KBO League Aims to Start Regular Season in Early May... "Early May Opening Is the Deadline for 144-Game Format"

"Scheduled to be initially confirmed at the board meeting on the 14th, the opening day"

Ryu Dae-hwan, Secretary General of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), is talking with team directors at the KBO Emergency Executive Committee held at the Baseball Hall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 7th. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Seul-gi] The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has outlined the roadmap for the 2020 KBO League season opening. The inter-team exchange practice games, which had been postponed, will begin on the 21st, and the season is scheduled to open in early May.

On the 7th, KBO held an emergency executive committee meeting at the Baseball Hall in Dogok-dong, Seoul, to discuss future countermeasures related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) situation.

All 10 team directors attended the meeting, including KBO Secretary General Ryu Dae-hwan, Kim Tae-ryong (Doosan Bears), Kim Chi-hyun (Kiwoom Heroes), Son Cha-hoon (SK Wyverns), Cha Myung-seok (LG Twins), Kim Jong-moon (NC Dinos), Lee Soong-yong (KT Wiz), Jo Gye-hyun (KIA Tigers), Hong Joon-hak (Samsung Lions), Jung Min-chul (Hanwha Eagles), and Sung Min-kyu (Lotte Giants).

Secretary General Ryu said, "We will monitor the social trends, including the number of confirmed cases, moment by moment for two weeks, and on the premise that the COVID-19 situation gradually eases and stabilizes, we will prepare to open the season according to this schedule." The opening date is expected to be preliminarily confirmed at the board meeting scheduled for the 14th.

At the executive committee meeting on the 31st of last month, KBO resolved to postpone the regular season opening from late April to early May, and in this meeting, the plan to open in April was removed.

Secretary General Ryu stated, "We will first consider starting practice games on the 21st. The 10 teams will play at least 4 and up to 6 games at home, focusing on nearby locations."

He added, "If the season opens in early May, the 144-game system per team can be maintained, and by scheduling doubleheaders and Monday games, the schedule can be completed by the end of November at the latest. Early May is the deadline for the 144-game system. If the opening is delayed further, the season will have to be shortened. We will observe the trend until the board meeting scheduled for the 14th, but if the spread subsides, a specific opening date will be announced."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.