What Did We Learn In the First Five Days of the KBO Season?

The Korea Baseball Organization began its 2025 season this past Saturday, and already, there are significant headlines to watch.  

What preseason questions have been answered after the first handful of KBO games?  

KBO Sets Opening Weekend Attendance Record – If there ever was a debate that professional baseball leagues outside of the United States don’t draw large crowds, the KBO put those rumors to bed.  

According to Yoo Jee-ho of Yonhap News Agency, all five KBO games on Sunday were played in front of sell-out crowds for the second consecutive day. The league set a new opening weekend attendance record as 219,900 fans packed ballparks in South Korea across two days. 

Yoo reports that in 2024, the KBO set a single-season attendance record with 10.88 million fans. Tickets are selling so quickly that Korea JoongAng Daily reported on Monday that some fans are upset that KBO organizations offer their fans VIP memberships that allow some to purchase tickets way ahead of others.  

Korea JoongAng Daily added that some teams, like the Kia Tigers, implemented a second-tier early purchase option, and fans who thought they’d be first in line to purchase their tickets can only access minimal seating or none at all.  

Foreign Pitchers Dominate Opening Day – Each KBO team is allowed up to three import players. Nine of the league’s 10 organizations decided to sign two foreign pitchers for 2025. The Kiwoom Heroes are the only team in the KBO with one foreign hurler.  

This past Saturday, the KBO’s Opening Day, all 10 starting pitchers who took the mound for their respective teams were born outside South Korea.  

They were Charlie Barnes of the Lotte Giants, Yonny Chirinos of the LG Twins, Cole Irvin of the Doosan Bears, Drew Anderson of the SSG Landers, Kenny Rosenberg of the Kiwoom Heroes, Ariel Jurado of the Samsung Lions, Cody Ponce of the Hanwha Eagles, Emmanuel De Jesus of the KT Wiz, Logan Allen of the NC Dinos, and James Naile of the Kia Tigers. All 10 pitchers have previous MLB experience.  

A KBO Player’s Return to MLB is Possible – Just because an MLB player decides to take his talents to South Korea does not mean he’s giving up on his baseball career, as there are opportunities to return to MLB.  

Nobody knows that better than left-handed pitcher Kyle Hart, who had a stellar year in the KBO in 2024 with the NC Dinos. He displayed his pitching talent, posting a 2.69 ERA and a 13-3 record with 182 strikeouts in 26 starts.  

And even though his first MLB go around in 2020 with the Boston Red Sox didn’t turn out the way he might have wanted, giving up 19 earned runs in 11 innings, Hart impressed enough at the San Diego Padres’ spring camp to earn a spot in the club’s starting rotation to open the 2025 season.  

Hart signed a one-year contract with the Padres in February with a club option for 2026. The opportunity the Dinos gave him in 2024 could be a significant reason for his new role with the Padres.  

KBO Standings as of Wednesday, March 26 
1. LG Twins (4-0)
2. Samsung Lions (3-1)
2. SSG Landers (3-1)
3. Kia Tigers (2-2)
3. KT Wiz (2-2)
3. NC Dinos (2-2)
7. Doosan Bears (1-3)
7. Lotte Giants (1-3)
7. Hanwha Eagles (1-3)
7. Kiwoom Heroes (1-3)

Where to Watch – Fans can watch the 2025 KBO season on the streaming service SOOP. The KBO’s official YouYube page also posts game highlights and clips of other events, like the All-Star Game and Golden Glove awards.

Photo: Former Major League Baseball outfielder Yasiel Puig of Kiwoom Heroes warms up before the opening game of the 2022 regular season for the Korea Baseball Organization between Lotte Giants and Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 2, 2022. Puig is back with the Heroes for the 2025 season after playing in Mexico last summer. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)