Everything you need to know about South Korea's KBO League

The boys of summer are back! Well, sort of… Major League Baseball is still on hiatus, but fans of America's national pastime can get their fix thanks to the return of the KBO League. South Korea’s top professional alliance kicked off its 2020 season on Tuesday with a full slate of games featuring all 10 teams.

Here’s everything you need to know (but may have been too afraid to ask) about the KBO League.

How many teams play in the KBO?

The KBO League is comprised of 10 teams including the Doosan Bears, Hanwha Eagles, Kia Tigers, Kiwoom Heroes, KT Wiz, LG Twins, Lotte Giants, NC Dinos, Samsung Lions, and SK Wyverns. Unlike in the major leagues, KBO teams are named after the corporations that sponsor them, rather than their home cities.

What is the level of competition in the KBO?

The KBO is South Korea’s top professional league, but that doesn’t mean it’s comparable to Major League Baseball. Only a few of the league’s alumni, like Hyun-jin Ryu, Jung-ho Kang, and Byung-ho Park, have succeeded in the majors. By contrast, several MLB retreads have positively owned the KBO. Eric Thames is the perfect example. The former 39th round draft pick went from hitting .220 with six home runs and 14 RBIs in his lone season with the Seattle Mariners to hitting .381 with 47 homers and 140 RBIs with the NC Dinos. In fact, we’re pretty sure some of his moonshots are still orbiting Seoul.

How long is the KBO season?

The 2020 season was scheduled to begin on March 28, but was pushed back by more than a month as South Korea grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic. Opening Day was held on May 5, and each team will now play 144 regular season games with the playoffs set for early October.

Are there any major rule differences between the KBO and MLB?

Absolutely. South Korean baseball officials understand that no one wants to pay good money to see a pitcher hit, so they have a universal designate hitter rule. That’s the kind of long-overdue modification that most American fans should be able to get behind.

KBO games can also end in a tie if the score is still deadlocked after 12 innings. Yes, we know, a tie is like kissing your sister, but they’re actually far less common than you might think. There were only 12 ties in 2018 and 14 last season.

Is bat flipping allowed?

Bat flipping isn’t just allowed in the KBO, it’s encouraged. Players routinely practice their flips to achieve maximum height and velocity, and have even been known to flip their Louisville Sluggers after clobbering foul balls deep into the cheap seats. It’s a big part of the game and, unlike in America, pitchers don’t consider it to be a sign of disrespect.

Can you wager on KBO?

You sure can! BetAmerica offers a wide range of wagering options on individual games as well as on KBO futures. The Doosan Bears currently have the shortest odds to win the 2020 Korean Series, but are followed closely by the Kiwoom Heroes and the SK Wyverns.

How can I watch the KBO?

ESPN recently reached a deal with Korea’s Eclat Media Group to broadcast six KBO games per week on ESPN and ESPN2. Under terms of the agreement, the network will air all games live in their entirety, and will use its own veteran announcers to call the action back on American soil.

That’s the good news. The bad new is that you’ll have to be an early riser to catch the action. Most games will air at 5:30 a.m. ET from Tuesdays through Fridays, 4:00 a.m. ET on Saturdays, and 1:00 a.m. ET on Sundays.

Will American fans recognize any of the players?

Sure, but only if they’re related to them. Most of the Americans toiling in South Korea were fringe major leaguers, at best. Viewers are likely to be far more familiar with some of the league’s coaches and managers like Kia Tigers bench boss Matt Williams, who was a five-time All-Star and MVP runner-up, and Lotte Giants hitting coach Julio Franco, who won a batting title with the Texas Rangers in 1991.

Who are some players to keep an eye on?

Get used to hearing the name of Byung-ho Park. The former Minnesota Twins DH is a two-time KBO MVP who led the league in home runs for the fifth time in 2019. His explosive power and – dare we say – ruggedly handsome appearance, have made him one of the league’s biggest attractions over the last decade.

On the mound, fans will want to pay attention to Kia Tigers ace Yang Hyeon-jong. The hard-throwing southpaw led the KBO in ERA in 2019 and has been among the league leaders in punchouts in each of the past five seasons. Hyeon-jong has garnered considerable interest from MLB clubs in the past and, at 32, is now one of the most seasoned pitchers in South Korea.

How much do KBO players earn?

KBO clubs are permitted to pay new, non-Korean players as much as $1 million annually, but most domestic players earn far less. The current minimum wage is 27 million won, which is the equivalent of $22,130 U.S. dollars.

What is the KBO League doing to prevent the spread of COVID-19?

All KBO League games will be played in empty stadiums and players are required to have their temperature taken twice a day, until further notice. Players who show symptoms of the coronavirus will be placed into quarantine immediately and the stadium in which they played most recently will be shut down.

Is there KBO fantasy baseball?

We’re going to pretend you didn’t actually just ask that question.

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