The 2025 Korea Baseball Organization season is creeping closer to the All-Star Game on July 12.
The midway point of the season will help organizations and fans evaluate if their team is a contender or a pretender, making the next few weeks crucial.
It’s time to check in on the latest news from the top professional baseball league in South Korea, the KBO.
Bears Manager Resigns Amid Poor Play – On Monday, Doosan Bears manager Lee Seung-youp resigned, taking the blame for the club’s poor 23-34-3 record.
“We’d like to thank Lee Seung-yuop for his hard work over the past three seasons,” the Bears said in a statement, per Yoo Jee-ho of Yonhap News Agency. “He made the decision to hold himself accountable for the poor record this season and to shake things up within the team. And we accepted his resignation offer after careful deliberation.”
Lee was in the final season of a three-year contract with the Bears and ranks second all-time in the KBO with 467 career home runs. Cho Sung-hwan will serve as the Bears’ interim manager.
Adrian Beltre and Cole Hamels to Visit South Korea – On Wednesday, the KBO’s SSG Landers announced that former Major League Baseball All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels and Hall of Fame third baseman Adrian Beltre will visit South Korea on June 11 and 12 for a training clinic with the club’s KBO Futures League team.
The training camp will be known as “MLB Legend Mentoring Day,” according to a report by Yoo Jee-ho of Yonhap News Agency.
“June and July could be the toughest parts of the season for Futures League players, because they may lose some of their drive as they try to earn call-ups to the KBO,” said former MLB and KBO outfielder Shin-Soo Choo in the Landers’ statement. “I wanted to give them some fresh inspiration and motivation. I know it will only be a short meeting, but I am confident there will be a lot of productive discussions that can help our players on the field.”
Heroes Outfielder to Miss Six Weeks With Elbow Injury – Kiwoom Heroes outfielder Ruben Cardenas was removed from the active roster Monday and will miss approximately six weeks due to structural damage in his throwing elbow, reports Yoo Jee-ho of Yonhap News Agency.
This season is the California native’s second season in the KBO after spending 2024 with the Samsung Lions. Cardenas managed to play in just seven games before suffering a season-ending back injury. This year, Cardenas slashed .238/.342/.370 with five home runs in 53 games before his injury.
The Heroes began the 2025 season with Cardenas and former MLB All-Star Yasiel Puig as their foreign hitters, but the club cut ties with Puig in mid-May after he injured his shoulder diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt.
KBO Standings as of Wednesday, June 4
1. LG Twins (36-23-1)
2. Hanwha Eagles (36-24-0)
3. Lotte Giants (32-26-3)
4. SSG Landers (31-26-2)
5. Samsung Lions (31-28-1)
6. KT Wiz (30-28-3)
7. Kia Tigers (29-28-1)
8. NC Dinos (25-28-3)
9. Doosan Bears (23-34-3)
10. Kiwoom Heroes (17-45-1)
Where to Watch – Fans can stream the 2025 KBO season on the SOOP service. The KBO’s official YouTube page also posts game highlights and clips of other events, like the All-Star Game and Golden Glove awards.
