KBO clubs warm up for new season in Okinawa

SK Wyverns infielder Yoo Seo-jun hits a homerun during a practice match with the Samsung Lions in Okinawa, Japan on Monday. / Yonhap

By Baek Byung-yeul

It has been a tradition for Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) clubs to set up overseas training camps before the season begins, escaping the bitter winter of their homeland.

Six out of 10 KBO clubs gathered in Japan’s southern island Okinawa, known for its warm winter climate, and have started warm-up games for the season on Tuesday.

The so-called “Okinawa League” includes Japan’s top professional clubs as well as six KBO clubs ― the Samsung Lions, Nexen Heroes, SK Wyverns, Hanwha Eagles, Kia Tigers and LG Twins.

The teams joining the Okinawa league will train until March 2 at various spots around Okinawa. Other than the Heroes, set to arrive on the island Thursday, the rest of the teams have already started the training games. The games will be aired live on local cable networks.

The first training match was held in between the Lions and the Wyverns on Monday. With veteran slugger Lee Seung-yuop’s three-run homerun, the Lions won 8-7. The Eagles took a 4-5 loss against Japan’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars on Tuesday.

What to watch in Okinawa league

Every club has points of interest in the practice matches.

The Lions, who failed to win their fifth consecutive Korean Series title last year, arrived in Okinawa amid plenty of question marks.

Above everything, the most important thing will probably be how the three new imported players ― pitchers Allen Webster and Collin Balester and infielder Aarom Baldiris ― adapt to their new team.

Another question is who will be the new second baseman and closer. They lost second baseman Yamaico Navarro who had 48 homers and 137 RBIs last season who signed a contract to join Japan’s Chiba Lotte Marines this season. Also, closer Lim Chang-yong, who recorded 33 saves with 2.83 ERA last season, was released after the season for engaging in overseas gambling.

For the Heroes, it remains to be seen whether the Seoul-based team will fill the holes in its roster, as slugger Park Byung-ho left for the Minnesota Twins in the U.S., and the team also lost strong batting outfielder Yoo Han-joon (the Wiz), starting pitcher Andy Van Hekken (Japan’s Saitama Seibu Lions) and closer Son Seung-lak (the Giants).

For the Eagles, former Colorado Rockies power-hitting catcher Wilin Rosario will be the key to the new season. The 27-year-old Dominican player signed a one-year deal worth $1.3 million last month, which is a huge amount in the league. Though he hasn’t been assigned a defensive position yet, Eagles manager Kim Sung-keun said he expects big things from the former big leaguer who had hit 71 homers over the past five seasons.

The Twins are seeking a new closer, as former closer Bong Jung-keun is moving to starting pitcher this season.

Finding final puzzle piece

During spring training, clubs will endeavor to find the missing puzzle piece to their big picture.

Last year’s spring camp, Koo Ja-wook of the Lions showed above-average performance during the Okinawa league and the performance led him to win the rookie-of-the-year honor after hitting a .349 batting average with 11 homeruns and 57 RBIs in the regular season.

While it remains to be seen who will emerge as the next Koo in the new season, Wyverns infielder Yoo Seo-jun drew attention from team manager Kim Yong-hee on Monday.

In a practice game with the Lions, the 21-year-old, who joined the Wyverns in 2014, played shortstop in a starting lineup and had gone for three for four (including one homer) with three RBIs.

Though he only appeared in 17 games during the past two seasons, the manager mentioned him last month as one of the players he pays attention to heading into spring camp.

Among the remaining four teams not joining the Okinawa league, the NC Dinos and KT Wiz will prepare for the new season in the U.S. while Doosan Bears and Lotte Giants will set up their training camp in Japan’s Kagoshima Prefecture on Kyushu.

The 2016 KBO season will start on April 1.