The Korea Baseball Organization’s (KBO) two best teams, the first-place LG Twins and the second-place Hanwha Eagles, have split the first two games of their three-game series, and will meet once more tomorrow at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, South Korea.
Their matchup is just one of the several hot topics surrounding the KBO. World Baseball Network examines what happened during the KBO’s last seven days.
A Triple Steal? – No matter what professional baseball league you watch, chances are that at some point, you’ll see something on the field that you’ve never seen before.
In the Samsung Lions’ 7-3 win against the Lotte Giants on Tuesday, the club pulled off a bases-loaded triple steal. The baserunners caught the Giants pitcher, Alec Gamboa, taking too much time and paying too little attention to them before taking off for the next base. Gamboa, a former member of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, didn’t peer up until the runner from third base crossed home plate.
Chosun Biz EN reports that the Lions’ triple steal in the second inning of Tuesday’s game was the ninth in KBO history.
Manager Requests New Replay Review for Check Swings -It’s peculiar that in baseball, especially Major League Baseball, teams can challenge plays decided by inches, like a runner beating out a throw at first base, but check swings, also potentially decided by inches, cannot be reviewed.
The KBO Futures League, the minor leagues of the KBO, implemented a check swing challenge system this season, but its parent league does not have a similar system.
“I think it’d be best to put this in place after the All-Star break,” Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb told reporters, including Yoo Jee-ho of Yonhap News Agency. “I think the league should do it starting next year, at the latest. I am sure they won’t have to install new cameras for this. They can just use broadcast feeds.”
The idea for a check swing challenge system would hopefully reduce the number of incorrect calls from umpires standing over 90 feet away at third and first base.
Kim Do-yeong Suffers Second Hamstring Injury – The 2024 KBO Most Valuable Player, Kim Do-yeong, suffered his second hamstring injury that may keep him out “several weeks,” according to Yoo Jee-ho of Yonhap News Agency.
The Kia Tigers announced that Kim has a grade 2 right hamstring strain and that doctors will reassess the injury in four weeks. Kim began the first month of the 2025 season on the injured list with a grade 1 strain in his left hamstring.
Kim, who may be the most popular and obvious choice to be Korea’s starting third baseman in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, was hitting .330/.380/.639 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs in 26 games before the injury. At 20, He became the youngest member of the KBO’s 30-30 club with 38 home runs and 40 stolen bases last season.
KBO Standings as of Wednesday, May 28
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.
