And that was a look into the key sports events that are coming up in 2025. Now, for the latest sports issues we have our sportscaster Jason Lee in the studio. Jason, welcome!
Q1) Jason, let me start with asking you which sports event are YOU looking forward to the most out of the schedule we just saw in the report, or maybe some other event?
Q2-1) The beginning of a new year also means a new beginning in a new team for some. Let’s talk about Korean baseball player Kim Hye-Seong , who now has less than 24 hours to sign with a Major League Baseball team or he’ll return to the Kiwoom Heroes for next season what’s the latest update?
Teams bidding for Kim Hye-Seong include: LA Angels, Mariners, Padres
Other linked teams: Blue Jays, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati,
Contract range: 3 years 15, 4 years 28
Q2-2) So with less than 24 hours left until the deadline for Kim to sign with a Major League Baseball team, how likely is it that he doesn’t sign with a team and actually does return to the KBO for another full season?
Still confident he signs with someone because there are multiple teams interested.
When Ryu Hyun Jin signed with the Dodgers it was also a last minute agreement. Same with Go Woo Suk last year.
Q3) Somewhat related, Kim Hye-Seong’s former teammate Kim Ha-Seong still hasn’t signed a new contract after rejecting an 8 million dollar extension with his former team, the San Diego Padres. Where do you expect him to sign and when?
Kim Ha Seong could’ve returned to San Diego for 8 million dollars this year.
Problem is he’s had shoulder surgery and might not be ready for opening day.
It’s more probable that teams wait until he’s healthy to sign him to a long term deal or he could sign like a 1 year prove it deal maybe for like 10 or 12 million.
Q4) What about Lee Jung-hoo in San Francisco and Go Woo-Suk in Miami?
What are the expectations around them for the new year?
Lee Jung Hoo is expected to be fully recovered from his shoulder surgery and is expected to lead off again this year for San Francisco.
Go Woo Suk was signed last year by San Diego where he joined Kim Ha Seong but he never got into any games instead spending his season in the minors. He was eventually traded to Miami where he continued to play in the minors.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he decided to return to Korea.
We’ve seen that before when Park Byung Ho returned to Korea after just 2 forgetful seasons in Minnesota.
Q5) Turning to soccer, there was a Korean Derby in the English Premier League between Son Heung-Min and Hwang Hee-Chan as their teams met this week. I heard it was an interesting match.
Hwang Hee Chan scored a nice goal on a set play.
Son Heung Min missed a penalty shot.
They tied 2-2.
Q6) We’ve talked a lot about how Yang Min-Hyeok was the youngest Korean to ever sign with an English Premier League side. He just arrived in London last month, but I understand ANOTHER Korean recently set a new record for the youngest Korean to make an appearance in an English Premier League match?
Kim Ji Soo got into a game for Brentford at just 20 years and 3 days.
He bettered Ji Dong Won who played for Sunderland at 20 years 3 months.
Nothing is set but I expect Yang Min-Hyeok will set a new record at some point with Tottenham as he’s still just 18. So he’s got almost 2 years to set the new mark.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the EPLs 2nd half and if not perhaps sometime next fall.
Q7) Looking forward to our young Korean rising stars’ performances in 2025.
Thank you Jason for covering all the latest in K-sports.
Thank you Walter, have a great weekend.
Source : Arirang TV, https://www.arirang.com/news/view?id=279584
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