My Cubbies definitely reminded me of that this week. While 2025 ended with a postseason run to the NLDS and a renewed sense of hope cemented with the signing of third baseman Alex Bregman, 2026 (so far) had other plans.

Currently as I write this article, the Cubs sit last in the NL Central with a record of 5-6. Not only are they under .500, but was dealt a big blow this week with pitcher Cade Horton’s season-ending elbow surgery. Add Matthew Boyd heading to the IL, and we are looking at a depleted pitching rotation already in the beginning of April.

The aforementioned Bregman hasn’t lived up to his buzz either with a batting average of .200 and an OPS of .636 so far. He isn’t the only problem though. The Cubs as a whole have been struggling with hitting, contributing to one of the lowest batting averages in the MLB during opening week.

So yes, a lot of the pre-Opening Day excitement has faded as a Cubs fan. But it’s a long season and you never know what will happen in baseball.

2026 so far also hasn’t kind to Korean players in the MLB either. We did not expect to see both Ha-Seong Kim and Sung-Mun Song start the season on the injured list, nor did we predict that Hyeseong Kim wouldn’t be on the Opening Day Dodgers roster and instead beginning the year in Triple A again. The only thing we expected was Ji Hwan Bae staying in the minors after his move to the Mets. But what about Jung Hoo Lee, arguably the best Korean baseball player in the world right now?

Jung Hoo Lee Struggles During Early Season Slump

The San Francisco Giants are also off to a poor start. At the time of writing, they are last in the NL West at 3-8. Jung Hoo Lee’s performance is unfortunately off to a slow start as well.

He is currently slashing just .162/.256./.243. In comparison, his 2025 stats were .266/.327/.407. In 43 plate appearances, he has had 6 hits which includes 3 doubles and 4 RBIs. He has struck out 8 times and walked 5 times.

Last season, he led the Giants in doubles (31) and triples (12). So far this year, he has not shown that power or exit velocity. His vulnerability with left-handed pitches has continued, and has struck out at a higher rate than usual. Lee will need to make adjustments not just in the outfield as he moved from center to right field, but at the plate as well.

He is now in his third season in the MLB. While his first season was significantly shortened due to injury, he is running out of time to show that he can adjust to the major leagues. In the KBO, he averaged .326/.392/.491 in 7 seasons. The Giants could definitely use some of that batting power as they hope to rebound from a rocky start under new manager Tony Vitello.

Hyeseong Kim Returns to the Dodgers

Mookie Betts’ oblique injury provided the opportunity for utility player and fan favorite Hyeseong Kim to return to the big leagues. He was having a solid start with the Oklahoma City Comets (.346/.438/.385 over six games) after a strong spring training performance.

Since being called up earlier this week, Kim has had 2 hits, a walk and a run scored in 5 plate appearances. He has also shown his defensive skills at shortstop with a particularly impressive catch as he splits time at the position with Miguel Rojas.

While Betts is expected to miss several weeks, Kim’s versatility and performance makes it likely that we will continue to see him on the Dodgers roster throughout the season even after Betts’ return.

Injury Updates:

• Padres infielder Sung-Mun Song has been participating in rehab games with the Triple A El Paso Chihuahuas, and looks to get the at-bats he missed during spring training before rejoining the major league roster.

• Braves utility player Ha-Seong Kim is still hoping to return in May or June after sustaining a finger injury after slipping on ice in Korea. Fans are hoping for a quick and impactful return, as Kim signed a one-year $20 million contract back in December.

If you want to stay in the know on Korean MLB players, be sure to subscribe to Big League Banchan. Thanks for reading and we will be back next week with another recap.

Statistics courtesy of Baseball Reference.

I’ve always loved science fiction, especially when it involves traveling to the far reaches of space. Throw in things like black holes, time dilation and higher dimensions, and I am immediately hooked.

In this 2014 Christopher Nolan film, Matthew McConaughey leads a team of astronauts through a wormhole as they search for a new home for the human race. They were able to travel to a whole new realm to explore planets that felt similar but turned out to be very different from their expectations.

And in the same spirit of exploration, while Big League Banchan has typically focused on Korean players in the MLB, we are going to travel to the opposite side of the world in this article to dive into the KBO League and cover the basics of this popular organization.

What is the KBO?

The KBO League is the highest level of professional baseball in South Korea. Founded in 1982, the KBO is much younger than the MLB and obviously much smaller. The league began with 6 teams but has since expanded to the current 10 teams.

The schedule is more forgiving than the MLB with each team playing 144 games in the regular season compared to 162. Each team ends up playing every other team 16 times throughout the year, with all teams getting Mondays off.

From a level perspective, the KBO tends to be just above Double-A baseball in the U.S. However, several players have transferred over to find success in the MLB, such as Jung Hoo Lee, Ha-Seong Kim and Hyun-Jin Ryu.

The rules are pretty much consistent with the MLB. One big difference is that if the game goes into extra innings, the game ends in a tie if neither team has the lead after the 11th inning (increased to 15 innings for the postseason). The season culminates with the Korean Series, where the winning team is crowned as the champions for that year.

Who are the teams?

The KBO League has ten teams that play in cities across South Korea. Similar to Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, the teams are named after the companies that own them rather than the location they are based in. Below is a quick guide to the 10 KBO teams:

Doosan Bears

• Stadium and city: Jamsil Baseball Stadium, Seoul

• Championships: 1982 (inaugural KBO season), 1995, 2001, 2015, 2016, 2019

• Established in January 1982

• 2025 season: finished 9th with a record of 61-77-6

Hanwha Eagles

• Stadium and city: Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark, Daejeon

• Championships: 1999

• Established in March 1986

• 2025 season: finished 2nd with a record of 83-57-4, lost 1-4 in the Korean Series

Kia Tigers

• Stadium and city: Gwangju Kia Champions Field, Gwangju

• Championships: 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2009, 2017, 2024

• Established in January 1982

• 2025 season: finished 8th with a record of 65-75-4

Kiwoom Heroes

• Stadium and city: Gocheok Sky Dome, Seoul

• Championships: none

• Established in March 2008

• 2025 season: finished 10th with a record of 47-93-4

KT Wiz

• Stadium and city: Suwon KT Wiz Park, Suwon

• Championships: 2021

• Established in January 2013

• 2025 season: finished 6th with a record of 71-68-5

LG Twins

• Stadium and city: Jamsil Baseball Stadium, Seoul

• Championships: 1990, 1994, 2023, 2025

• Established in January 1982

• 2025 season: finished 1st with a record of 85-56-3, won 4-1 in the Korean Series

Lotte Giants

• Stadium and city: Sajik Baseball Stadium, Busan

• Championships: 1984, 1992

• Established in May 1975

• 2025 season: finished 7th with a record of 66-72-6

NC Dinos

• Stadium and city: Changwon NC Park, Changwon

• Championships: 2020

• Established in March 2011

• 2025 season: finished 5th with a record of 71-67-6

Samsung Lions

• Stadium and city: Daegu Samsung Lions Park, Daegu

• Championships: 1985, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

• Established in February 1982

• 2025 season: finished 4th with a record of 74-68-2

SSG Landers

• Stadium and city: Incheon SSG Landers Field, Incheon

• Championships: 2007, 2008, 2010, 2018, 2022

• Established in March 2000

• 2025 season: finished 3rd with a record of 75-65-4

Here are a few pieces of trivia regarding the teams above:

• The Kia Tigers are the most successful KBO team with 12 championships and have never lost a championship series.

