It may not be the majors, but the Taiwanese and Korean leagues have offered us all a chance to watch competitive baseball while MLB is on hold. Surely some MLBTR readers are partaking … no doubt a few have even adopted new favorite teams.
It’d be even easier to fall in love with these fun leagues if fans were in attendance. Having attended some Japanese games in person myself, I can tell you it’s quite an experience to see how the game is enjoyed on the other side of the Pacific. But even without the full pageantry, there’s a lot to enjoy — bat flips, of course, being the best-known form of punctuation.
So, if you’re following the Chinese Professional Baseball League and/or Korea Baseball Organization, which team have you taken to rooting for? For those that haven’t yet decided, here’s the list … with the team’s former MLB players noted in case you need some help picking.
CPBL
- Chinatrust Brothers: Esmil Rogers, Ariel Miranda, C.C. Lee, Jose De Paula
- Fubon Guardians: Henry Sosa, Chin-lung Hu, Che-Hsuan Lin
- Rakuten Monkeys: Justin Nicolino, Ryan Carpenter, Lisalverto Bonilla, Elih Villanueva
- Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions: Ryan Feierabend, Donn Roach, Logan Darnell, Josh Roenicke
KBO
- Doosan Bears: Jose Miguel Fernandez, Raul Alcantara, Chris Flexen
- Hanwha Eagles: Warwick Saupold, Jared Hoying, Chad Bell
- Kia Tigers: Aaron Brooks, Preston Tucker, Drew Gagnon
- Kiwoom Heroes: Taylor Motter, ByungHo Park, Jake Brigham, Eric Jokisch
- KT Wiz: Odrisamer Despaigne, William Cuevas, Jae Gyun Hwang
- LG Twins: Hyun Soo Kim, Tyler Wilson, Casey Kelly
- Lotte Giants: Dan Straily, Dae Ho Lee, Dixon Machado, Adrian Sampson
- NC Dinos: Aaron Altherr, Mike Wright, Drew Rucinski
- Samsung Lions: Seunghwan Oh, Tyler Saladino, David Buchanan, Ben Lively
- SK Wyverns: Nick Kingham, Ricardo Pinto, Jamie Romak
LouisianaAstros
What team cheats?
Going with those guys.
Rocket32
LouisianaAstros username checks out.
giantsphan12
Louisiana, made me laugh out loud! Thank you!!
giantsphan12
Louisiana, made me laugh out loud! Thank you
ColossusOfClout
You can say that again!
politicsNbaseball
Louisiana, greatest comment I’ve ever seen on here
nymetsking
You’ll be wanting Kiwoom. They’re not cheats (at least on the field), but their former owner is in prison for embezzlement.
joblo
And their former shortstop/third basemen is Jung Ho Kang. Yes, he of the three DWI arrests.
joblo
And their former shortstop/third basemen is Jung Ho Kang. Yes, he of the three DWI arrests and a rape allegation.
Maknauer21
I’m rooting for the dinos
BuddyBoy
I’m with you. Dinos all the way
andrewgauldin
Have you guys seen the mascots name? Hilarious
giantsphan12
I’m a Dinos guy too
Vladguerrerojr20
JP Arencibia hit 40 homeruns and had 300 k’s in 400 AB’s for the Saskatoon Shithawks.
DarkSide830
I think LG maybe. Im a big Roberto Ramos guy.
Spirit79
Doosan because of Chris Flexen—I’m a Met fan so the team Gagnon is on is the other option.
sthecht
None of the above. It’s not good baseball.
DarkSide830
thanks for the opinion negative nancy
erauber
I bet they’re better than you
nymetsking
Either you haven’t watched or you can’t handle anything that’s not one of the three true outcomes.
qazer
This. I like seeing something other than homerball. It’s why college baseball is so much better with the composite bats.
aussiegiants53
Warwick Saupold, Aussie connection, go the Eagles haha
Psychguy
I think I’ll read a book instead.
just here for the comments
Couldn’t you have started that before posting this useless comment?
