Jung Ho

Kang

Kang has offered to donate his first-year salary to victims of DUI crashes. He was recently suspended one year by the KBO, in addition to a sentence of 300 hours of community service. The Kiwoom Heroes hold his rights and must activate him from the “voluntarily retired list” in order to sign or trade him. The suspension won’t kick in until he signs a new contract, so he’s still a ways off from actually playing even in the best-case scenario. The former Pirates infielder will turn 34 years old next April.

Kang was originally looking at a three-year suspension for his three DUI arrests when he recently asked to be taken off the KBO’s retirement list. It turns out he’ll be able to return sooner, but the suspension only begins once he actually signs with a team. Kang turned 33 in April and batted just .169/.222/.395 over 185 plate appearances with the Pirates last year before being given his release. His former team, the Nexen Heroes, still hold his rights in the KBO and Kang will need permission from them in order to sign with another team.

Korean players are put on that list after they are posted by their KBO teams, as Kang was in 2015 before signing with the Pirates. He faces a three-year suspension from that league for being charged his third DUI in the offseason of 2016, which means he would not be eligible to suit up for a KBO club until 2023. Kang would be 36 years old at that point. It’s safe to say he is done as a Major League Baseball player, and it’s very possible that he is done as a pro entirely.

It sounds like a deal will probably get done soon, but for now Kang is just working out at Triple-A San Antonio. He was released by the Pirates earlier this month after batting .169/.222/.395 over 185 plate appearances.

Kang was released by the Pirates earlier this month but has now caught on with another team in the National League Central. The 32-year-old infielder has batted just .169/.222/.395 over 185 plate appearances this season but could give the Brew Crew a power bat off the bench down the stretch.

Kang got designated for assignment last Friday and passed through waivers unclaimed. The 32-year-old infielder was batting just .169/.222/.395 with 60 strikeouts in 185 plate appearances this season with the Pirates, who took another chance on him after he sat out nearly two full seasons following his third DUI arrest in South Korea back in 2016. He could be done with Major League Baseball for good.

Kang’s first full season in the majors since his off-field issues has been a disaster, as he’s batted just .169/.222/.395 over 65 games. He’ll be a free agent this winter and his days as a productive big leaguer might be over. Colin Moran will continue starting at third base versus righties and Jose Osuna should now see more time at the hot corner against lefties.

To be fair, the Pirates as a team were only able to muster four total hits against Steven Matz and company. Kang has had a miserable season at the plate, slashing .174/.228/.407.

It wasn’t enough for the Pirates tonight, but it might help Kang’s case for more playing time. He has four homers in 32 at-bats this month, but he’s still batting .184 with a horrific .236 OBP overall.

Kang’s blast followed Josh Bell’s three-run homer, capping off a miraculous five-run rally to tie the game at 6-6. It would all be for naught. Kang finished the contest 1-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts and is now hitting .173/.232/.403 with eight homers and 20 RBI on the season.