• The LG Twins and Doosan Bears are not the only teams in Seoul, but they share a stadium and therefore have one of the top rivalries in the KBO.

• Team names can change when the ownership changes (e.g., the Kia Tigers were formerly the Haitai Tigers).

• The Kiwoom Heroes are the only team not owned by a large conglomerate but rather a group of investors. While they have not found success in the KBO finishing in last place the past 3 seasons, they are known for the talent they develop to send over to the MLB. Recent MLB signings from the KBO (Jung Hoo Lee, Ha-Seong Kim, Hyeseong Kim and Sung-Mun Song) have all come from the Heroes. Their scouting and development focuses on players they can post to the MLB, which is a primary source of revenue for the team.

What is the ballpark culture like?

KBO is known for its passionate fans, who participate in coordinated cheering and dancing throughout games. Each player has a personalized chant sung when they come up to bat. In contrast to the quieter, more relaxed atmosphere of MLB games, KBO stadiums stay energetic with continuous, cheerleader-led support.

The food is also fantastic, ranging from modern Korean street food to traditional BBQ as you watch the game. That’s right, some stadiums have tables that you can grill meats and vegetables, just like at a Korean BBQ restaurant! I don’t know about you, but KBBQ and baseball sound like a perfect combination to me.

And of course, the bat flip is a key part of the Korean baseball culture. While other leagues may see the move as disrespectful, it is a staple of the KBO, providing moments of celebration and excitement for both players and fans.

How to watch the KBO

If you are in the U.S., great news: you can watch all KBO games for free on the SOOP app! Of course, if you want to watch the games live from the U.S., they will be very early in the morning. The KBO YouTube channel also provides condensed highlights for each game, making it easy to follow your favorite team.

As a Cubs fan, I’ve chosen the Lotte Giants as my KBO team. Their passionate, attendance record-breaking fan base despite a championship drought resonated with me. There have also been a few player and personnel connections between the Cubs and Giants. Most notably, former Cubs Pacific Rim scouting supervisor Min Kyu Sung (who spent 11 years with the Cubs organization) served as the general manager for the Lotte Giants from 2019 to 2023. Sung currently works in scouting for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Hope you enjoyed this detour into the world of KBO this week. With several Korean stars in the MLB plus an exciting performance in the recent World Baseball Classic, it’s never been a better time to get into the bat-flipping and fervently cheering world of the Korean Baseball Organization.

Team information courtesy of MyKBO Stats.

I never was a DVD rental subscriber, but did sign up for the streaming service before Netflix made their own original content. However, I never got super interested in Netflix originals and primarily used the service to watch the films and TV shows I knew and loved. As these slowly disappeared from the app and the amount of originals increased, I eventually cancelled my subscription.

I would resubscribe for a month here and there to catch up on shows like Stranger Things, Drive to Survive, and Squid Game. But now with Opening Night on Netflix along with other large-scale sporting events (e.g., Canelo vs. Crawford, NFL on Christmas), I’ve become a regular subscriber again. If you told me years ago that one day I’d be watching my favorite sports on the same platform that I binge watched comfort shows like King of the Hill on, I would’ve said you were crazy.

But alas, here we are. The MLB regular season is starting up this week on Netflix, and below are the latest updates on Korean players:

Hyeseong Kim Does Not Make The Dodgers Roster

The biggest story this past week in the Korean MLB world is the news that utility player Hyeseong Kim was cut by the LA Dodgers from the major league roster and sent back to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets. This raised many eyebrows since Kim had a very good spring training performance, slashing .407/.448/.519 with an OPS of .967 in 27 at-bats. His World Baseball Classic stats however did leave more to be desired (.083/.214/.333 in 12 at-bats).

Kim was competing with Alex Freeland for that final second base spot with Tommy Edman out on injury. Freeland on paper had a much less impressive spring training with a line of .111/.300/.222. Despite the numbers, the Dodgers believe that Freeland will provide more consistency in getting on base and drawing walks. Plus, he’s a switch hitter and also has versatility throughout the infield.

Kim’s WBC performance vs. his spring training unfortunately shows his streakiness. When Kim is hot, he’s sizzling. Last season when he was called up, he batted .400 in his first month. He then fell back down to earth in his second month and was under .200, finishing the year with a 30% strikeout rate that drew concerns from the Dodgers. The coaching staff have worked with Kim to make adjustments to his swing which they want him to now get used to in Triple-A.

It is probable that if Kim wasn’t signed to the stacked roster that is the Dodgers, he would be most likely be on the Opening Day roster for other teams. Which is too bad since he has a lot of skill and upside that many other clubs would benefit from. Kim was called up last year in May, and will hope to return to the major league roster soon as the 2026 season kicks off this week.

Sung-Mun Song Begins Rookie Season on the IL

The newest KBO prospect to join the MLB will unfortunately begin the season on the injured list. Sung-Mun Song, the highly touted utilityman for the San Diego Padres, reaggravated an oblique injury that he sustained in January. He is not expected to miss extended time, but fans will have to wait to see what kind of impact Song can make for the Padres on both sides of the ball.

In 21 plate appearances during spring training, Song slashed .235/.381/.412 for an OPS of .793. His offensive highlight was a home run during a lopsided 27-6 win against the Seattle Mariners on March 5.

Ji Hwan Bae Will Begin Mets Career in Syracuse

After his stint with the Pirates, Ji Hwan Bae was picked off waivers by the New York Mets. This decision was met with many questions, as Bae’s batting hasn’t been anything to write home about. And while he does provide versatility on defense, his questionable baserunning and more importantly, his domestic violence conviction in 2018 understandably prevents many fans from seeing him in a positive light.

Bae had a decent spring training performance, batting .294/.400/.471 with an OPS of .871, but will start with the Triple-A Syracuse Mets for the 2026 season.

Jung Hoo Lee Looks to Make Big Splash on Opening Night

San Francisco Giants fan favorite and outfielder Jung Hoo Lee is ready to kick off another MLB season on Opening Night in a marquee matchup against the New York Yankees live on Netflix. Lee had a very solid spring training (.455/.500/.727 with an OPS of 1.227) while also serving as captain of Team Korea in the World Baseball Classic where they advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2009.

For the 2026 season, Lee needs to show that despite setbacks in previous seasons, he is physically capable of adjusting to the rigors of a 162-game MLB season. (For reference, a KBO season is 144 games.) He will also need to demonstrate a successful transition to right field after the signing of center fielder Harrison Bader. Based on his spring training performance, it appears that he is adapting well to the new position as well as continuing to be an offensive threat at the plate.

Of course, we can’t forget about Braves utility player Ha-Seong Kim, who is targeting a May return following a finger injury in January.