2012orioles
Mike Wright, Tyler Wilson and hyun soo could all be orioles today
Rangers29
NC Dinos all day! Drew Rucinski pitched the game the other day on ESPN, and he reminded me so much of the way I pitch. Such a fun team to watch, and who doesn’t love Dinos! NC Dinos all day!
jimmertee
As previously stated above: none. Bad baseball.
just here for the comments
If that’s the case, quit commenting Bc yours are bad comments. Most would say a useless waste of cyberspace.
Rick Pernell
I am going for the FUBAR Guardians. FUBAR explains the total state of things where the greatest country in the history of the world is relegated to the ESPN Tiddlywink game of the week. No Thank You.
I’ll be patient and wait for Major Leave Baseball.
2012orioles
Has there been anyone to go from MLB to kbo back to MLB?
Rangers29
Many, one being Eric Thames.
bballblk
Josh Lindblom
qazer
Darin Ruf is trying to.
ron cey
where are the cranes or cobras
MWeller77
The Brothers, because that’s an awesome name
SK Wyverns, because it sounds like NES Baseball Stars
ColossusOfClout
Brothers and Bears!
Vizionaire
no pole links for the smartphone users. and since most didn’t pick kia tigers, i will pick them.
ekrog
Who cares. Time to start playing MLB.
PapiElf
Hanwha Eagles. They just sound cool
Rsox
I’ll take the LG Twins only because Casey Kelly was a top Red Sox prospect who completely fizzled out after being traded for Adrian Gonzalez (not that any part of that trade worked out for either team)
Ntdwg34
Twins…I didn’t see his name but I am rooting for a former Brave, Mel Rojas Jr.
hOsEbEeLiOn
7-11 all the way!
jessaumodesto
The Hell Turtles
Col_chestbridge
I’m an Indians fan who remembers CC Lee and Esmil Rogers. Esmil got us Yan Gomes and Mike Aviles in a trade (which later got us Daniel Johnson and Jefry Rodriguez). So I guess I’m rooting for the Brothers.
LouisianaAstros
Wasn’t Mike Aviles traded for a manger
How is that how a career highlight
Rsox
Yep. Traded to the Blue Jays for John Farrell.
It was the second time in 10 years a player was traded for a Manager joining Randy Winn who was traded to the Mariners from the Devil Rays for Lou Pinella
Sheep8
Doosan Bears, winning team!
bluejays92
I’ll take the Wyverns solely for Jamie Romak.
The-Two-Germanys
Whoever has Dae Ho Lee, that’s the team for me.
destined.miner
The Lotte Giants
ChangedName
None.
I don’t think less of Korean baseball or think I am above it, it’s just that the time difference is way too inconvenient to realistically get invested in it. Plus, it would just depress me and make me think of MLB.
A'sfaninLondonUK
@ VC – Is it late in the evening where you are?
We’re celebrating 75 years since VE Day (Victory in Europe in 1945) so if you can, raise a glass.
As a proud Englishman we can’t be too grateful for your nation’s help (I’m assuming you’re from the U.S) and the entirety of the Commonwealth. (Thus covering you if you’re Canadian, Indian, Zimbabwean too)
I’m not comparing Corona with WW2 – I’m just saying things have been even worse. My veteran 100 yr old grandfather died in July last year and his reaction to this would have been – interesting.
Take care, pick the team with the best name and join me in celebrating VE Day and following the Rakuten Monkeys…
Dexxter
How can you not pick the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions! Free slushies before every game?
Seriously though. It’s not MLB but it’s still one of the best leagues in the world. And they seem to care more about entertainment. Bring on more bat flips, fist pumps and emotion from the players I say.
ChiSoxCity
Doooooosan Bears!
fisk72
Met Nick Kingham at ST in Bradenton as a Pirate draftee. Very polite & friendly kid. So SK Wyverns for me!
stansfield123
Rakuten Monkeys. No brainer, frankly.
joblo
How could anybody not root for a Hero?
JimmyC
CTBC Brothers for the cutest cheerleaders!
pustule bosey
I am rooting for the tigers – just because as a giants fan you gotta root for matt williams
Astros44
Let’s go giants
puzzle
Go Wyverns!!!
Rcarnivale
KBO games are more entertaining than MLB games in my opinion