Giants Ask KBO to Lift Jungs Ban
By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
Lotte Giants fans may soon see Jung Soo-keun take the field again.
The Giants asked the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) Wednesday to lift Jung's suspension.
The 32-year-old was suspended indefinitely after he was arrested last July for attacking an apartment janitor and police officer while drunk in Busan.
``When we talked with some KBO officials, they were positive about considering Jung's reinstatement. I think we can hope for a good result,'' the Giants official told The Korea Times.
The KBO's disciplinary committee will meet to discuss the issue and submit a recommendation to KBO commissioner Yoo Young-goo.
``As the Giants asked, we will take care of it as soon as possible. We will begin discussing the issue as early as this week, but no decision will be made until at least next week,'' KBO officials told The Korea Times.
During his suspension, Jung has trained at local high schools and universities. He has also been volunteering at a youth baseball camp every weekend.
Even if he is reinstated, it will still be some time before he returns to the Giants lineup, with a stint in the minors likely. He said that while he's in good shape, it will take some time to sharpen up.
``I will first have to play in a lower league. If I spend a month there, I will have the confidence that I need to play with the Giants in the second half,'' Jung said.
``I am very thankful to those who helped me to come back to the ballpark. For them, I will try to play my best. I want to come back and play baseball and have fun,'' added Jung