Be sure to tune in Wednesday night at 8:05 pm ET for the season opener game between the Giants and Yankees and the slate of Opening Day games on Thursday, beginning with the Pirates at the Mets at 1:15 pm ET.

Statistics courtesy of Baseball Reference.

If I had to pick my favorite park, it would probably be Epcot since I love exploring the World Showcase area. For those that are unfamiliar with it, this area of the park has 11 country pavilions that guests can visit. Each pavilion features an immersive experience with architecture, cuisine, and entertainment specific to that country. To up the authenticity, Disney hires Cast Members (what they call their employees) from those countries to work in their respective pavilions.

I’ve always enjoyed traveling and immersing myself in other cultures. That’s probably why I enjoy the World Baseball Classic so much. Not only do we get to experience some great moments, but we get to see people and cultures from all around the world come together to connect over the game of baseball. It is a beautiful intersection of pride for your country and appreciation for others.

As a fan of Team Korea, this tournament was filled with ups and downs. And while their journey came to a sudden halt with a mercy rule loss against the Dominican Republic, there is still much to be proud of. At the same time, there are some clear areas of improvement that need to be addressed to make a deeper run in the next WBC.

So without further ado, here are the top takeaways on Korea from the 2026 World Baseball Classic:

Korea Finally Returns to the Quarterfinals

The biggest story of Korea’s WBC run this year is that they finally returned to the quarterfinals after 17 years. The last time they made it this far, the squad lost a heartbreaking 10-inning game in the final against Japan. Since then, they were eliminated each tournament during the pool play stage until now.

The team started off strong with a dominant 11-4 win over Czechia before two memorable matchups against tough opponents in Japan and Chinese Taipei. They unfortunately lost both games (6-8 against Japan and 4-5 against Chinese Taipei), which put them in a tricky spot to advance to the quarterfinals. To move forward, Korea would need to beat Australia by 5 or more runs while keeping the Aussies from scoring more than 2 runs. They did just that with a momentous 7-2 win, punching their ticket to Miami.

Sadly, their trip ended quickly in a mercy-rule loss to the powerhouse that is the Dominican Republic team. After failing to score a single run, Korea’s WBC journey came to an end in the 7th inning, losing 0-10.

While that performance was certainly deflating, Korea has a lot to be proud of in their return to the quarterfinals. They definitely need to improve in certain aspects, but overall was able to showcase the rise of Korean baseball on the international stage.

For a deeper dive into Korea’s pool play stage games, click here.

Korea’s MVP

If there’s one player who represented big bats and offensive firewower, it was Bo Gyeong Moon. The LG Twins infielder led the tournament in RBIs during the pool play stage with 11 runs batted in. He made his mark by hitting a 1st inning grand slam against. Czechia in Korea’s first game of the tournament. Moon also played a key role in their critical game against Australia, hitting a home run and driving in 4 runs to help seal their path to the quarterfinals. Overall, he slashed .438/.526/.938 for an OPS of 1.464.

Korea’s Pitching

It is no secret that a big weakness of the Korea team is its pitching. The KBO has traditionally lagged when it comes to high-velocity throwing. Korean pitchers have averaged in the low 90s when it comes to fastball mph, while teams like the Dominican Republic and the United States average in the mid 90s. In the MLB, it’s not a rare sight anymore to see a top pitcher exceed 100 mph.

Korea has tended to favor finesse over velocity, and while that leads to what some may see as entertaining games with more hits and higher scoring, this has not helped them on the global stage. They will need to invest more in pitching development and training infrastructure, and prioritize fastballs to bring their pitching up to speed (no pun intended) in this age of velocity.

Korea’s Batting Against Good Pitching

Another symptom of Korean teams not having high-velocity pitching is that they don’t get experience batting against it either. They clearly struggled at the plate when facing a team like the DR while hitting plenty against lower velocity pitchers from Czechia and Australia.

As mentioned above, pitching is an issue that needs to be addressed and once it improves, it will help the Korea team on both offense and defense in international play. Whether they will make the necessary investment and adjustments until the next World Baseball Classic remains to be seen.

Korea’s Missing Players

One can only imagine if Korea’s trajectory would have been different if they had some key missing players.

Tommy Edman (Dodgers) is the most notable absence, as he recovers from ankle surgery. The two-time World Series champion, 2024 NLCS MVP, and 2021 Gold Glove winner would have provided some significant Major League experience, especially against high-velocity pitchers. While it’s hard to see Korea overcoming that 0-10 loss to the DR, Edman’s contributions could have provided that extra edge against Japan or Chinese Taipei, possibly making Korea’s path to the quarterfinals a little easier.

Ha-Seong Kim (Braves) is another key piece that was absent from the Korea team. The Gold Glove winning utility player not only would’ve provided elite defense, but his experience with at-bats against top-tier pitchers would have come in handy as well. Unfortunately, due to a hand injury that occurred in January, Kim was unable to join the WBC and will miss the beginning of his 1-year $20 million contract season with Atlanta.

Riley O’Brien (Cardinals) sadly suffered a minor injury during spring training which sidelined him from participating on Korea’s roster in the WBC. A potential closer for the St. Louis Cardinals, he could have provided the high-velocity pitching that Korea was lacking during the tournament with a sinker that averages 98 mph.

Sung-Mun Song (Padres) is the latest KBO to MLB signee who signed with San Diego in December. He initially hurt his oblique back in January during batting practice and re-aggravated the injury in early March. Not only would Song have been a solid and versatile infielder, but he also averaged an OPS of .922 in last two seasons with the Kiwoom Heroes, and could have provided additional offensive firepower for the Korea team.

Overall, this was a fantastic tournament with lots of action, drama, and pride shown by both players and fans. Congrats to Venezuela on winning their first WBC championship and their first international win since 1945, and taking down the juggernauts of Japan and USA along the way. With the 2026 tournament being the most watched and most popular in WBC history, it is a great time to be a baseball fan. It is safe to say that there are people all over the world who can’t wait for the next Classic!

The first was Long Gone Summer, the “30 for 30” documentary on the home run race between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire during the 1998 MLB season. I was in late elementary school when this battle was going on, so I definitely did not remember all the details. It was a great way to learn more about how this reinvigorated interest in baseball after the 1994-1995 strike and the steroid controversy that followed.

The other film I watched, Jordan Rides The Bus, was another trip down memory lane for someone who grew up in the Chicago area. This “30 for 30” focused on Michael Jordan’s decision to retire from basketball and play professional baseball in 1994. I didn’t think too much about how odd that decision was as a little kid. But watching the story now as an adult and understanding how difficult it is to be a professional athlete in a single sport, I now understand why many people thought it was ridiculous.

In addition to these baseball documentaries during this trip, the World Baseball Classic also kicked off during this trip. Korea’s much anticipated first game ended in a dominant victory against Czechia, which was just the beginning of an unbelievable run through the pool play stage. Let’s recap the drama and action below:

Game 1: Korea 11 vs. Czechia 4 (W)

What a way to start the tournament for Korea. The team started off strong with a grand slam by Bo Gyeong Moon (1 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI) in the 1st inning, and continued to score in almost every inning. Czechia unfortunately was not able to score their first run until the 5th.

