Jung Ho Kang’s stint in the Dominican Winter League has been cut short after 24 unsuccessful games, Jee-ho Yoo of South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reports. Kang was released by Aguilas Cibaenas after hitting .143/.219/.202 with one homer, two doubles and a 31-to-8 K/BB ratio in 92 plate appearances. His four errors were tied for the team lead (though the two players with whom he tied had each played at least six more games).
The 30-year-old Kang sat out the 2017 season on the restricted list and was not paid, nor did he accrue MLB service time, after a third DUI conviction and a suspended jail sentence in his native South Korea prevented him from securing a work visa in the United States. Kang was granted an exemption from the restricted list to play in the Dominican Winter League, but his tenure there has ultimately proven to be brief in nature.
As far as a potential return to the Majors is concerned, Kang’s release from the Dominican Winter League won’t necessarily impact that possibility. His fate is still tied to his ability (or lack thereof) to secure a work visa to return to pro ball in the U.S. For the Pirates, it’s conceivable that the poor showing could enhance the team’s desire to bring in additional infield depth this offseason. That was already a possible need — albeit not necessarily a critical one — given the uncertainty surrounding Kang and the trade of Gift Ngoepe to the Blue Jays.
[Related: Pittsburgh Pirates Depth Chart]
General manager Neal Huntington told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Bill Brink back in September that the Pirates, at a certain point, would have to “plan as if [Kang is] not going to be here,” so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Pittsburgh bring in some depth pieces. That said, the club figures to utilize a trio of solid veterans in Josh Harrison (second base), Jordy Mercer (shortstop) and David Freese (third base), with veteran Sean Rodriguez (acquired from Atlanta in an August swap) and the younger Adam Frazier on hand as alternatives. Infielders Max Moroff and Chris Bostick are also coming off solid minor league seasons and fairly brief MLB cameos, so they could factor into the mix next season as well.
This guy is a dumpster fire. Weird after he had a pretty decent debut.
He had not seen live game pitching for over a year so not surprising.
IDK about the “dominical” league sounds sinister to me 😉
I think the Pirates have enough in house to not count on this guy for anything in the future
He’s toast
i think they relased phillies prospect roman quinn too
Well then…. Kang is back in the news!
you would think he’s pretty much done. if he finds a way back into mlb, he’ll probably be a bench piece or a platoon partner at best
Kang deserves no more chances. “Three DUIs,” the guy is both selfish and reckless – bad combination.
you would think he learned his lesson from the first DUI.
Hundreds of DUI’s issued in the US alone… He is only human for Pete’s sakes… Let’s have some compassion for the guy, folks…
Maybe MAYBE if it was just one…..but 3?
Think he was being sarcastic.
That being said, there are lots of people with three plus duis not only in this country, not only walking free but even behind the wheel of a car, some as we speak. That is a bigger problem than some Korean shortstop.
Isnt this the cat that was charged with sexual assault while the team was in Chicago?
Just remember this fact. To be legally drunk while driving in S Korea you only have to blow .05. Big difference from our .08.
Still too drunk to be safely operating a motor vehicle, especially when you have enough money to hire a private car whenever you want.
Also, the circumstances of how he got busted is a bit shady. If I remember correctly, he was in an accident, and tried to have his woman passenger take the fall. Not exactly someone I’d call responsible.
He has a “wait” problem. He can’t wait to drink.
Kang is not the origin of the problem… Millions out there ride with this issue… Nothing new there…
The pirates infield situation is pretty bleak. Nobody should be relying on freese and mercer for the bulk of their innings. This team needs a serious infusion of youth.
Why did MLBTR take down my comment about Trump and immigration?
Because they don’t want to have the ESPN problem.
Let’s keep it about sports, people. We watch sports to GET AWAY from all that.
Since Day 1, MLBTR has exempted from making any political statements or reporting political news of any kind.
I can’t say the same about their audience, but… removing political statements in the comments section, is a great first step. Nothing against you chri, you are a quality poster, I never had any disagreements with you, but all political/Trump comments accomplish, is lead to division.
THANK YOU MLBTR!
That’s mostly true. They’ve definitely made their voice heard in the Indians and Wahoo vs Tribe case.
That’s not really political though. I’d argue it’s more of a moral problem, fwiw
Political correctness by definition is political.
Does that mean French toast is by definition French? 😛
“Political correctness” is a made-up term to make “being polite, respectful, and decent to other people” into something negative.
lol we may disagree but thanks for calling me a quality poster. I barely post on here anyways. I remember that “bigpapi” guy who triggered everybody on here a couple years back.
Im glad they are moderating some….gets old scrolling through 50 posts of belittling.
Yeah, I remember that bigpapi….was right after the site reboot at the trade deadline. Comment section exploded
and was overrun with what seemed like high school kids without much courtesy. I was here much of the past decade up until about a year ago, the constant personal stuff got old…I know they had moderation set high as well.
Maybe because this site is for baseball talk?
I imagine the Pirates will stop trying as hard to get Kang his visa after seeing that batting line.
“Still no luck, Jung Ho, sorry.”
Bucs need a whole new left side of infield if they want to have a chance. They won’t spend or trade for one. Maybe we can pick one up off the waiver wire
Pirates have really done everything they can right now. Everything really depends on if The South Korean Government decides to, or decides against issuing him a work visa.