With every major sports league still on pause due to the coronavirus pandemic here in the states, you may find yourself inching for something to follow in the sports world. Thankfully, there is still life in the sports world on the other side of our nation. Opening week for the Korean Baseball Organization has kicked off in South Korea as ESPN will be covering one game daily this week. If the pandemic has totally ruined your sleep schedule, you might as stay up for some Korean Baseball. Especially check out the prime-time matchup between the new DC Dinos vs. Samsung Lions on May 7 at 5:30 a.m. EST. Before watching the game, check out our free KBO picks for daily money line and over-under picks. Let’s take a deeper look at each of those 10 teams in the KBO below.
Doosan Bears
If you are a fan of history within a franchise, the Doosan Bears are the team for you. The Bears were the very first established team in the KBO and earned the first championship in league history. They have yet to really slow down in the KBO as they are reigning champions and have won three of the past six titles. Doosan is clearly the powerhouse in the KBO mostly thanks to the 22-year old star Lee Young-Ha
Kia Tigers
The Doosan Bears might be the powerhouse in the KBO, but the Kia Tigers are actually the best franchise team. They have won 11 titles so far since entering the league in 1982 and are the only team to have never lost a title game. They are a perfect 11-0 when entering a championship series. However, they have yet to return back to the holy land since 2017. Maybe 2020 is the year for Kia?
LG Twins
Lotte Giants
Speaking of fan bases, the Lotte Giants are one of the most popular teams in the KBO even despite their dead last record of 48-93-3 in 2019. The Giants were one of the few teams to enter the league when it started and have been loved ever since.
Samsung Lions
Unlike the Detroit Lions, the KBO’s Samsung Lions are known for their rich history of making the playoffs year after year. Coming into the 2020 season, they have the most postseason appearances with 27 and the second-most titles in KBO history (8). Unfortunately, the Lions are in a bit of a funk at the moment as they have not made the playoffs since 2015.
Hanwha Eagles
Now, this is pretty cool. In 1959, Hanwha had become the first domestic manufacturer of dynamite in South Korea, which led up to the Hanwha Eagles being known as one of the most “explosive” teams. They are known for their powerful lineups, but they might want to focus on some pitching as that has led to their downfall. Hanwha has yet to earn a playoff victory since 2007.
SK Wyverns
Entering the league in 2000, the SK Wyerns had everything for a perfect championship run in 2019. Unfortunately, they blew a huge regular season led to the Doosan Bears and got swept in the first round of the playoffs. Hopefully, it will not take another 20 years for the Wyverns to reach potential again.
Kiwoom Heroes
The Kiwoom Heroes entered the league in 2008 and have been pretty consistent as of late. They nearly got their first Korean Baseball championship title in 2019 but should be able to compete at the same level for the next 3-5 years.
NC Dinos
The NC Dinos might have one of the coolest names in the league, but that’s is about it. They have some of the best sluggers on the team with Sung-bum Na and Park Min-Woo but have barely made the playoffs in recent years and have not gotten past the first round. I cannot wait for the Dinos to win their first championship.
