As the 2024 KBO season progresses, here is a look at the top news and notes from the past day in Korea’s highest level of professional baseball.
KBO Draws Ten Millionth Fan
The KBO reached another historic milestone on Sunday when they surpassed 10 million total fans on the season. The KBO now says they have drawn 10,020,758 spectators in 2024, breaking the previous mark of 8,400,688 in 2017.
The milestone is yet another attendance milestone the KBO and their teams have set this season. A record six teams have surpassed 1,000,000 fans on the season, while all ten teams have combined for 195 sellouts.
Doosan Bears Honor Dustin Nippert
Before their game against the KT Twins, the Doosan Bears held a retirement ceremony for longtime rotation ace Dustin Nippert. The festivals included a ceremonial first pitch and an autograph session with fans.
9월 14일 (토) KT vs 두산
7년 만에 돌아온 니느님! 푸른 눈의 에이스 니퍼트 시구#KBO2024 #KBO #하이라이트 #야구하이라이트 #스포라이트 #SPOLIGHT #4K #UHD #두산베어스 #두산 #니퍼트 #에이스 #은퇴식 #7년만 #푸른눈 #양의지 #시구 #특별엔트리 #최강야구 pic.twitter.com/YjLmCanLSM— 스포라이트 SPOLIGHT (@spolight___) September 14, 2024
Nippert pitched eight seasons in the KBO, including seven seasons with the Bears. His career highlights included pitching 26.2 scoreless innings during the Bears 2015 World Series Championship run and winning the KBO League Most Valuable Player Award in 2016. In 2018, Nippert became the first foreign pitcher in the KBO to win 100 career games.
Bears starter Gwak Been did his best to honor Nippert on Saturday, pitching five innings of one-run ball in a 2-1 victory over the KT Twins.
Kim Do-yeong Continues Breakout Season
Kia Tigers third baseman Kim Do-yeong had yet another terrific day at the plate on Sunday, blasting his 36th and 37th home runs on the season in the Tigers 11-5 win over the KT Wiz. After combining for just ten home runs in his first two seasons, Kim is now second in the league in longballs while adding 39 stolen bases for good measure.
KIA's Kim Do-yeong hit his 36th and 37th home runs of the season as the Tigers roll on to beat KT 11-5 https://t.co/JmrZX8sfSr
— Dan Kurtz (@MyKBO) September 16, 2024
Kim is a big reason why the Tigers have already locked down the number-one seed for the KBO playoffs. After missing the playoffs in 2023, they will enter the postseason as heavy favorites to secure their first championship since 2017.
Giants and Eagles Engage in Saturday Slugfest
The Hanwha Eagles and the Lotte Giants traded blows in one of the most exciting games of the KBO season. The two teams combined for 21 runs and 35 hits in what turned out to be a 12-9 Giants victory. The Giants had four different players who collected three hits, while Jeon Jun-woo and Yoon Dong-hee each added homers. The Eagles, meanwhile, were led by Moon Hyun-bin, who tallied four hits and drove in five.
Standings as of Saturday, September 14
- KIA Tigers (83-50-2)
- Samsung Lions (75-60-82)
- LG Twins (69-64-2)
- Doosan Bears (68-66-2)
- KT Wiz (68-67-2)
- SSG Landers(65-68-2)
- Lotte Giants (62-68-4)
- Hanwha Eagles(62-71-2)
- NC Dinos (59-73-2)
- Kiwoom Heroes (57-79-0)
Watch KBO games using the global streaming platform SOOP.
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WBN Korea Baseball Organization: https://worldbaseball.com/league/south-korea/
Photo Credit: Kim Doyeong # 23 of Korea suffers after one hit base in first inning during the game between Korea and Venezuela at Sonora Stadium on September 26, 2021 in Hermosillo, Mexico. (Photo by Luis Gutierrez/Norte Photo/Getty Images)
