The Korea Baseball Organization’s (KBO) 2024 Most Valuable Player, third baseman Kim Do-yeong, is cleared for practice and set to return from a hamstring injury that’s kept him away from the Kia Tigers’ lineup since May.
Whether Kim’s presence can help the Tigers down the stretch remains to be seen as the league’s season approaches August. Less than two games separate the Tigers and Lotte Giants for third place in the standings.
It’s time to check in on more of the latest news from the top professional baseball league in South Korea, the KBO.
Eagles’ Winning Streak Ends at 10 – On Wednesday, the Doosan Bears defeated the first-place Hanwha Eagles 13-2, ending the Eagles’ 10-game winning streak.
The Eagles scored six or more runs in six of their 10 victories. They outslugged the Tigers 14-8 on July 8 and became just the second team in KBO history to have two separate double-digit winning streaks in the same season, per Yoo Jee-ho of Yonhap News Agency.
The Eagles won 12 in a row from April 26 to May 11, and right-hander Cody Ponce leads their pitching staff with a 12-0 record, 1.85 ERA, and 169 strikeouts in 121.2 innings this season.
KBO to Implement Check Swing Challenge System – Starting August 19, the KBO will introduce a check-swing challenge system. The league made the final decision and announcement on Tuesday.
The KBO Futures League, the KBO’s minor league affiliate, was the test site for the check swing challenge system. Teams will receive two challenges on check swings per game, with an additional challenge allowed in extra innings. Successful attempts will overturn the call and be retained.
Major League Baseball tested a check swing challenge system during the 2024 Single-A Florida State League and Arizona Fall League seasons.
Lions Smash Seven Homers – On Sunday, the Samsung Lions hit seven home runs in a 15-10 win over the Kiwoom Heroes. According to Dan Kurtz of MyKBO on X, the last time the Lions hit seven home runs in a game was on July 13, 2007.
https://x.com/MyKBO/status/1947059539184173464
First baseman Lewin Diaz, who played three seasons with the Miami Marlins from 2020 to 2022, slugged two dingers in the game. As of Wednesday, he leads the KBO with 31 home runs in 2025, 10 more than Patrick Wisdom of the Tigers.
Aside from scoring a combined 25 runs, the Lions and Heroes totaled 28 hits and nine homers in the contest. Choi Joo-hwan and Stone Garrett each went deep for the Heroes.
KBO Standings as of Wednesday, July 23
1. Hanwha Eagles (56-34-2)
2. LG Twins (52-39-2)
3. Lotte Giants (49-42-3)
4. Kia Tigers (46-42-3)
5. KT Wiz (47-44-3)
6. Samsung Lions (46-44-1)
7. SSG Landers (43-45-3)
8. NC Dinos (40-43-5)
9. Doosan Bears (39-50-3)
10. Kiwoom Heroes (28-63-3)
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.
WBN KBO: https://worldbaseball.com/league/south-korea/
Photo: Lewin Diaz looks on from the dugout against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on September 3, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. Diaz had a pair of homers for the Samsung Lions last Sunday in a game where Samsung hit seven total long balls. (Photo by Adam Hagy/Getty Images)