Shay Whitcomb (Astros) and Jahmai Jones (Tigers), who are eligible to play for the team through their Korean mothers, both hit home runs, with Whitcomb hitting back-to-back homers. The excitement and culture of the team was evident in their airplane celebrations around the bases and bringing out an “M” balloon after home runs, symbolizing flying to Miami for the quarterfinals. Overall, this victory was necessary as Korea faces a tough two-game stretch next with Japan and Chinese Taipei.

Stats from MLB-affiliated players on the Team Korea roster include:

• Jahmai Jones (LF): 1 for 4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB

• Jung Hoo Lee (CF, RF): 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 BB

• Shay Whitcomb (3B, SS): 2 for 4, 2 HR, 3 RBI

• Hyeseong Kim (2B): 0 for 3, 1 RBI, 1 BB

Game 2: Korea 6 @ Japan 8 (L)

Facing Samurai Japan is no easy task, but Korea put up a heck of a fight in a back-and-forth battle that will be remembered as a classic matchup.

Korea again came out swinging with 3 runs in the first inning, but Japan answered with 2 of their own with a two-run homer by Seiya Suzuki (Cubs). Japan then took the lead in the 3rd before Korea tied it up in the 4th at 5-5. That score remained until the 7th inning when Korea walked Suzuki with bases loaded, bringing in a run. Japan went on to score 2 more runs bringing the score to 8-5. Korea tried their best to close the gap, but was only able to score one more run when Ju Won Kim singled to bring Jung Hoo Lee home.

Shay Whitcomb (Astros) went hitless after his 2 home run game against Czechia, but Hyeseong Kim (Dodgers) drove in a two-run homer that tied the game in the 4th inning.

While a loss stings, this Korea team showed their toughness and that they will be a force to reckon with in this tournament.

Stats from MLB-affiliated players on the Team Korea roster include:

• Jahmai Jones (LF): 2 for 5, 1 R

• Jung Hoo Lee (CF): 2 for 5, 2 R, 1 RBI

• Shay Whitcomb (3B): 0 for 4

• Hyeseong Kim (2B): 1 for 4, 1 HR, 2 RBI

• Woo-Suk Go (P): 1 IP, 0 H

Game 3: Korea 4 vs. Chinese Taipei 5 (L)

Following the exciting game against Japan, Team Korea had another memorable match against Chinese Taipei. Unfortunately, this one also resulted in a loss for Korea, but provided an emotional extra inning win for Chinese Taipei who was on the brink of elimination.

This was the first game that Korea didn’t score first so far in this competition, with Chinese Taipei scoring a run in the 2nd inning. Korea then tied it up in the 5th and took the lead in the 6th. Both teams scored in the 8th but the game remained tied at 4-4. Kun-Yu Chiang of Chinese Taipei had a sacrifice bunt in the top of the 10th to bring in Chieh-Hsien Chen for what became the game-winning run.

Do Yeong Kim was the star for Korea going 2 for 5 with a home run, double and 3 RBIs.

Dane Dunning (Mariners) who is looking to return to the major leagues in Seattle had a blown save with 2 earned runs in 1.2 innings pitched. Woo-Suk Go (Tigers) who is also hoping to get called up from the minors was given the loss with 1.2 innings pitched and allowing Chinese Taipei’s winning run to come in.

With this loss and the results of the other games in Pool C, Korea had to beat Australia in its next game by a margin of 5 or more runs while keeping the Aussies to 2 or less runs.

Stats from MLB-affiliated players on the Team Korea roster include:

• Jahmai Jones (LF): 0 for 4

• Jung Hoo Lee (CF, RF): 0 for 4

• Shay Whitcomb (1B): 0 for 3, 1 BB

• Hyeseong Kim (2B): 0 for 3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB

• Dane Dunning (P): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 K, 1 HR, BS

• Woo-Suk Go (P): 1.2 IP, 1 R, 1K, L

Game 4: Korea 7 @ Australia 2 (W)

Part of the fun when watching tournaments and playoffs are the scenarios that come into play when a team is looking to avoid elimination. Sometimes it feels hopeless when there’s multiple scenarios that need to happen for your team to advance. But when everything falls according to plan, it is one of the most exciting moments you can experience in sports. And that’s what happened with Korea as they clinched a spot in the quarterfinals with their win over Australia.

Korea again came out swinging with 5 runs scored in the first 5 innings until Australia scored their first run. At the end of the 6th inning, Korea was leading 6-1, having the minimum of 5 runs over Australia needed to advance. However, Australia scored a run in the bottom of the 8th, which meant Korea had to score at least one more run in the top of the 9th and prevent Australia from scoring the rest of the game. Hyun Min Ann hit a sacrifice fly which brought in Hae-Min Park to bring Korea ahead by 5 runs again. Korea then kept Australia from scoring, sealing their ticket to Miami. There were a lot of specific scenarios, but Korea was able to complete both successfully to move on.

Bo Gyeong Moon had another monster game hitting 3 for 5 with a home run, a double, and 4 RBIs. Hyun Min Ahn also had a strong performance going 2 for 3 with 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, and 1 SB.

Stats from MLB-affiliated players on the Team Korea roster include:

• Jahmai Jones (LF): 1 for 5, 1 R

• Jung Hoo Lee (CF, RF): 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 RBI

• Shay Whitcomb (PH, 1B, 3B): 1 for 1

• Dane Dunning (P): 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K

At the time of writing, Korea will be facing the winner of the Dominican Republic and Venezuela game in the next round. Either way, they have a tough match waiting for them in Miami for their first trip to the quarterfinals since 2009. Be sure to tune in to FS2 or FOX Deportes on Friday, March 13 at 6:30 pm ET!

Stats courtesy of MLB.

I woke up at 5:00 am each of those mornings to catch my beloved Cubbies play the Dodgers. The early wake-up calls were worth it (despite the two losses) to watch Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki return to their home country to play against Dodgers Japanese superstars Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, and of course, Shohei Ohtani.

The Homecoming documentary did a great job capturing the experience of these players and their teammates during their time in Japan. But more importantly, it focused on the stories of other locals whose lives are intertwined with the game of baseball. My favorites included:

• The owner and staff of a baseball mitt repair store that reinvigorates old gloves to make them like new. One story focused on a dad who was able to pass on his old glove to his child after getting it refurbished by the talented staff.

• An experienced craftsman who manufacturers baseball bats for Mizuno. Rather than depending on full automation, the film focused on the careful hands-on approach he takes with each individual bat and the respect he has for each one he creates.

• An elderly lady who despite her old age continues to coach a youth baseball team. Her love of the game spans several decades and it was quite inspirational to see her dedication to the traditional foundations of baseball.

• A hairdresser who is a massive Ohtani fan, and how his passion for the baseball superstar shapes how he approaches his work and life.

If this documentary comes to a streaming platform in the future, I highly recommend it! It’ll give you a deeper appreciation of how other cultures approach the game of baseball and the unique aspects of their fandom.

