Tag Archives: Jung-Ho Kang

March 11, 2017

Pirates Restrict Kang

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The Pirates placed Jung Ho Kang on the restricted list:

Players on the restricted list don’t count toward a team’s 25- or 40-man roster limit, and may or may not be paid.

Kang, who has three DUIs since 2009, agreed last month to enter an alcohol treatment program. The 29-year-old player hit 21 home runs in 103 games last season, slashing .255/.354/.513.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has more, suggesting that it has to do with uncertainty about Kang’s visa:

“It is neither a statement of pessimism nor optimism that Jung Ho will get back in time to report to Bradenton and prepare to be ready for opening day,” Coonelly said Saturday. “It says nothing on that topic. It just is a reflection of the reality that he is not here today, on March 11.”

…

Coonelly said he spoke with Kang’s representatives on Friday. He stressed the move is not a disciplinary measure — it simply frees up roster room. Coonelly also said the Pirates intend to wait until meeting with Kang in person before determined whether to levy additional punishment.

I suspect Kang is lucky he is not in jail, and I can understand why the US might think twice about issuing him a visa.

February 5, 2017

Kang Seeks Help

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Jung Ho Kang entered a treatment facility, I assume for alcohol abuse:

However, there may be light at the end of the tunnel. In an effort to get himself back on track, Kang has agreed to enter a treatment facility recommended to him by a joint panel following that arrest. While there is not any information as to how long Kang would be in the facility, Pirates general manager Neil Huntington said that he expects Kang in camp on February 17, when Spring Training is set to begin.

This comes on the heels of a solid, but tumultuous season for Kang. He missed the start of the season due to torn ligaments in his knee and a broken leg that he suffered at the end of the 2015 season, and was accused of sexual assault. This DUI arrest was another strike against the infielder.

I hope it works out for him. I suspect he is already at the point where it was jail or rehab.

July 5, 2016

Kang Accused

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A criminal sexual assault investigation hangs over Jung Ho Kang:

According to police, the Chicago woman met Kang through Bumble, a location-based dating app that allows only women to initiate conversations. Kang invited the woman to his Magnificent Mile hotel room on June 17, hours after the Pirates had lost a day game to the Cubs.

The woman told investigators she arrived at Kang’s room at the Westin Hotel around 10 p.m. and he served her an alcoholic drink, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. She said she blacked out about 15 to 20 minutes later, then drifted in and out of consciousness as he sexually assaulted her.

She told police she did not fully awaken until she was in a taxi and on her way home, according to Guglielmi.

The 23-year-old woman, who is not being identified because she is an alleged victim of a sex crime, went to Northwestern Memorial Hospital to have a rape kit done on June 19, Guglielmi said. She filed a formal complaint with police 10 days later, sources said.

At the moment, MLB is letting the police investigation play out. As we have seen, MLB will take action even if the police fail to bring charges.

Update: Somewhat related, Jose Reyes returns to the majors with the Mets this evening.

May 7, 2016 November 16, 2015

Rookie Day

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Major League Baseball (MLB) announces the Jackie Robinson Awards for Rookie of the Year tonight, Monday, starting at 6 PM. The three finalists for the National League honor are Kris Bryant, Matt Duffy, and Jung Ho Kang. The American League award comes down to Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor, and Miguel Sano.

Bryant posted an impressive year for any player, rookie or not. His batting line of .275/.369/.488 shows that at age 23 he mastered most of the skills needed to be an outstanding offensive player. He played both third base and the outfield well.

Duffy also plays third base, and came in with a .295/.334/.448 slash line. He garners a higher BA than Bryant, but is more of a singles hitter. He strikes out much less than Bryant, so he is an excellent player to bat when the team really needs a hit. Duffy and Bryant’s defense are on par. Duffy is also a year older than Bryant, so has less upside.

Kang finished the season with a serious injury, finishing with a 267/.355/.461 slash line. He did not play as much as Bryant or Duffy, which lowers his value. On top of that, despite being a middle infielder by trade, his defense was just a bit above average. Couple that with his being in the middle of his prime, I don’t believe his numbers compare that well with Bryant.

