It may not be the majors, but the Taiwanese and Korean leagues have offered us all a chance to watch competitive baseball while MLB is on hold. Surely some MLBTR readers are partaking … no doubt a few have even adopted new favorite teams.
It’d be even easier to fall in love with these fun leagues if fans were in attendance. Having attended some Japanese games in person myself, I can tell you it’s quite an experience to see how the game is enjoyed on the other side of the Pacific. But even without the full pageantry, there’s a lot to enjoy — bat flips, of course, being the best-known form of punctuation.
So, if you’re following the Chinese Professional Baseball League and/or Korea Baseball Organization, which team have you taken to rooting for? For those that haven’t yet decided, here’s the list … with the team’s former MLB players noted in case you need some help picking.
CPBL
- Chinatrust Brothers: Esmil Rogers, Ariel Miranda, C.C. Lee, Jose De Paula
- Fubon Guardians: Henry Sosa, Chin-lung Hu, Che-Hsuan Lin
- Rakuten Monkeys: Justin Nicolino, Ryan Carpenter, Lisalverto Bonilla, Elih Villanueva
- Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions: Ryan Feierabend, Donn Roach, Logan Darnell, Josh Roenicke
KBO
- Doosan Bears: Jose Miguel Fernandez, Raul Alcantara, Chris Flexen
- Hanwha Eagles: Warwick Saupold, Jared Hoying, Chad Bell
- Kia Tigers: Aaron Brooks, Preston Tucker, Drew Gagnon
- Kiwoom Heroes: Taylor Motter, ByungHo Park, Jake Brigham, Eric Jokisch
- KT Wiz: Odrisamer Despaigne, William Cuevas, Jae Gyun Hwang
- LG Twins: Hyun Soo Kim, Tyler Wilson, Casey Kelly
- Lotte Giants: Dan Straily, Dae Ho Lee, Dixon Machado, Adrian Sampson
- NC Dinos: Aaron Altherr, Mike Wright, Drew Rucinski
- Samsung Lions: Seunghwan Oh, Tyler Saladino, David Buchanan, Ben Lively
- SK Wyverns: Nick Kingham, Ricardo Pinto, Jamie Romak
Adoptive CPBL/KBO Team
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NC Dinos (KBO) 18% (610)
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Lotte Giants (KBO) 13% (435)
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Samsung Lions (KBO) 11% (386)
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LG Twins (KBO) 9% (316)
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Kia Tigers (KBO) 7% (242)
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Doosan Bears (KBO) 7% (224)
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SK Wyverns (KBO) 6% (216)
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Rakuten Monkeys (CPBL) 6% (215)
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Kiwoom Heroes (KBO) 6% (201)
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CTBC Brothers (CPBL) 4% (132)
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KT Wiz (KBO) 3% (116)
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Hanwha Eagles (KBO) 3% (113)
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Uni-Lions (CPBL) 2% (84)
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Fubon Guardians (CPBL) 2% (76)
Total votes: 3,366
What team cheats?
Going with those guys.
LouisianaAstros username checks out.
Louisiana, made me laugh out loud! Thank you!!
Louisiana, made me laugh out loud! Thank you
You can say that again!
Louisiana, greatest comment I’ve ever seen on here
You’ll be wanting Kiwoom. They’re not cheats (at least on the field), but their former owner is in prison for embezzlement.
And their former shortstop/third basemen is Jung Ho Kang. Yes, he of the three DWI arrests.
And their former shortstop/third basemen is Jung Ho Kang. Yes, he of the three DWI arrests and a rape allegation.
I’m rooting for the dinos
I’m with you. Dinos all the way
Have you guys seen the mascots name? Hilarious
I’m a Dinos guy too
JP Arencibia hit 40 homeruns and had 300 k’s in 400 AB’s for the Saskatoon Shithawks.
I think LG maybe. Im a big Roberto Ramos guy.
Doosan because of Chris Flexen—I’m a Met fan so the team Gagnon is on is the other option.