The past week also had plenty of baseball action as we are just days away from the World Baseball Classic and less than a month away from Opening Day. Here are the top takeaways on Korean MLB players from the last week:

Hyeseong Kim (LAD) is making a strong case to make the Opening Day roster.

Arguably the most exciting Korean player to watch so far during Spring Training has been Hyeseong Kim. He has had a hot start while competing for the spot to fill in during Tommy Edman’s time on the injury list, showing defensive skills at both second base and center field.

Kim has been particularly fun to watch at the plate. He knocked his first spring homer out of the park during a game against the White Sox. In 13 at-bats, he has 6 hits, 3 runs scored, 5 RBIs, and 5 strikeouts, plus 2 stolen bases. In 4 games, he slashed .462/.462/.692 before departing to represent Korea in the World Baseball Classic.

Hopefully, Kim will continue his impressive spring performance as he represents his country in the WBC. While the battle for second base (particularly with Alex Freeland) will continue during his absence from Dodgers camp, he will undoubtedly be fighting to begin the 2026 season on the major league roster after beginning 2025 in Triple-A.

Sung-Mun Song (SD) seeks to be the dependable utility player that the Padres need.

The player that I’m most interested in following the most during spring camp is Sung-Mun Song. After a KBO career that included being named an All-Star and team captain, Song joined the Padres in December 2025.

Like his former Kiwoom Heroes teammate and ex-Padre Ha-Seong Kim, Song was signed to provide a versatile utility option for the San Diego squad. While he primarily plays in the infield at third, second, and first, Padres manager Craig Stammen will also be trying out Song at shortstop and outfield.

According to Song, he hasn’t played shortstop since his middle school days, and cannot recall ever playing in the outfield. However, if he is able to prove his defensive skills at these positions, Song may become the utilityman that can fill in for almost every regular starter on the roster, making him a very valuable addition to the team.

He hasn’t quite produced on offense yet, with just 2 hits in 12 at-bats. But expect his confidence to increase as he continues getting experience facing major league pitchers following an oblique injury sustained during batting practice in January. This injury prevented Song from joining the Korea roster for the WBC, but now gives him additional time with the Padres before Opening Day.

Other updates:

• Jung Hoo Lee (SF) and Hyeseong Kim (LAD) will be playing for Team Korea this week in the World Baseball Classic alongside several other MLB and MiLB players, including Dane Dunning (SEA), Jahmai Jones (DET), Woo-Suk Go (DET), and Shay Whitcomb (HOU). Riley O’Brien (STL) is currently sidelined with an injury but remains on the roster.

• Ji-Hwan Bae (NYM) continues to fight for a major league spot on his new team as a non-roster invitee. He has played both center and right field this past week while batting .200/.273/.300.

Stay tuned for additional spring training and World Baseball Classic coverage (click here for a guide to the MLB players representing Team Korea).

Statistics courtesy of Baseball Reference.

One of my best friends (who later was the best man in my wedding) was heading to Arizona with his family and invited me along. We had an absolute blast that week. From taking our Dodge Challenger rental up the mountain roads to catching a Suns/Lakers game in Phoenix (during the Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant days), we made a ton of great memories, which of course culminated in cheering for our beloved Cubbies at their spring home in Mesa, AZ.

At the time, the Cubs played their spring training games at Hohokam Park (now home to the Athletics). That season’s roster had some of my all-time favorite Cubs players, including Derrek Lee, Kosuke Fukodome, and Carlos Zambrano. I’ll never forget the spring training atmosphere, the perfect Arizona weather, and the sense of excitement that was palpable throughout the stadium.

Of course, I also will never forget where we ate after the game: the infamous Heart Attack Grill. This establishment was known for its hospital theme and deliberately unhealthy “bypass burgers” and “flatliner fries” where customers over 350 lbs. could eat for free. While the Arizona location is no longer open, the restaurant currently operates its only location in Las Vegas.

Well, that sense of excitement around preseason baseball is back. Spring training for the 2026 season began last week, and already, Korean players are making their presence known. Here are some of the highlights from the last several days:

Hyeseong Kim (2B), Los Angeles Dodgers

Kim began his rookie season last year in Triple-A after some struggles during spring training but earned his spot on the major league roster by the end of the season to win his first World Series championship.

To prove he still belongs in the big leagues, Kim made an immediate impact in the Dodgers’ first spring training game against the Angels. In 3 at-bats, he had 2 hits, scored 1 run, and racked up 3 RBIs, becoming the first Dodger to bat in runs in 2026.

Jung Hoo Lee (RF), San Francisco Giants

Lee also had a great 2026 spring training debut against the Cubs with 1 hit and 1 run scored in 3 at-bats. His big play of the day though came on the defensive end with an impressive throw from right field to make the out at home plate.

With the recent signing of center fielder Harrison Bader, it was likely Lee would be moving to right field. And while we only have a small sample size so far, it seems as if Lee is quieting any fears or doubts over his position change and giving fans hope for a more solid and defensively improved outfield.

Other updates:

• New Padres signing from the KBO Sung-Mun Song (3B) made his MLB debut against the Dodgers as a pinch hitter for Manny Machado. He went 0 for 2 with one strikeout. With additional plate appearances this week, Song is looking to get his first hit of the year.

• Ji-Hwan Bae (RF, CF) made his New York Mets debut against the Yankees after several years with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Currently on a minor league contract, he is looking to earn a major league roster spot again. In two games, he is 1 for 4 with a double.

• One of the top prospects for St. Louis is Won-Bin Cho (LF), who has mostly played High-A ball in his young career. He returned for his third spring training with the Cardinals and struck out in his only plate appearance against the Marlins.

Stay tuned for updates on your favorite Korean MLB players throughout the season!

Statistics courtesy of Baseball Reference and MLB.

Eating tteokguk symbolizes a fresh start as we grow another year older, as well as prosperity and good luck. And as we approach Spring Training, these are the top Korean players to keep an eye on, whether they are here for a new beginning in the MLB or looking to build on past seasons.

Sung-Mun Song (3B, 2B, 1B), San Diego Padres

This versatile utility infielder is the exciting new addition from the KBO for the 2026 MLB season. Song joins the Padres, the same team that his fellow countryman and former Kiwoom Heroes teammate Ha-Seong Kim played for in 2021-2024 (Kim is currently with the Atlanta Braves).

Song suffered an oblique injury in January during batting practice, which initially made it uncertain how much he would be able to participate in Spring Training. However, he appears to be ahead of schedule in his recovery and has joined training camp down in Arizona.

With the Heroes, Song had a breakout year in 2024 and his best season so far in 2025. He slashed .315/.387/.530 that year with an OPS of .917. He hit 26 home runs and 90 RBIs, while also stealing 25 bases.

Now it’s time to see whether his KBO success will carry over to the MLB schedule and style of play. Ha-Seong Kim was a fan favorite in San Diego. Hopefully Petco Park will have another Korean player they will love to support over the next few years.

Hyeseong Kim (2B, SS, OF), Los Angeles Dodgers

Because of Kim’s two appearances during the 2025 Dodgers postseason run including the World Series, it may be easy to forget that the highly anticipated rookie from the KBO struggled a bit during Spring Training last year. This led him to start the season with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets. However, he got called up in May, and despite a shoulder injury that kept him out of action in August, he finished the season with .280/.314/.385 in 71 games. He hit 3 home runs and 17 RBIs and had 13 stolen bases.

