The KBO teams and their Colorado Rockies comparisons

It’s taken far too long for the players and owners to basically agree that Rob Manfred implementing a 60-game season is the right move.

The public battles that we all knew were leading nowhere have had me thirsting for baseball somewhere … anywhere. Luckily, South Korea found a way to still play baseball among this unprecedented pandemic and I, for one, am thankful for it.

The KBO (Korean Baseball Organization) is about 40 games deep in its schedule and it’s a fantastic source of early morning entertainment for those of you who fancy to wake up at 3:30 a.m. (Mountain time) on a weekday. I’ve nicknamed it “Insomnia Ball” as such, but I can’t knock it as I’ve certainly streamed it on my phone probably one or 27 times at 4:45 a.m. when I couldn’t get back to sleep. It’s probably the only time I’ll admit that the Eastern Time Zone is better for viewing a sport, but I digress.

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Between the pandemic leading to unruly negotiations between the MLBPA and MLB owners, plus the legalization of sports gambling in Colorado, it’s opened up the gates for a new league to gain my interests and the KBO has done just that. I’m hooked and it’s helping me with my greatly needed baseball fix. Not to mention that former Colorado Rockies pitcher Seunghwan Oh is actually back in the league with the Samsung Lions and another former Rockies player, Brandon Barnes, just signed a deal with the Hanwha Eagles. LOCAL CONNECTIONS!

But you need to know more about the KBO than that, though. So I’m going to introduce you to one player from each KBO team and give you their best Rockies player comparison based off the stat line they’ve put up so far this season. We’ll focus less on what we call “Import” players (generally former MLB players from the states) and instead focus on more of the homegrown South Korean talent that you may just see on an MLB roster some day soon.

Doosan Bears – Choi Joo-Hwan (2B)

BA/OBP/SLG: .286/.355/.531
wRC+: 123
BB%: 9.0%
K%: 11.4%
ISO: .245

Rockies Player Comparison: Troy Tulowitzki, 2011

BA/OBP/SLG: .302/.372/.544
wRC+: 133
BB%: 9.7%
K%: 13.0%
ISO: .242

Joo-Hwan is in his 12th season in the KBO, all with the Doosan Bears. The second baseman is enjoying his second highest career wRC+ and is currently tied with Kim Jae-Hwan for the most HRs on the Bears (eight). This lefty crushes the ball. And any time you can put up a stat line similar to Tulo’s (when he was a Rockie, mind you) then you’re doing something right.

And hey, he’s even got a bit of a glove to go with that bat:

Hanwha Eagles – Kim Min-woo (SP)

ERA- 5.26
FIP- 5.70
WHIP- 1.39
BB%- 8.3%
K%- 13.9%

Rockies Player Comparison- Jeff Hoffman, 2019

ERA- 6.56
FIP- 6.80
WHIP- 1.59
BB%- 10.8%
K%- 21.6%

So your first thought is probably something along the lines of, “Well, that’s not the greatest stat line in the world.” And you’d be correct. But sometimes it’s tough to find something better from a team who’s already lost 18 straight this season, had its coach resign after the 14th loss in that streak, and demoted 10 players from their roster to the minors shortly after. It has not been Hanwha’s year to say the least.

But Min-woo comps pretty similarly to Hoffman. Both have some decent stuff in their arsenal but are still underperforming. This is actually his second-best ERA of his career, and that’s progress, but there’s still work to be done. Both him and Hoffman could benefit from extended time in low stress situations due to their teams already being out of the race (oh wow, that sounds so familiar). Still didn’t stop Min-woo from being featured by Rob Friedman on Twitter, though:

Kia Tigers – Sang Yoo-min (1B)

BA/OBP/SLG: .333/.396/.456
wRC+: 127
BB%: 8.9%
K%: 17.8%
ISO: .122

Rockies Player Comparison: Carlos Gonzalez, 2011

BA/OBP/SLG: .295/.363/.526
wRC+: 126
BB%: 8.9%
K%: 19.4%
ISO: .231

Is there anything better than a sweet, sweet left-handed swing that can crush bombs? Well then look no further. Yoo-min has found his stride ever since he joined the Tigers, hitting for a wRC+ no less than 117 in the three seasons he’s played for them. Prior to that, he hadn’t broken 100 (albeit in limited time). The 31-year-old first baseman is playing well and it doesn’t hurt that he’s doing in on the KBO’s most successful franchise.

KT Wiz Suwon – Kang Baek-ho (OF)

BA/OBP/SLG: .350/.407/.740
wRC+: 186
BB%: 9.7%
K%: 14.2%
ISO: .390

Rockies Player Comparison: Larry Walker, 1997

BA/OBP/SLG: .366/.452/.720
wRC+: 177
BB%: 11.7%
K%: 13.6%
ISO: .354

You want an unrealistic stat line from a lefty that can CRUSH the ball? Well then look no further:

I mean look at that! There’s no way a team that puts him in the outfield is five games under .500 and is currently in eighth place out of 10 teams. No way at all. Don’t show me the standings because I know that anyone with a player who’s outperforming 1997 Larry Walker is easily one of the best teams and definitely not in eighth place in a 10-team race.

