PITTSBURGH _ The path is clear for former Pirates infielder Jung-Ho Kang to return to the Korea Baseball Organization, although it will take some time.
The KBO recently made a decision on Kang's eligibility after he filed for reinstatement from the "voluntarily retired" list last Thursday.
With three DUIs on his record, Kang was potentially looking at a three-year ban, although the KBO suspended him for just one year once he comes off that list and joins a team. (Kang's rights are currently held by his former team, the Kiwoom Heroes.)
Kang will also be required to perform 300 hours of community service as part of the agreement.
Bringing Kang _ once a tremendous KBO player who hit 40 home runs in 2014 and led the league in slugging percentage (.739) and OPS (1.198) _ back will be the Heroes' call since Kang was not a free agent when he was posted and signed with the Pirates.
Kiwoom can either bring Kang back after it waits out his suspension or grant him permission to sign with another team.
Kang's DUIs came in August 2009, May 2011 and December 2016, when he drove into a guardrail in Seoul, South Korea, and fled the scene. Work visa issues stemming from the DUI trouble limited Kang to just three MLB games between 2017-18.
"Over time, I came to realize just how important baseball is to me," Kang said in a statement issued by his agency. "I took putting on a uniform and getting on the field for granted, and I was a fool not to see how precious that was. I know I don't deserve to be saying this, but I would love one final opportunity to play baseball."
Kang finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2015, producing a slash line of .287/.355/.461 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in 126 games. The next year, Kang had 21 home runs and 62 RBIs before the DUI issues resurfaced.
The Pirates released Kang last August after he slashed just .169/.222/.395 in 65 games, striking out 60 times in 172 at-bats.
