KBO suspends 2 Twins pitchers

By Cho Mu-hyun

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) temporarily suspended LG Twins pitchers Park Hyun-joon and Kim Seong-hyun Monday for their involvement in match rigging.

The two have been suspended without pay and will be unable to participate in any baseball activities and face possible permanent bans after an investigation by the Daegu Prosecutor’s Office is completed.

The KBO is expected to hold a meeting to determine the final disciplinary action after the prosecutor’s office decides on making formal criminal charges against the LG players.

The nation’s top baseball governing body also issued a public apology for the match fixing and promised to play a leading role in pinpointing those who were part of the scandal.

“We are truly sorry to fans that have shown continual support for professional baseball and the people for causing great disappointment,” stated the KBO via its official website. “We will cooperate with related investigative organizations, and severely punish those (who are found to be) involved.”

The organization is planning to create systemized educational and administrative programs to prevent possible illegal activities involving the sport in the future.

The two pitchers initially denied any part in match rigging, when it was revealed by the broker involved in the volleyball match-fixing scandal last month that other sports were running their own scams.

Nexen Heroes pitcher Moon Sung-hyun revealed that he was approached by a broker on Feb. 15 and was questioned by prosecutors following his confession and was found innocent.

Kim was arrested on Feb. 28 and is currently in detention after questioning that uncovered his part in the scam, which is known to involve five or six more active players.

Teammate Park Hyun-joon, who voluntarily turned himself in, had denied any involvement after arriving at Incheon International Airport from his club’s spring training camp in Saitama, Japan.

He was found guilty after questioning and though he was released owing to his cooperative behavior, he faces further summons and charges.

The KBO stated Wednesday that it was considering a lifetime ban for Kim by executive authority and the recent suspension previews the severest punitive measure.

The Korean Volleyball Federation (KOVO) has already banned four of its players for life for match fixing while 15 others are under investigation and face a similar fate.

Last year’s precedent following revelations of match fixing in the K-League also shows a strong possibility of a lifetime bans and even jail time. The league wide scam ended with over 50 players being banned from football with many going to jail.

The recent discovery is known to be affecting the mood of the Twins’ squad in Saitama. The nation’s professional baseball teams are currently at their respective training camps in preparation for the domestic baseball league, which will commence on April 7.