According to R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports, former Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang of Gwangju, South Korea has been suspended a year by the Korea Baseball Organization for three arrests of driving under the influence. Kang, who has also been ordered to undergo 300 hours of community service, is not currently a member of any franchise in Major League Baseball or the Korea Baseball Organization, and the suspension will begin once he signs a contract with a KBO team. It is not known as of yet if Kang’s suspension will be in effect if he signs with a Major League Baseball franchise instead.
The executives of the KBO are not very happy with Kang at the moment because they feel he has damaged the league’s overall image. The Korea Baseball Organization currently has 10 franchises. They are the Doosan Bears, the Hanwha Eagles, the Kia Tigers, the Kiwoom Heroes, the KT Wiz, the LG Twins, the Lotte Giants, the NC Dinos, the Samsung Lions and the SK Wyverns. Prior to playing for the Pirates from 2015 to 2016 and again from 2018 to 2019, Kang played two seasons with the Hyundai Unicorns from 2006 to 2007 and seven seasons with the Nexen Heroes from 2008 to 2014. The Unicorns were part of the KBO from 1996 to 2007, and the Nexen Heroes became the Kiwoom Heroes in 2018.
Kang had a memorable time in the KBO before joining the Pirates. For five straight seasons from 2010 to 2014, he was a KBO All-Star with the Heroes. Last season with the Pirates, Kang struggled as he only batted .169 with 10 home runs and 24 runs batted in.