I would rank Bryant first, Duffy second, and Kang third. In many years, any one of the them could have won the award, but this was a particularly strong season for young, left-side infielders.

Correa is an extremely young, power-hitting shortstop. That should put him in a very good position in any awards competition. He hit .279/.345/.512 in 432 PA. FanGraphs shows his defense needs some work, but for now his bat more than makes up for a lack of range.

Lindor is nearly identical. One year older, but still quite young, Lindor posted a .313/.353/.482 slash line, slightly less power with fewer outs, also as a shortstop in 438 PA. Becuase FanGraphs rates his defense higher, Lindor turned in a higher WAR.

Sano, the oldest at seasonal age 22 in 2015, played the least of the three but hit the best, .269/.385/.530. He was a designated hitter, however, so there is no available boost for defense.

I would rank them Lindor, Correa, and Sano. Once again, they are three great candidates, and I look forward to many years arguing Correa and Lindor like we argued Nomar Garciaparra, Derek Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez in the late 1990s.

September 17, 2015

Kang Cogged

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The Chris Coghlan take out slide in the afternoon game between the Cubs and Pirates took out one of the top rookies in the majors, Jung Ho Kang:

As a 28-year-old international import, Kang proved to be a middle infielder who get on base well with some pop. He made the Pirates deeper and stronger up the middle, and they won’t be quite as formidable going into the playoffs without him.

Coghlan slide prompted a reader to complain to me privately, that the slide was unnecessary. Kang was moving to the outfield side of second to make the throw after getting the force out at second. Coghlan gets away with the slide because he could have touched the base with his hand. Maybe it’s time to change that rule. How about, if you are not trying to avoid a tag, the slide must be directed at the base! We have the Posey rule for catchers, how about the Kang rule for middle infielders?

The Cubs won the game 9-6.

August 22, 2015

Kang Bang

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Jung Ho Kang hit two home runs for the Pirates to give Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead after seven, but the Giants came back to tie the game in the eighth. That set up a Starling Marte, two-out, walk-off shot and the Pirates beat the Giants 3-2. Marte doubled earlier, and his 41 extra-base hits gives him a .459 slugging percentage for the season.

Kang continues to impress with a .290/.363/.464 slash line, excellent for a middle infielder. He now has 100 hits in his major league career, 34 for extra bases. It’s also good production given his excellent career in Korea. He’s proving to be a great signing for the Pirates.

July 6, 2015

Thumbs Down

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Josh Harrison goes on the disabled list with a thumb injury:

The Pirates placed starting third baseman Josh Harrison on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a left thumb injury after an awkward slide Sunday in a game against the Cleveland Indians. They also added newly acquired Travis Ishikawa to the roster.

As for a prognosis, Harrison said, “I’m still trying to figure that out myself.” He is scheduled to have a second opinion later this week after the swelling lessens. This is the first time on the disabled list in his five-year major league career.

Thumb injuries can take a long time, as even after a player heals, the thumb still bothers them when they hit.

Jung Ho Kang takes over at third base. They have similar stats this season so the Pirates should not lose too much.

March 3, 2015

King Kang

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Hardball Talk posts video of Jung Ho Kang’s first home run of the spring for the Pirates. His last name appears to be pronounced Kun, which is a bit of a disappointment. I have to throw out my comparisons to the Klingon from Star Trek. 🙁

It’s an interesting home run, as he didn’t appear to hit it that well based on the swing. It’s to the opposite field, right-center, but the ball just kept carrying. I’m impressed he could drive the ball out on a non-classic home run swing.

January 12, 2015

King Kang

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The Pirates reached an agreement with Korean shortstop Jung-Ho Kang.

The Pittsburgh Pirates reached an agreement Monday with South Korean shortstop Jung-Ho Kang on a four-year deal worth approximately $16 million, a source told ESPN MLB Insider Jim Bowden.

The deal, which is still pending a physical, also has an option for a fifth year, the source said. The Pirates had a 30-day window after winning negotiating rights on Dec. 22.

His Korean batting statistics are quite impressive, so we’ll see how they translate to the US. I suspect he’ll do a decent job of getting on base.

Kang is quite a sword fighter as well: