Korea blanks US, wins Premier 12 title

The Korean national baseball team players toss their captain, Jeong Keun-woo, into air after winning the inaugural Premier 12 international baseball tournament by defeating the United States 8-0 at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, Saturday. / Yonhap

By Baek Byung-yeul

The Korean national baseball team captured the inaugural Premier 12 international baseball tournament title after defeating the United States 8-0 in Tokyo, Saturday.

In the Tokyo Dome, left fielder Kim Hyun-soo knocked in three runs and first baseman Park Byung-ho blasted a three-run home run in the fourth for the victory. This is first-ever title in a senior-level baseball championship for Korea since their historic gold medal campaign in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Korea, who advanced to the final after the 4-3 comeback win against Japan, Thursday, started quickly against the U.S. starter Zack Segovia as center fielder Lee Yong-kyu hit a double to score second baseman and leadoff Jeong Keun-woo who was on the second base after hitting a single and stealing second in the top of the first. Segovia left the mound in the third after allowing another RBI single to left fielder Kim.

Korea solidified the victory in the fourth by adding five more runs.

Brooks Pounders, the second American pitcher loaded the bases with two outs, as shortstop Kim Jae-ho led off with a double to the left center, Jeong legged out an infielder single and Lee followed by being hit by a pitch. Left fielder Kim then belted a double to make the score 4-0. With two runners still on base, first baseman Park, who’s in negotiation with the Minnesota Twins, slugged a three-run home run deep to left.

Korea added one more run after Jeong drew an RBI bases-loaded-walk in the top of the ninth.

Left-handed starter Kim Kwang-hyun started the game and had five strikeouts and four hits while throwing five innings.

Kim Hyun-soo, who went three for five with three RBIs, and had had 11 hits out of 33 with 13 RBIs in a total of eight matches, was named the MVP of the inaugural baseball tournament organized by the World Baseball-Softball Confederation.

“Frankly, I didn’t expect to win it. It is an honor to win, but I thought Lee Dae-ho would win the award because we wouldn’t be here if he didn’t make a hit in the semi-final. I think this is my first MVP,” Kim told reporters after the match.

Japan was placed third after defeating Mexico 11-1 before the final.

The Premier 12 tournament was launched in a bid to bring baseball and softball back into the Olympics, featuring only the top 12-ranked nations. With the win, the Korean national team will receive prize money of $1 million, while the U.S. team takes $600,000, Japan $400,000 and Mexico $300,000.

22 players hit free agent market

As the baseball season has ended, the transfer market is expected to heat up in the off season.

The Korean Baseball Organization (KBO), the governing body of the country’s top-baseball league, announced Saturday that a total of 22 players declared free agency.

Among those players, Kim Hyun-soo will be the hot potato as he has exhausted all possibilities ― either staying in the KBO or seeking a team in the Major League Baseball (MLB).

A day before the 8-0 win against the U.S. team, the free agent outfielder revealed his intention to play in the MLB, saying “if conditions were suitable.”

“There’s no reason to turn down interest from MLB clubs. It’s a stage I’ve always wanted to play on,” Kim said.

After playing for the Doosan Bears of the KBO for 10 seasons from 2006 to 2015, Kim has batted .318 with 1,294 hits including 142 home runs. He is only allowed to negotiate with his original club the Bears for a week from November 22 to 28. If he and the Bears fail to reach an agreement, he is then available to open negotiations with any clubs in the world excluding the Bears from November 29 to December 5. If he still cannot get an agreement, Kim is given to have a final negotiating period to continue to talk with every club interested with him from December 6 to January 15.

Kim, dubbed “hitting machine,” is arguably the league’s best pure hitter with plate discipline and maturity. His breakthrough came in 2008 season when he led the league in hits with 168 and a batting average of.357.

If Kim decides to stay in the KBO, it remains to be seen whether he can break the highest-ever deal of a four-year deal worth 9 billion won ($7.7 million), set by the Kia Tigers closing pitcher Yoon Suk-min.