6:07 PM: The Pirates have officially announced that Kang will return for tomorrow’s game against Cincinnati.
4:53 PM: Pirates third baseman/shortstop Jung Ho Kang is likely set to return to the team this weekend after a near two-year hiatus, according to reports from Rob Biertempfel of the Athletic (Twitter link).
Kang, 31, finished 3rd in the Rookie of the Year balloting after a banner 2015 season with the Buccos, but has been mired in a litany of legal and injury troubles since the end of the 2016 campaign. Following that season, the second straight in which Kang flourished offensively for the Pirates, posting a 132 wRC+ despite a BABIP drop of nearly 70 points from the season prior, he was arrested on his third DUI charge in his native Korea, which left him stranded in the country, unable to secure the work visa necessary to play in the U.S. When he finally arrived stateside earlier this season, Kang was hampered by a nagging wrist injury that truncated his rehab and made a return to the Pirates increasingly unlikely, though he had resumed the rehabilitation process in recent weeks.
The five-time KBO All-Star came to the U.S. with little fanfare after the 2014 season, inking a measly four-year, $11MM deal with Pittsburgh in January of 2015. He quickly put questions to rest, slashing .287/.355/.461 across 126 games in his rookie campaign and providing loads of surplus value to a mid-market Pirate club in need of a run-producing threat. Kang’s glove at shortstop graded out mostly average in his half-season of time there, but the team seemed to prefer him at the hot corner, where in 2016 he entrenched himself as one of the league’s top offensive performers at the position, upping his walk totals and making hard contact nearly 40% of the time.
Kang’s future, at this point, is shrouded mostly in doubt – on the one hand, a healthy Kang – whose $5.5MM option is a certain bargain in a context-empty reality – stripped of rust would be a boon to any team’s lineup, at least in the short-term. On the other, his age (32 in April), drunken-driving convictions (as well as an uncharged sexual assault allegation two years ago), and time away from the game will almost certainly keep most GMs at arm’s length, and the $250K buyout in his current deal may make Pittsburgh’s eventual choice an easy one.
Is he driving to the park???
Haha!
I’m okay with that. It may be irrelevant as he still has to prove he can play anyway.
Let’s see what he can do, he should be better than Jordy Mercer anyways.
3 DUIs
A sexual assault accusation
A hit and run.
Thank goodness he can hit.
We talking about baseballs right?
Practice!!
No. The only thing he will be able to hit is the DL.
Wasn’t he the MVP of the North Korean league?
Good sarcasm
Pretty sure he was.
And “run” don’t forget that!
I was surprised when he was granted a visa and allowed to come back To The US. And now I’m beyond shocked that he’s going to actually play a major league ball game. Wow.
Does anyone know if this move was forced because the couldn’t keep him down any longer?
No, that was not the case.
Hm, ok. Thanks!
No it wasn’t forced! The Pirates want to get a look at him, even though it’s a short one. My guess is he starts for them next year.
Just wondering if anyone is going to go THERE.
Is MADD protesting this game? Kinda like the pirates are giving a great job to someone who doesn’t want it. If I get 3 duis I’m getting fired even though my job has nothing to do with driving. It’s a character issue
I’ve seen him hit and know he can help the Buccos win, so that’s about all I need to know about his character.
Great integrity you have
Goes to show, if you have a profile of some kind, and a good bank account, the US borders will open wide for you.
The average Joe would be turned away with one third of his discrepancies.
Pirates organization fought very hard to get him here. Money and power will get things done.
That’s too much baggage for a dude who’s in his 30’s and an average player at best.
Most of the people here who are lack of facts, biased and sarcastic cannot judge. That’s why we have professionals. Kang’s been on the court, got punishment, lost millions already. He deserves a second chance just like anybody else.
Agreed, but-
First chance
First dui = second chance
Second dui = third chance
Third dui = fourth chance
Sexual assault charge = fifth chance
Hit and run = sixth chance
Not even factoring in that the assault charge is much more troubling than “a bad decision or two”, even as a pirates season ticket holder I can’t get behind this move.
Okay, how many times Kang violated the MLB rules? Please be specific. He violated One MLB code of conduct rules. And please do not bring back the dropped charge.
Overstating just a bit here tuckshop. 3rd DUI and hit-and-run were the same instance, were they not? Sexual assault charge was not pursued and perhaps even dropped I believe.
He looks like a bargain this offseason
Is this guy at least getting help. Is he in AA?