The first half of the Korean Baseball Organization season has concluded, and the league will now pause for the All-Star break at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. The 2026 season will be the final one played at Jamsil before the stadium is demolished following the season.
The KBO’s All-Star weekend took place this weekend. On Friday night, Hanwha’s Baek-ho Kang won the Home Run Derby, defeating SSG Landers infielder Tae-gon Oh in the final. Both players hit seven home runs in the championship round before Kang prevailed in a 30-second sudden-death tiebreaker.
On Saturday, Team Nanum defeated Team Dream 10-2 in the final KBO All-Star Game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. In-seo Heo was named MVP after going 4 for 5
Samsung Lions outfielder Hyoung-woo Choi became the oldest player to appear in a KBO All-Star Game at 42. The KBO legend is the only player in league history with 1,800 RBIs and is also the oldest player to hit a home run in league history.
Heading into the All-Star break, the Samsung Lions sit atop the standings after the LG Twins spent nearly the past two months in first place.
Samsung entered the week riding a four-game winning streak before hosting the first-place Twins for a three-game series while trailing LG by one game. The Lions won the series, capped by a 6-5 comeback victory in the finale, to move into first place. Samsung and LG are virtually tied atop the standings, but the Lions hold the edge on winning percentage. The race appears likely to go down to the final week of the regular season.
Samsung Lions Add MLB Arm to Rotation – The Samsung Lions announced Saturday that they signed right-handed pitcher Chris Paddack.
The 30-year-old pitched for the Miami Marlins, Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers this season. Over 132 career major league appearances, he has posted a 4.83 ERA with 569 strikeouts in 638 2/3 innings. Paddack elected free agency July 2 after being designated for assignment by the Rangers.
He replaces Jack O’Loughlin, whose contract was not renewed. Although Samsung enters the break in first place, its rotation has been one of the club’s biggest weaknesses, ranking fifth in the KBO in rotation ERA. The Lions hope Paddack can provide stability for the second half.
Although the Twins fell out of first place, their top player received league honors this week.
On Wednesday, Austin Dean was named the KBO Player of the Month for June after batting .382/.462/.798 with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs. His 11 home runs tied Do-yeong Kim for the league lead during the month, and he led the KBO in slugging percentage.
Dean enters the break leading the KBO with a 1.082 OPS and is tied for the league lead with 27 home runs. He remains the leading MVP candidate and is looking to become the first LG Twins player to win the award.
LG Twins’ Moon Delivers Historic Blast – Jeong-bin Moon came off the bench as a pinch hitter Wednesday against the Samsung Lions and launched a 485-foot home run.
It was the longest home run hit in the KBO in nearly 20 years. Only four players in league history have hit a longer home run.
SSG Landers bolster pitching staff with former MLB arm
The SSG Landers announced this week that they signed former major league pitcher Pedro Ávila.
Ávila posted a 7.50 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 60 innings for Triple-A Columbus this season. He previously pitched for the Yakult Swallows in 2025, working as a reliever.
Over 72 career major league appearances, Ávila’s best season came with the Cleveland Guardians in 2024 after he was acquired from the San Diego Padres. He posted a 3.25 ERA with 73 strikeouts in 74 2/3 innings over 50 appearances for Cleveland.
Ávila is expected to join the Landers’ rotation, where the club desperately needs improvement. SSG enters the All-Star break with the KBO’s worst rotation ERA at 6.28 and the league’s second-worst bullpen ERA at 4.45.
Photo: Miami Marlins pitcher Chris Paddack delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
