the rest of the national team are gearing up for the WBC in Tucson, Arizona. The South Korean team is scheduled to travel back home on March 1 and train in Seoul for a couple of days before flying

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