The final stretch of the 2025 Korea Baseball Organization regular season has arrived, and contenders hope their strong play during the year will translate to the playoffs.
The teams with the top five records will advance to postseason play, and time is running out for the clubs outside the playoff picture to put forth their best effort. The league’s first-place team became the first organization to clinch its opportunity at a Korean Series title a few days ago. Who’s next?
It’s time to check in on more of the latest news from the top professional baseball league in South Korea, the KBO.
Twins Clinch Playoff Berth – The LG Twins secured a playoff berth for the seventh consecutive season, last winning a Korean Series title in 2023 by defeating the KT Wiz four games to one.
They overtook the now second-place Hanwha Eagles on August 7 and have not relinquished first place in the KBO standings since.
After Wednesday’s matchup against the Doosan Bears, the Twins have 14 games on their regular-season schedule. They will face off against the Eagles in a three-game series from September 26-28, potentially a deciding factor in who will enter the playoffs as the KBO’s No. 1 seed.
Tigers’ Shortstop Steals Home – On Saturday, shortstop Park Chan-ho of the Kia Tigers stole home as his team defeated the NC Dinos 8-4.
Park, who went 1-for-4 with two walks and an RBI at the plate, took off from third base at the top of the sixth inning with the Tigers ahead 6-3. On the mound for the Dinos was left-handed relief pitcher Choi Sung-young, who appeared preoccupied with the baserunner on first base. Park sprinted when Choi came set and peered towards first, and then slid headfirst past the outstretched arm of catcher Park Sei-hyok.
KIA's Park Chan-ho steals home and helps the Tigers beat NC 8-4 https://t.co/3U5Cj0MSx0
— Dan Kurtz (@MyKBO) September 6, 2025
Steals of home plate are rare in professional baseball, and it seldom occurs out with a right-handed pitcher on the mound. Lefties are at a disadvantage because they cannot keep a sharp eye on the baserunner taking a lead off third base.
KBO’s First Secretary General Passes Away at 94 – Lee Yong-il, the KBO’s first secretary general and a key figure in the implementation of professional baseball in South Korea, died on Sunday, The Korea Times reported Tuesday morning.
Lee became the KBO’s secretary general in 1981, one year before the KBO played its inaugural season. In 2011, he was the league’s acting commissioner from May to August.
Lee played a crucial role in helping the KBO expand from six to eight franchises and was the primary owner of the defunct Ssangbangwool Raiders from 1997-99, an organization that lasted just nine years in South Korea’s highest level of professional baseball.
KBO Standings as of Wednesday, September 10
1. LG Twins (79-48-3)
2. Hanwha Eagles (75-52-3)
3. SSG Landers (65-59-4)
4. KT Wiz (64-62-4)
5. Samsung Lions (65-63-2)
6. Lotte Giants (62-64-6)
7. NC Dinos (59-62-6)
8. Kia Tigers (59-64-4)
9. Doosan Bears (56-67-6)
10. Kiwoom Heroes (42-85-4)
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, such as the All-Star Game and Golden Glove awards.
WBN KBO: https://worldbaseball.com/league/south-korea/korea-baseball-organization/
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