Touted for his speed, Kim looks to start the season in LA as the Opening Day starter at second base with Tommy Edman out with an ankle injury. Other players vying for the spot include Miguel Rojas, Santiago Espinal, and Alex Freeman. We will definitely be watching Kim’s performance closely during spring training to see if he’ll get the nod to start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 26.

Ji Hwan Bae (2B, OF, SS), New York Mets

Unfortunately having developed a reputation for questionable baserunning, Bae looks to have a fresh start with the Mets organization after being with the Pittsburgh Pirates the last four years.

With the exception of 2023 when he played 111 games, Bae played an average of only about 17 games per year in his other 3 seasons with the Pirates. His BA, OBP and SLG fell each year with a measly slash line of .050/.240/.050 in 20 at-bats during 2025.

At the end of last season, the Mets claimed Bae off waivers and sent him to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets. He will need to have a strong spring training that demonstrates improvement at the plate to show that his Triple-A batting performance can translate to the big leagues. He will also need to prove that despite his speed, his baserunning IQ has increased, as well as his defensive reliability.

Will Citi Field attendees have a new Korean player to cheer for in 2026? It doesn’t seem likely that Bae will make the Opening Day roster. But a strong spring and Triple-A stats may provide the path back up to the majors for Bae.

Spring training games start this week with the Padres playing the Mariners on Friday, February 20 at 3:10 pm ET, the Mets hosting the Marlins on Saturday, February 21 at 1:10 pm ET, and the Dodgers facing the Angels later that afternoon at 3:10 pm ET.

Statistics courtesy of Baseball Reference.

Whether it was having to watch two teams I dislike or the fact the first touchdown didn’t happen until the 4th quarter (or that the Patriots didn’t even score a single point in the first 3 quarters?!), this was one of the worst championship games I’ve ever seen.

But all is good. And do you know why? Because baseball is BACK.

This week, players start reporting for Spring Training. And in about 3 weeks, the highly anticipated World Baseball Classic also begins.

WBC fever is here. 2026 represents the 6th World Baseball Classic since its inaugural event in 2006. From merch to roster announcements, fans from all over the world are eagerly anticipating this international competition which has only grown in popularity with each tournament.

Since we focus on Korean MLB players here on Big League Banchan, I of course had to write a post on who from the MLB is representing Team Korea in the WBC. Some notable players are missing from this year’s roster due to injury unfortunately: Ha-Seong Kim (Atlanta Braves) and Tommy Edman (Los Angeles Dodgers).

But we have still 7 players associated with MLB teams representing Korea, including 4 U.S.-born players, who have Korean heritage through their mothers. Korea will be aiming for their first quarterfinal appearance since 2009 when they lost to Japan in the final game. Here’s who will be playing for the squad led by manager Ryu Ji-Hyun:

Jung Hoo Lee (CF), San Francisco Giants

Arguably the best Korean player in the world right now, it’s not too surprising that Jung Hoo Lee was named the team captain for Korea. The center fielder had his first full MLB season in 2025 after his 2024 rookie season was cut short by injury.

Despite some struggles in the second half of the year, “The Grandson of the Wind” looks to prove he can adapt to the rigors of a full MLB season and build on the offensive prowess he showed last year by leading the team in triples and doubles. His 2025 stats include the following:

• .266/.327/.407

• 73 runs, 55 RBIs, 10 stolen bases

• 1.7 WAR

Click here for more info on Jung Hoo Lee.

Hyeseong Kim (2B), Los Angeles Dodgers

As the 2nd Korean-born player to win a World Series, Hyeseong Kim will be bringing the experience he gained during his first season with the MLB to help his fellow countrymen in the World Baseball Classic.

In 2025, after spring training, Kim began the season in Triple A before getting called up in May. He also dealt with a midseason injury but was able to finish the year with two postseason appearances.

The speedy “Comet” played in 71 games with the Dodgers last year with the stats below:

• .280/.314/.385

• 19 runs, 17 RBIs, 13 stolen bases

• 1.7 WAR

Click here for more info on Hyeseong Kim.

Shay Whitcomb (2B), Houston Astros

Another infielder for Team Korea is Shay Whitcomb. He primarily played in Triple-A (for one of the coolest team names and logos in minor league baseball: the Sugar Land Space Cowboys) during the last two seasons. Whitcomb played 20 games each year in 2024 in 2025 for the Astros.

Last May, he had a fantastic month in Sugar Land, slashing .310/.389/.670 with 12 homers and 21 RBIs. With the Astros, he finished the 2025 season with .125/.125/.219.

Jahmai Jones (LF), Detroit Tigers

Throughout his MLB career, Jahmai Jones has been with five different clubs, playing in the majors for four of those teams. Currently, he is signed to the Detroit Tigers.

After starting his Tigers contract in Triple-A in 2024, Jones was called up in June 2025 and played 72 games in the majors last season. He finished the year with the following stats while on the Tigers:

• .287/.387/.550

• 21 runs, 23 RBIs, 7 home runs

• 0.9 WAR

Riley O’Brien (RHP), St. Louis Cardinals

Note: since the writing of this article, Riley O’Brien has been removed from the roster due to injury.

Now moving over to the pitching staff, we first have Riley O’Brien. His pitch arsenal primarily consists of a sinker, slider and curveball, which we got to see as part of a breakout year with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2025.

In 48 innings pitched last year, O’Brien had a 2.06 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP with 45 strikeouts. His first major league win came against the Dodgers in August 2025 with his first save two days later. In total, he was credited with 3 wins and 6 saves for the season.

After having started the year in Triple-A following an injury-shortened 2024, O’Brien’s 2025 performance shows strong promise as a reliever for the upcoming season.

Dane Dunning (RHP), Seattle Mariners

Next is Dane Dunning, who just signed a minor-league contract with the Seattle Mariners after his most recent stint with the Atlanta Braves where he struggled with a 10.80 ERA in 10 innings pitched.

The majority of Dunning’s career was with the Texas Rangers, with his best performance in 2023. That year, he had a 3.70 ERA in 172.2 innings pitched. He was credited with 12 wins while throwing 140 strikeouts with a 1.26 WHIP and a 2.7 WAR. Not only did he win the Rangers Pitcher of the Year award in 2023, but that year also ended with him getting a championship ring as the Rangers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series.

Dunning’s three most-used pitches are the cutter, sinker and change-up. He will be looking to have a great performance both in the WBC but also with his new organization to get back on a major league roster.

Woo-Suk Go (RHP), Detroit Tigers

Lastly, we have Woo-Suk Go who most recently pitched for the Toledo Mud Hens, the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. He re-signed with the Tigers organization in December and is hoping to join a major league roster for the first time.

Prior to coming to the U.S. in 2024, Go played for the LG Twins in the KBO for 7 years. With the Mud Hens last season, he pitched 21 innings with a 4.29 ERA. He recorded 22 strikeouts with a 1.43 WHIP.

