Sports Briefs

BASEBALL

KBO suspends, fines pitcher who hit batter

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) on Wednesday suspended Hanwha Eagles pitcher Lee Dong-kul for five games and fined him 2 million won ($1,822). Lee was ejected from Sunday’s game in Busan for hitting Lotte Giants third baseman Hwang Jae-gyun in the lower back.

Umpires said Lee intentionally hit Hwang, causing the season’s first bench clearing.

The KBO also fined Eagles manager Kim Sung-keun, who took responsibility for the incident, 3 million won and the team 5 million won.

BASKETBALL

Anyang KGC nets Jeon as new coach

Anyang KGC, which finished eight among 10 teams in the Korean Basketball League (KBL), has hired Jeon Chang-jin as its new coach. Jeon formerly coached the Busan KT Sonicboom.

The 51-year-old received a three-year contract, but no details were released.

Anyang KGC also hired Jeon’s two assistant coaches at the Sonicboom - Kim Seung-gi and Son Gyu-an.

In 14 seasons with Wonju Dongbu Promy and the Sonicboom, Jeon won four regular season titles and three KBL championships. He has 426 wins and 306 losses in the KBL, the best winning percentage of any coach.

Jeon also has won KBL Coach of the Year a record five times.

VOLLEYBALL

Jumbos bring back Sanchez for third year

The Incheon Korean Air Jumbos in the Korea professional volleyball league (V-League) have signed a new contract with foreign player Michael Sanchez Bozhulev.

The new contract will make the 28-year-old Cuban the first foreigner to play three consecutive years for the Jumbos.

Despite battling back pain, Sanchez was the fourth-highest scorer in the V-League with 1,026 points and fifth in serve aces.

The Jumbos missed the playoffs last season after finishing fourth among the seven teams with a record of 18 wins and 18 losses.

The Jumbos said Sanchez decided to play one more season as he wanted to achieve better results next season.

BY JOO KYUNG-DON [joo.kyungdon@joongang.co.kr]