It’s time to check in on the latest news from the top professional baseball league in South Korea, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).
On Sunday, the KBO announced it had surpassed four million fans in the first 230 games of the season, a new record. The KBO’s previous mark of four million spectators was set through the first 250 games of the 2012 season.
World Baseball Network examines what happened during the KBO’s last seven days.
Kiwoom Heroes Release Yasiel Puig – On Monday, the Kiwoom Heroes announced they placed former Major League Baseball All-Star Yasiel Puig on waivers.
This season was the outfielder’s second stint in the KBO, playing his first year with the Heroes in 2022. Puig was sidelined with a rotator cuff injury before his release, and hit .213 with six home runs and 20 RBIs in 40 games.
According to a post on Puig’s personal Instagram, the former Los Angeles Dodger, Cincinnati Red, and Cleveland Guardian plans to return to the United States and receive “necessary treatment” for his shoulder injury as he evaluates what’s next in his baseball career.
Twins Left Without Leadoff Man for Rest of Season – The first-place LG Twins must adjust to life without their right fielder and leadoff hitter, Hong Chang-ki.
On Tuesday, the Twins announced that Hong suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee after he collided with first baseman Kim Min-su in last Tuesday’s game against the Heroes. According to Yoo Jee-ho of Yonhap News Agency, the KBO’s leader in on-base percentage in 2021, 2022, and 2024 underwent surgery last Thursday.
Hong, 31, is a career .311 hitter and won the KBO Fielding Award in right field in 2023 and 2024, and represented South Korea in the U-23 Baseball World Cup in Mexico.
Former Dodgers Farmhand Signs With Lotte Giants – Alec Gamboa, a former ninth-round MLB Draft pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019, signed a contract to pitch with the KBO’s Lotte Giants on Wednesday, May 14.
Gamboa’s signing came shortly after the Giants released foreign pitcher Charlie Barnes. Barnes was in his fourth season in the KBO with the Giants but suffered a left shoulder scapular injury last week.
Gamboa began the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City but had yet to make his MLB debut after six seasons in the Dodgers’ organization. He struck out 12 in 19.1 innings and posted a 4.23 ERA and 1.345 WHIP in 131 games across four levels in the minor leagues.
KBO Standings as of Wednesday, May 21
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.
Photo: Outfielder Yasiel Puig of the Kiwoom Heroes reacts in the top of the eighth inning during the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) League opening game between Kiwoom Heroes and Lotte Giants at Gocheok Skydome on April 02, 2022 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
