Kang’s trial starts today in Seoul
Outcome could play a major role in how season plays out for Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. — Jung Ho Kang was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for the first day of his trial for a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol in Seoul, South Korea.
The trial was expected to begin at 4 p.m. locally, according to Yonhap News, which is 2 a.m. Eastern.
Kang agreed to participate in a treatment program recommended by a joint panel agreed upon by Major League Baseball and the player’s union, his agent told the Post-Gazette earlier this month, but his case — Kang’s third DUI-related arrest since 2009 — proceeded to trial anyway.
Kang, currently absent from Pirates spring training, was arrested Dec. 2 after crashing into a guardrail in Seoul and fleeing the scene. A passenger claimed to be the driver, but police determined Kang drove. At the time, the Pirates said they were not aware of the previous DUIs.
“Clearly, the more you know, the better off you are,” owner Bob Nutting said Tuesday.
“What we need to focus on now is where we are right now, and clearly it’s not an ideal circumstance. We are absolutely disappointed that he has put himself and the organization in this circumstance. As importantly, he is disappointed and embarrassed that he has put the team in this place as well.”
Nutting said he hoped Kang would “work through his challenges in Korea” and be able to return to the United States.
The Pirates would “prefer not to be here,” he added, but are eager to help.
“I think, frankly, we’ll be well positioned to help Jung Ho get back on his feet, get himself re-established, be in a community that will support him,” Nutting said. “At the same time, we will hold high level of expectation and demands on him.”
Nutting declined to say whether Kang might face discipline from the team, saying it was “probably not appropriate” to speak about that before the case has passed through the legal system.
Bell back, Cervelli not
First baseman Josh Bell was a full participant in fielding drills Tuesday and faced live pitching for the first time since having minor knee surgery Feb. 1. He stepped into the batter’s box against right-handers Jameson Taillon, Tyler Glasnow and Ivan Nova, among a couple of others.
“Good to see him in camp now working hard to get a little bit better,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
Catcher Francisco Cervelli (foot) was limited to playing catch and taking batting practice in the cage. He doesn’t anticipate the pain on the bottom of his right foot, which began Sunday, will cause him to miss reporting to Team Italy March 5 for the World Baseball Classic.
“I’ve got time,” he said. “But I’ve got to feel 100 percent to go there.”
Spring starters
Hurdle has held off on naming his opening-day starting pitcher, but he named his starters for the spring-opening split-squad games Saturday. Lefthander Steven Brault, a candidate for the Pirates’ No. 5 starter job, will start at LECOM Park against the Baltimore Orioles, while veteran right-hander Josh Lindblom will start against the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte, Fla.
Scheduled to pitch against Baltimore are, in order, Trevor Williams, Tony Watson, Daniel Hudson, Felipe Rivero, Juan Nicasio, Antonio Bastardo, A.J. Schugel and Pat Light.
The other pitchers against Tampa Bay will be Tyler Eppler, Dan Runzler, Edgar Santana, Jared Lakind, Dovydas Neverauskas and Cody Dickson. All are expected to pitch one inning, with several minor leaguers added to the respective rosters to clean up any extra work.