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THE WORLDWIDE LEADER — Baseball is back.
Well, sort of.
While Major League Baseball and its minor-league affiliates remain on hiatus due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Korea’s KBO League is preparing to open the season on the other side of the globe.
And you can watch live baseball again, if you’re committed enough to stay up until or wake up in the wee hours of the morning.
ESPN announced Monday a contract to televise six English-language games of the KBO League per week, making the Worldwide Leader the home for Korean baseball in the United States.
Games will air live based on Korean time, meaning Tuesday’s Opening Day between the NC Dinos and Samsung Lions will begin Monday at 11 p.m. MT on ESPN. The games will initially be played without fans in a country that reported just eight new cases of COVID-19 on Monday.
"The KBO League is one of the greatest baseball leagues with world-class players and many exciting initiatives," KBO commissioner Un-Chan Chung said in a statement through ESPN. "During this unprecedented and difficult time, I hope the KBO League can bring consolation to the communities and provide guidelines to the world of sports. I am pleased that the KBO League can be introduced globally and hope this can be an opportunity for the development of our league and the sport."
Here’s the rest of ESPN’s first week of KBO League broadcasts:
2020 KBO League opening week
| Day | Time | Game |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, May 6 | 3:30 a.m. MT | Doosan Bears vs. LG Twins |
| Thursday, May 6 | 3:30 a.m. MT | NC Dinos vs. Samsung Lions |
| Friday, May 8 | 3:30 a.m. MT | KIA Tigers vs. Samsung Lions |
| Saturday, May 9 | 4 a.m. MT | LG Twins vs. NC Dinos |
| Saturday, May 9 | 11 p.m. MT | LG Twins vs. NC Dinos |
Finally, here’s a rundown of the 10-team KBO League, listed in order of finish in 2019 and with the closest Major League club comparison, with help from ESPN.com.
1. Doosan Bears (88-55-1)
MLB equivalent: Los Angeles Dodgers
The defending champs, with what is regarded as the most efficient front office in Korea, the Bears are led by outfielder Jae-Hwan Kim, the 2018 league MVP who hit .334 with 44 homers, and recently lost reigning MVP Josh Lindblom to Milwaukee on a 3-year, $9.125 million deal.
The Bears are also led by former Salt Lake Bees infielder Jose Miguel Fernandez, who hit .344 with a .483 slugging percentage, 88 RBI and 15 home runs in 2019.
2. SK Wyverns (88-55-1)
MLB equivalent: Oakland A’s
One of the most analytically driven teams in the league, the Wyverns are similar to the original Moneyball A’s in their ability to consistently compete on a budget while not winning a championship since 2010. Founded in 2000, the Wyverns will look to replace ace Kwang Hyun Kim, who recently moved to St. Louis on a two-year, $8 million contract.
3. Kiwoom Heroes (86-57-1)
MLB equivalent: Tampa Bay Rays
Fun and aggressive, the Heroes play unlike any other team in Korea, drawing immediate comparisons to the Rays. The team that produced Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang plays at the 16,813-capacity Gocheok Sky Dome, which would give it a crowd that dwarfs the average attendance of Rays games.
4. LG Twins (79-64-1)
MLB equivalent: Boston Red Sox (pre-2004)
The Twins share a stadium in Seoul with the Bears, but this isn’t a Yankees/Mets little brother situation; LG Twins boast their own passionate fan base and big-name stars, including former Boston first-round pitching prospect Casey Kelly, who played two seasons with the Padres.
5. NC Dinos 73-69-2
MLB equivalent: Arizona Diamondbacks
Founded in 2013, the Dinos have been among the more successful teams in the league at a young age — similar to Arizona’s run at the 2001 World Series in just their fourth season. They’ve made the playoffs in five of their first seven seasons, and boast one-time KBO MVP and slugging champ Eric Thames among their alumni. The former Nats slugger even returned to Korea in January 2019 to appear on "King of Mask Singer," where he impressed judges with his singing voice and proficiency in Korean.
6. KT Wiz (71-71-2)
MLB equivalent: Colorado Rockies
Sharing the youngest team moniker with the Dinos, the Wiz have had significantly less success. Their biggest claim to fame was signing Kang Baek-Ho, the league’s Rookie of the Year in 2018.
7. KIA Tigers (62-80-2)
MLB equivalent: New York Yankees
Boasting the largest television audience in the league, the Tigers aren’t afraid to spend money. They recently became just the third Korean team all-time to sign an American manager, bringing in former Nationals skipper Matt Williams at the start of the season. They’ll also rely on former A’s pitcher Aaron Brooks and Braves outfielder Preston Tucker as their league-mandated two foreign signings.
8. Samsung Lions (60-83-1)
MLB equivalent: San Francisco Giants
Like the Giants, the Lions had an incredible run of success in the early 2010s, winning four straight championships from 2011-2014. Also like the Giants, they haven’t been to the playoffs since 2016.
9. Hanwha Eagles (58-85-0)
MLB equivalent: Chicago Cubs
Arguably the most passionate fanbase in the KBO League, Eagles supporters are loud, both online and in person. The team they cheer for, however, has only given them one league title — and that back in 1999.
No billy goats, though.
10. Lotte Giants (48-93-3)
MLB equivalent: New York Mets
The Giants had the highest payroll in the league in 2019, but finished dead last. They’ll try to improve while playing home games at Sajik Stadium, one of the most famous ballparks in Korea.