Go will need to improve his consistency and command in order to reach his goal of a big league debut.

As we look forward to the start of the WBC, another player fans will be excited to see is Hyun Jin Ryu, who played for 10 seasons in the MLB. The 6’3” 255 lb. pitcher played for the LA Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays with a career 3.27 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 934 strikeouts in 1,055 innings pitched. In 2024, he returned to the KBO to play for his former team, the Hanwha Eagles with a record-breaking 8-year 17 billion won ($12.8 million) contract, the longest and the most guaranteed money in league history.

While Korea may not be the powerhouse team that the U.S., Japan or Dominican Republic are, they will still be exciting to watch with past, present and (hopefully!) future MLB stars.

Statistics courtesy of Baseball Reference and Baseball Savant.

The reasoning made sense. George Lucas didn’t want to confuse audiences by calling the first film in the series as the 4th episode. But once viewers understood there was more to the story prior to the original trilogy, it added to the mystique around the films. And whatever you may think of the prequels, they will always have a special place in my heart because they were the first Star Wars movies I got to see in the theaters as a kid. Now the sequel trilogy? I will keep my mouth shut per the adage, “If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.”

Well, unlike Lucas, I didn’t intend this article series to be a multi-parter. But I realized after publishing the first part that I wanted to expand upon it. So just like A New Hope got a retitling, I added “Part 1” to last week’s article. Now, let’s cue the cinematic music and begin Part 2…

Sung-Mun Song (3B, 2B, 1B), San Diego Padres

The Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO continue to be a force in sending players over to the MLB. The newest addition is Sung-Mun Song who signed a four-year $15 million contract with the San Diego Padres, which is where his former Heroes teammate Ha-Seong Kim (currently on the Atlanta Braves) spent the bulk of his MLB career. San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee and LA Dodgers utility player Hyeseong Kim also played together with Song in the KBO before joining their current ballclubs.

Song spent his KBO career with the Nexen / Kiwoom Heroes, which began in 2015, playing 7 games in his first season. He did not play every year through 2025 due to the mandatory military service obligation that exists in South Korea. His most recent 2 years are the most notable with the following stats:

• 2024

  • .340 BA

  • .409 OBP

  • .518 SLG

  • .927 OPS

  • 104 RBIs

• 2025

  • .315 BA

  • .387 OBP

  • .530 SLG

  • .917 OPS

  • 90 RBIs

With a career BA of .283 and an OBP of .347, Song will be looking to make an immediate impact as he begins his career with the Padres and adjust to the style and nuances of the MLB. Unfortunately, due to an oblique injury he sustained during batting practice in January, his involvement in spring training and possibly the start of the regular reason looks uncertain. He will not be participating in the World Baseball Classic either. Sadly, it may be a while until we see what type of impact Song can make as he begins his MLB career.

Ji Hwan Bae (2B, OF, SS), New York Mets

While some Korean baseball players hone their skills in the KBO prior to coming over to the United States, Ji Hwan Bae signed with an MLB team directly out of high school. Originally signed by the Braves in 2017, the league found that the Atlanta ballclub had engaged in fraudulent contract negotiations, voiding Bae’s contract.

Bae was then signed by the Pirates and spent the next several years through Pittsburgh’s farm system. He made his major league debut in September 2022 against the Chicago Cubs. 2023 was his most complete season in the majors with 111 games played for the Pirates before bouncing back and forth from the minors in 2024 and 2025. After playing just 13 games in 2025 where he had a .050 BA (1 hit and 9 strikeouts in 20 at-bats), he was optioned back to Triple-A and placed on waivers at the end of the season.

While his speed is ranked high, it has also led to many baserunning mistakes and costly outs. His career BA of .223 isn’t anything to get excited about, and his 2018 domestic violence conviction still leaves a sour taste in many mouths today.

The Mets claimed him off waivers in November 2025 and Bae was outrighted to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets. With his OPS declining every year in his major league career, Bae will need a breakout spring training that shows he still has his speed but also demonstrates improved hitting and a strong defensive performance that proves he can be more than just a good backup option at this point.

Hyun-Seok Jang (P), Los Angeles Dodgers

One of the most exciting prospects in the Dodgers organization is the 6’ 4” 200-pound pitcher Hyun-seok Jang. Like Ji Hwan Bae, Jang opted to go to the MLB straight out of high school instead of the KBO. He started his career in 2024 on the Rookie-level affiliate of the Dodgers and pitched in Game 1 of the championship series which the team went on to win.

Jang was then promoted to the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes where he played his 2025 season with a 4.65 ERA in 13 starts, threw 54 strikeouts in 40 innings, and had a WHIP of 1.35.

Although he had a high strikeout rate, Jang also allowed 32 walks, showing that his control is an area of improvement that should be addressed. He is still young at 21 years old and will likely stay in the minors for at least another season as he works to find the strike zone more consistently. His four-pitch arsenal includes a fastball that can reach 99 mph.

Jang is definitely a prospect to keep an eye on as he seeks to move up from Single-A ball and become the first Korean pitcher in the major leagues since Hyun-Jin Ryu, who last played for the Blue Jays in 2023.

We are headed for quite an exciting few weeks in baseball with Spring Training and the World Baseball Classic around the corner. If you want to stay up to date with Korean MLB player news, be sure to subscribe and check out Part 1 of this series.

Statistics courtesy of Baseball Reference.

Pajeon, made with a flour and egg batter, is pan-fried and crispy on the outside while having a soft interior. These pancakes (the “jeon”) are generously filled with green onions (the “pa”) and other fillings such as seafood or kimchi. They are then cut into pieces so that you can enjoy them with a dipping sauce as you wait for the entrées.

And as an appetizer to the main course that is the upcoming baseball season, here is a quick guide to the Korean players looking to make an impact in Major League Baseball in 2026. This is meant to be a higher-level overview of players returning from the 2025 season, so stay tuned for more in-depth player previews in the upcoming weeks, including a quick guide on new signings and players to keep on eye on in the minors.

Jung Hoo Lee (OF), San Francisco Giants

The Bay Area is home to my 5-year-old’s favorite baseball player: Jung Hoo Lee. He is the son of Korean baseball superstar Jong-beom Lee, who is considered one of the best five-tool players in the history of the Korean Baseball Organization. The elder Lee was especially known for his speed, earning the nickname “Son of the Wind”, leading to Jung Hoo Lee being dubbed the “Grandson of the Wind”.

Lee was born in Japan when his father was playing for the Chunichi Dragons in Nippon Professional Baseball. After moving back to Korea, Lee’s professional baseball career began in 2017 with the Nexen Heroes (soon to be renamed the Kiwoom Heroes). His successful KBO career included winning the Rookie of the Year award, Most Valuable Player in 2022, and is a 5-time Golden Glove winner, a two-time batting champion, a two-time playoff MVP, and a six-time All-Star.

In December 2023, Lee signed a 6-year $113 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. His 2024 rookie season unfortunately was cut short in May with a season-ending shoulder injury. But in 2025, he played the full season in 150 games with the following stats:

• .266 BA

• .327 OBP

• .407 SLG

• .735 OPS

Lee also scored 73 runs with 55 RBIs and was a triples machine with a team-leading 12 triples, while also leading the team in doubles with 31.