None of the above. It’s not good baseball.
thanks for the opinion negative nancy
I bet they’re better than you
Either you haven’t watched or you can’t handle anything that’s not one of the three true outcomes.
This. I like seeing something other than homerball. It’s why college baseball is so much better with the composite bats.
Warwick Saupold, Aussie connection, go the Eagles haha
I think I’ll read a book instead.
Couldn’t you have started that before posting this useless comment?
Mike Wright, Tyler Wilson and hyun soo could all be orioles today
NC Dinos all day! Drew Rucinski pitched the game the other day on ESPN, and he reminded me so much of the way I pitch. Such a fun team to watch, and who doesn’t love Dinos! NC Dinos all day!
As previously stated above: none. Bad baseball.
If that’s the case, quit commenting Bc yours are bad comments. Most would say a useless waste of cyberspace.
I am going for the FUBAR Guardians. FUBAR explains the total state of things where the greatest country in the history of the world is relegated to the ESPN Tiddlywink game of the week. No Thank You.
I’ll be patient and wait for Major Leave Baseball.
Has there been anyone to go from MLB to kbo back to MLB?
Many, one being Eric Thames.
Josh Lindblom
Darin Ruf is trying to.
where are the cranes or cobras
The Brothers, because that’s an awesome name
SK Wyverns, because it sounds like NES Baseball Stars
Brothers and Bears!
no pole links for the smartphone users. and since most didn’t pick kia tigers, i will pick them.
Who cares. Time to start playing MLB.
Hanwha Eagles. They just sound cool
I’ll take the LG Twins only because Casey Kelly was a top Red Sox prospect who completely fizzled out after being traded for Adrian Gonzalez (not that any part of that trade worked out for either team)
Twins…I didn’t see his name but I am rooting for a former Brave, Mel Rojas Jr.
7-11 all the way!
The Hell Turtles
I’m an Indians fan who remembers CC Lee and Esmil Rogers. Esmil got us Yan Gomes and Mike Aviles in a trade (which later got us Daniel Johnson and Jefry Rodriguez). So I guess I’m rooting for the Brothers.
Wasn’t Mike Aviles traded for a manger
How is that how a career highlight
Yep. Traded to the Blue Jays for John Farrell.
It was the second time in 10 years a player was traded for a Manager joining Randy Winn who was traded to the Mariners from the Devil Rays for Lou Pinella
Doosan Bears, winning team!
I’ll take the Wyverns solely for Jamie Romak.
Whoever has Dae Ho Lee, that’s the team for me.
The Lotte Giants
None.
I don’t think less of Korean baseball or think I am above it, it’s just that the time difference is way too inconvenient to realistically get invested in it. Plus, it would just depress me and make me think of MLB.
@ VC – Is it late in the evening where you are?
We’re celebrating 75 years since VE Day (Victory in Europe in 1945) so if you can, raise a glass.
As a proud Englishman we can’t be too grateful for your nation’s help (I’m assuming you’re from the U.S) and the entirety of the Commonwealth. (Thus covering you if you’re Canadian, Indian, Zimbabwean too)
I’m not comparing Corona with WW2 – I’m just saying things have been even worse. My veteran 100 yr old grandfather died in July last year and his reaction to this would have been – interesting.
Take care, pick the team with the best name and join me in celebrating VE Day and following the Rakuten Monkeys…
How can you not pick the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions! Free slushies before every game?
Seriously though. It’s not MLB but it’s still one of the best leagues in the world. And they seem to care more about entertainment. Bring on more bat flips, fist pumps and emotion from the players I say.
Doooooosan Bears!
Met Nick Kingham at ST in Bradenton as a Pirate draftee. Very polite & friendly kid. So SK Wyverns for me!
Rakuten Monkeys. No brainer, frankly.
How could anybody not root for a Hero?
CTBC Brothers for the cutest cheerleaders!
I am rooting for the tigers – just because as a giants fan you gotta root for matt williams
Let’s go giants
Go Wyverns!!!
KBO games are more entertaining than MLB games in my opinion