What do you mean I’m wrong? I don’t believe you.

The 2018 KBO Rookie of the Year is enjoying his best season so far and has already cranked out 10 homers. He hit 29 in 138 games in 2018. But with 10 already through 26 games in 2020? Yeah, he’ll pass that with ease. The dude rakes.

LG Twins – Yoo Kang-nam (C)

BA/OBP/SLG: .314/.375/.463
wRC+: 119
BB%: 5.9%
K%: 18.4%
ISO: .149

Rockies Player Comparison: Matt Holliday, 2005

BA/OBP/SLG: .307/.361/.505
wRC+: 116
BB%: 6.8%
K%: 15.0%
ISO: .198

I know, I know. It’s the LG Twins and the obvious Rockies comparison is Roberto Ramos, former Albuquerque Isotope and current LG Twin. But I make the rules and that would be way too obvious … but yes, Ramos would make a great Rockie, wouldn’t he?

Regardless, no one has as awesome of a nickname as Kang-nam, which is “Kang-nam Style.” Stop doing the dance, I know you’re doing it. Also, LOOK AT THAT BAT FLIP.

And Kang-nam is a catcher. With a comparison like Matt Holliday, it’s fair to wonder: If Kang-nam was a Padre in 2007, would he have let Matt Holliday touch home? I mean Matt Holliday definitely touched home in 2007. But if Kang-nam was the catcher? Maybe a different story.

Lotte Giants – Jeon Jun-woo (DH)

BA/OBP/SLG: .294/.337/.512
wRC+: 119
BB%: 5.5%
K%: 16.6%
ISO: .218

Rockies Player Comparison: Charlie Blackmon, 2016

BA/OBP/SLG: .324/.381/.552
wRC+: 132
BB%: 6.7%
K%: 15.9%
ISO: .228

FINALLY…a Giants player I can get behind. I mean, the KBO is known for its bat flips and LOOK AT THIS ONE LIKE OH MY GOD!

I mean those jerseys too. They’re amazing. And the blue ones that the guy at 20 seconds in is wearing? I’m ready to spend all my money to get those shipped overseas.

Jun-woo is in his 13th KBO season and is actually under-performing as far as wRC+ goes. But he’s got time to turn it around. And he’s more like our bearded wonder than you know as he used to hit leadoff in seasons past. AND he’s a DH. Too on the nose? I know.

NC Dinos – Chang-Mo Koo (SP)

ERA- 0.82
FIP- 2.45
WHIP- 0.65
BB%- 5.6%
K%- 31.0%

Rockies Player Comparison- Ubaldo Jimenez, 2010 (first eight starts)

ERA- 1.12
FIP- 2.67
WHIP- 0.99
BB%- 9.8%
K%- 25.1%

Chang-mo Koo is the KBO MVP so far and it’s not hard to see way. The dude is dealing. He’s probably the most likely KBO player that you’re going to see on an MLB roster in the near future and is just owning the league right now. The Dinos are in first place by 3.5 games and Koo is a big reason why.

The other NC Dinos-Rockies comparison is Swole Daddy vs Dinger, but let’s be real….Swole Daddy would CRUSH Dinger.

Samsung Lions – Lee Hak-ju (SS)

BA/OBP/SLG: .273/.341/.455
wRC+: 102
BB%: 10.0%
K%: 25.4%
ISO: .182

Rockies Player Comparison: Mark Reynolds, 2017

BA/OBP/SLG: .267/.352/.487
wRC+: 105
BB%: 11.6%
K%: 29.5%
ISO: .219

Back when Lee Hak-ju was Marky Mark, this is how we used to make the party start…

OK, those aren’t the lyrics but wouldn’t that be just super cool? This lefty is in his second year in the KBO after spending nine seasons in the minors with the Cubs, Rays, and Giants. He’s got some nice oppo pop too that may impress Bud Black:

And while his comparison based off his stat line is Mark Reynolds, doesn’t his glove remind you of a couple other Rockies shortstops?

SK Wyverns – Choi Jeong (DH)

BA/OBP/SLG: .267/.352/.487
wRC+: 136
BB%: 15.2%
K%: 14.0%
ISO: .220

Rockies Player Comparison: Todd Helton, 2002

BA/OBP/SLG: .329/.429/.577
wRC+: 141
BB%: 14.8%
K%: 13.6%
ISO: .248

Your first thought is probably, “Dude, what’s a Wyvern?” And honestly that was mine too. Basically it’s a dragon with a triangle-tipped tail. The more you know, right?

This Wyvern is seasoned for sure as he’s in his 16th KBO season, all with the Wyverns. Someone who spends their entire career with one team? We like that kind of player.

The Wyverns aren’t having the best of seasons so far, but I’m a fan of Choi Jeong as this walkoff homer assured that the under would hit in this game, meaning my bet on DraftKings hit and got me an extra five bucks (which I greatly appreciated):

So there are your KBO comparisons to the Rockies. We’re likely to have a season starting at the end of July with how things are looking right now. But if you need some baseball entertainment in the meantime, then the KBO can hold you over. And hey, maybe one of these guys will catch you eye at 5 a.m. You never know!