Well, at long last, we finally have baseball airing on ESPN, and I’m very happy about that. After a wild opening week to the KBO’s regular season, I’m committed to support Korean baseball to the same (or very close) degree that I annually support the MLB.
These Start Times are Destroying Me
1 am EST starts are actually what I’m okay with. I’m an east-coast guy who has an annual tendency to watch a lot of late-night west-coast baseball games. But that’s something I need to commit to, and repeat. The KBO going with 1 am EST start times on one day, following the next day with a 5:30 am EST start time is BRUTAL. I feel like they’re trying to intentionally break me by doing this. I understand how time works, but damn, one week in and I’m so exhausted. Yes, I understand that they’ve been doing this type of schedule for probably their entire league’s existence, but I need ample sleep and KBO to squeeze in between my 8 hours of working from home!
ESPN Has to Create a Tab for KBO
Is it too much to ask? It shouldn’t be. Finding the nightly schedule of KBO games on ESPN’s website is like finding a debit card in a 55-gallon drum full of empty Dunkin’ gift cards. The KBO is ‘featured’ (barely) under the MLB tab, but the schedule is just ESPN’s broadcasting schedule. The worldwide leader in sports should be able to provide the information to me on when and where the Lotte Giants play this week! Other KBO websites have it, but I’d expect ESPN to have adapted by now and given the people what they want!
We Need KBO Sabermetrics
I need Fangraphs to pull batted ball data for the KBO. They recently added KBO stats (which is dope), but already, I crave more! I want to understand what Casey Kelly did to his pitch mix in Korea that led to his great 2019 season! I want to see if Preston Tucker messes with his swing to work on his launch angle! I’m desperate for sabermetrics to overanalyze for a DFS lineup! I want to overlap Kang Baek-ho and his exit velocity numbers with Joey Gallo! Let me live!!!!
(If anyone knows of a site that already has KBO sabermetric stats pulled, please let me know! I’m willing to use a Korean site and have Chrome translate it. It’s the numbers that I crave most, I can figure the rest out.)
I’m Scouting (free-lance/pro bono) for the 2021 Red Sox 4th Starter
It’s weird, the Red Sox front office won’t answer my calls or email me back. Fret not. I’m just as committed as I was before I asked them if they needed my scouting help.
Yang Hyeon-jong, the 2017 KBO MVP, despite a rough 1st start, could very well play in the MLB in 2021. But, at age 32, Yang’s clock is ticking. Though he’s not a power pitcher, he could be an effective left-handed crafty starter in the MLB. Control-wise, Yang’s improved MIGHTILY from an abysmal tendency to issue plenty of walks early in his career. Multiple seasons with a ‘walks per 9 innings’ of above 5 could scare the bravest of scouts away for good. Fortunately enough, he’s turned it around, in a big way. In his last 3 seasons, in chronological order, his BB/9 has been 2.1, 2.1, and a SMOKING, 1.6. For an MLB context, reigning back-to-back NL Cy Young winner, Jacob deGrom put up a BB/9 of 1.9 in both 2018 and 2019. Good company for Yang to keep, in terms of control.
With the world watching, Yang looks poised to have a strong 2020 season and assert himself as the most polished MLB-ready starting pitcher of the KBO. Yang’s KIA Tigers posted him back in the 2017 offseason but rejected the winning bid that was (supposedly) from either the Twins or Rangers. Yang’s eligible to be an outright MLB free agent, should he elect to take his talents to the far west. (Technically he’d probably take a flight heading east to get to the US but you get what I mean.)
It may go without saying, but this KBO season is a massive opportunity for players like Yang to parlay their current limelight into a shot at playing in the MLB.
The major opportunity for KBO players looking to head to the MLB
With the KBO under the biggest spotlight in their history, there’s a real shot that Yang will finally get his shot to make an MLB roster in 2021. Who else might join him in 2021 and beyond? Let’s take a look.
The Prospects
Kim Ha-Seong (Kiwoom Heroes): 24-year-old 5-tool shortstop might be the Korean Wander Franco. Kim’s been a 20/20 player in the KBO and should be a threat to do the same in the MLB. Scouting reports allude to him staying at shortstop in the big leagues, pretty telling as to his defensive prowess.
Kang Baek-Ho (KT Wiz): already mentioned briefly, Kang hit 29 homers in his age-18 rookie season! That alone has me chomping at the bit to see what type of lefty power hitter he’ll blossom into. Unfortunately for us, Kang’s only 20 and has a few years before being eligible to leave for the MLB.
Cho Sang-Woo (Kiwoom Heroes): a closer with the tools to be the anchor of an MLB bullpen. Only 24, Cho features a fastball consistently in the 95-96 MPH range, but expectations are that his velocity could ultimately near 100 MPH. His secondary stuff reportedly needs some work, but already armed with a splitter, I have no doubt Cho one day finds himself as a major contributor in an MLB bullpen.
Koo Chang-mo (NC Dinos): seen by many as a younger version of the aforementioned Yang, Koo’s a force in his own right. Only 23, Koo has the stuff to be a highly-effective lefty in the KBO for years. His velocity hovers in that low 90s range, like most KBO starting pitchers. BUT, at only 23, one might wonder if he could still experience a small bump in that fastball velo. Regardless, considering the KBO has hitters playing for contact, one can’t ignore striking out 9.6 batters per 9. Koo’s a lock to be worthy of a big-league look.
Obviously this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of MLB prospects in the KBO, but for now, it’ll have to suffice.
What’s Next?
I’ll be back in the saddle again this week, ready once again to be up-ended by the viciousness of the KBO schedule. I must admit, I’m already hooked on the KBO! To be frank regarding which team I support, for now I’ll root for the team(s) that make me look wise on Draftkings, etc.
Catch me on twitter for some KBO reactions, and maybe even some tasty DFS lineups if I’m feeling bold.
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-Mike Gilligan (@BigGilli, and @SmallStateTakes Podcast) – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/small-state-big-takes/id1432138166