His midseason slump and defensive struggles last year are well-documented as he dealt with fatigue and the rigors of adjusting to a full MLB schedule. With the recent signing of Harrison Bader, it looks likely that Lee will be moved from center field to right as he looks to improve his fielding. Other offseason news included a tour of Korea with fellow player Willy Adames, manager Tony Vitello, player-turned-executive Buster Posey, and others from the Giants organization.

Most recently, Lee made headlines as he got detained at LAX after forgetting some travel documents back in Korea. Let’s hope that his 2026 headlines are much more positive and that he continues to adapt to and excel in the MLB style of play.

Ha-Seong Kim (SS, 2B, 3B), Atlanta Braves

Next is Lee’s former KBO teammate: Ha-Seong Kim. This versatile infielder has primarily made his mark at shortstop and is best known for his 2021-2024 stint with the San Diego Padres.

Kim played his entire KBO career from 2014-2020 with the Nexem / Kiwoom Heroes and won the Golden Glove award 3 consecutive times in his final three seasons. Those defensive skills helped him get noticed overseas and he signed a 4-year $28 million contract with the San Diego Padres in December 2020.

His most notable season was 2023 when he hit his first MLB walk-off home run, his first MLB grand slam, and had his first MLB multi-home-run game. Kim’s WAR for 2023 was 5.4, the highest of his MLB career. During that year, he played 152 games with the following stats:

• .260 BA

• .351 OBP

• .398 SLG

• .749 OPS

Kim also received the NL Gold Glove award for utility players in 2023, becoming the first Korean player to win that designation.

Unfortunately, his 2025 season was one to mostly forget. After becoming a free agent following the 2024 season, Kim signed a 2-year $29 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. He began the year on the IL due to a shoulder injury and was activated in July for his Rays debut. However, due to back trouble, he returned to the IL in August after only playing 24 games.

In September, the Braves claimed him off waivers and he played another 24 games for Atlanta through the end of the season. After declining the option in his contract, Kim became a free agent, but soon returned to the Braves on a 1-year $20 million contract.

While many questioned if he was really worth that much, Kim did not do any favors by continuing his unlucky injury streak after slipping on ice in Korea during the offseason. Due to needing surgery to repair his finger, Kim is expected to be sidelined for 4-5 months and will miss the start of the 2026 season. Upon his return, all eyes will be on Kim to see if he can make an immediate impact and show that he is worth the money for the Braves.

Hyeseong Kim (2B, SS, OF), Los Angeles Dodgers

Not to be confused with the similarly named Ha-seong Kim, we return to the West Coast with Hyeseong Kim and the juggernaut that is the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In his first season in the MLB, he became only the second Korean-born player to win a World Series (after Byung-Hyun Kim, former Diamondbacks pitcher) and the first Korean position player to win it all.

His rookie year began in Triple-A when he was optioned after spring training to get additional batting experience. He was called up in May and despite a shoulder injury in August, he finished the season with the following stats in 71 games:

• .280 BA

• .314 OBP

• .385 SLG

• .699 OPS

Overall, he had 3 homers, 17 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases in those games. He also made 2 postseason appearances with notable contributions in each. In Game 4 of the NLDS, he scored the game-winning run as a pinch runner, and recorded the first out in the 11th and final inning of Game 7 in the World Series.

His speed led to his nickname “The Comet”. He led in stolen bases during his 2021 season with none other than the Nexen / Kiwoom Heroes, where he, Jung Hoo Lee, and Ha-Seong Kim were all teammates before reuniting in the MLB. With Tommy Edman’s offseason surgery potentially delaying his return for the 2026 Dodgers season, Kim now has an opportunity to start at second base for Opening Day and showcase more of his defensive skills that earned him 4 consecutive Golden Glove awards during his KBO career.

And speaking of Tommy Edman, while Banchan Baseball will primarily focus on Korean-born players who came overseas to join an MLB club, Edman deserves a shout-out as well. The 2-time World Series winner, 2024 NLCS MVP, and 2021 Gold Glove winner is of Korean heritage through his mother’s side. Edman also played for Team Korea in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, making him the first player of mixed heritage to play for the national baseball team.

Rob Refsnyder (born Jung-Tae Kim) is also worth noting as a Korean-American player that was born in Seoul and was adopted as a baby by a California couple. After his most recent stint with the Boston Red Sox from 2022-2025, he signed a one-year $6.25 million contract with the Seattle Mariners for the 2026 season.

With Spring Training, the World Baseball Classic and Opening Day all around the corner in the next few months, it’s an exciting time to be following these Korean stars. Check out Part 2 of this series and stay tuned for more coverage!

Statistics courtesy of Baseball Reference.

Let’s go back a few decades.

As a rather unathletic Korean-American kid growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, I didn’t have a huge interest in baseball. I never played Little League. I’d catch the occasional game on TV and I knew there was a really good Korean pitcher named Chan Ho Park on the Dodgers. I somewhat followed the home run race between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire. But my childhood was dominated by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Championship after championship kept me glued to the court rather than the diamond.

It wasn’t until my parents’ divorce that I caught the baseball bug. During this time, my mom and I temporarily moved in with a retired couple we knew from our church. I considered them my adoptive grandparents and I learned a lot from them. One of the things that stuck with me was their love of the Chicago Cubs.

Not only did I become a Cubs fan because of them, but they also gifted me my first ever baseball glove. I was in middle school at this time, which is typically much later than when most kids get their first gloves. But I was ecstatic to simply play catch in the backyard while learning more about baseball, the MLB, and of course, the Cubs.

That passion continued as I attended games at Wrigley Field, spring training, and local minor league stadiums as I grew older. My wife, a fan of another historic franchise in the Red Sox, also joined me in my Cubs fandom when we got married. Together, we celebrated the long-awaited breaking of the curse in 2016, as well as Boston’s championship during the 2018 World Series.

Fast forward to now. I’m a dad of 2 with a 5-year-old who is starting to show some interest in watching baseball. Of course, the main reason he loves going to the local minor league team is to play on the inflatables behind the outfield. But with each visit, he’s starting to sit through more of the game and ask questions about the rules.

I’m also working on a collection of baseball cards of Korean MLB players that he loves looking through. As someone who struggled with being proud of my Korean heritage growing up, I have learned to embrace it and want to make sure my kids do too. This led to the creation of Big League Banchan. It’s a way to combine my love of baseball, my Korean roots, and my passion for writing into a fun creative outlet.

And why the name “Big League Banchan”? In Korean cuisine, banchan are the various small sides that accompany a meal. Banchan consists of a wide variety of dishes like kimchi, vegetables, and proteins, and are meant to be shared with the whole table.

With Big League Banchan, I’ll be sharing news on Korean MLB players like Jung Hoo Lee and Ha-Seong Kim along with some side dish anecdotes about good food, travel, and everyday life.

If you ended up reading this far, thank you for joining me on this journey. I look forward to connecting as we count down to Opening Day!