Heroes sign suspended ex-MLB player Kang Jung-ho

Kang Jung-ho [YONHAP]

The Kiwoom Heroes announced Friday that the club has signed former major leaguer Kang Jung-ho for the league minimum 30 million won ($25,000).

Kang, whose career collapsed after he was booked three times for driving while drunk, received a suspended prison sentence and struggled to secure a work visa to play in the United States, won't actually be able to lift a bat for the Heroes this year as he has an outstanding one-year suspension from the KBO.

Kang debuted with the now-defunct Hyundai Unicorns in 2006 and moved to the Heroes when the Unicorns were disbanded and Heroes formed in 2008. That year, Kang batted 0.249 with eight home runs throughout 116 games. Making steady improvements, by 2010 he had a 0.301 batting average while hitting 12 home runs and 58 RBIs, also winning his first Golden Glove Award.

He went on to win three straight KBO Golden Glove Awards, from 2012 to 2014, and was selected as the KBO All-Star for five straight seasons from 2010 to 2014.

He left the Heroes to join the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2016, becoming one of the most successful Korean batters ever to join the big leagues. But issues off the field quickly started to overshadow Kang's achievements on it.

Kang has been booked three times for driving while drunk, in 2005, 2011 and 2016, when he also fled the scene of the crime. Kang was also accused of sexual assault in 2016, although no charges were ever brought against him.

After his third DUI, Kang received an eight-month jail term, suspended for two years in March 2017. The sentence prevented him from getting a U.S. work visa, and Kang was forced to sit out the Pirates season. He played in the Dominican League instead and returned to the United States the next year, but was demoted to the minors and eventually dropped.

In 2020, Kang announced that he would like to return to the KBO and rejoin the Heroes. He held a press conference in Seoul where he apologized and promised to do better. That same year the KBO handed down a one-year suspension and the Heroes opted not to sign Kang.

The Heroes' change of heart comes as something of a surprise this year, especially considering the club released outfielder Song Woo-hyun for driving while drunk just last season. According to reports, the club felt that in Kang's case, enough time has passed since the 2016 charge to give him a second chance.

Kang, who has been based in the United States for the last few years, signed with the Heroes while overseas and is expected to soon return to Seoul.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]