Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said today that Jung Ho Kang will be the team’s starting third baseman.
It’s been a long way back for Kang, who has missed nearly two full years after a DUI arrest in December 2016 led to visa issues keeping him from returning to the United States. He made it back for three games last season before an injury cut that short. The Pirates declined his $5.5 million 2019 option over the winter and re-signed him to a one-year deal paying him $3 million. Given that low price tag it’s not a shock that the Pirates decided to go with Kang.
Kang has hit .274/.355/.482 in 232 big league games.