S.D.-L.A. TO OPEN 2024 IN S. KOREA
The Padres and Dodgers concluded their first series of 2023 with a game Sunday at Petco Park.
When they meet for the first time next season, it almost certainly will not be a freeway series.
The plan, according to sources, is for the two National League West rivals to open the ’24 season with the first MLB games ever played in South Korea.
The two-game series, which is close to being finalized, is to be played in Seoul in late March and be the first games of the MLB season. After the series, the Padres and Dodgers will return to California for several days to recover from the long trip and play a couple exhibition games in their home ballparks before resuming their seasons.
Both teams will give up a home game.
Padres infielder HaSeong Kim is a star in South Korea, where he played in the Korean Baseball Organization from 2014 through ’20 before signing with the Padres. Every Padres game is televised live in South Korea.
“It’s going to be an honor for our team to go to my country and play a game there,” Kim said Sunday.
“It’s gonna be so fun, and I’m looking forward to it.”
The Dodgers were the first MLB team to have a Korean-born player on their roster, Chan Ho Park in 1994. Park is now an adviser for the Padres.
“It’s going to be a great opportunity to show the world the passion of Korean baseball fans,” Kim said through interpreter Leo Bae. “They love baseball . ... The fans love the Dodgers. They had Chan Ho. They had (pitcher) Hyun Jin Riu. They’re really familiar with the Dodgers. It’s gonna be great. It’s gonna be a really historic.”
It is expected the game
will be played at Gocheok Sky Dome, home of the Kiwoom Heroes. Kim played for the Heroes in 2019 and ‘20.
The Padres played the Giants this past weekend in Mexico City, the first MLB games played in the Mexican capital. While Padres CEO Erik Greupner declined comment Sunday, the team is clearly interested in expanding its global reach.
“I can see every year there’s more Padres fans, and I hear more about Padres and people now know our players too,” Kim said of the team’s presence in Korea. “It’s definitely getting more popular, more famous. Our team obviously has (so) many world class players (that are) well known even in Korea . ... People will love it, love to see them. And also the Dodgers, there’s obviously great players too. So it’s gonna be a blast and fans will love it.”
Remembering Blue
Padres manager Bob Melvin spoke Sunday afternoon of the passing of former longtime MLB pitcher Vida Blue, who died Saturday at age 73.
“Baseball has lost one of the true, true pros and guys that have impacted the game,” Melvin said. “And it’s a sad day.”
Melvin grew up in the Bay Area watching Blue pitch for the A’s. Melvin was 9 years old when Blue went 24-8 with a 1.82 ERA and won the 1971 American League Cy Young award. And Melvin played with Blue, a six-time All-Star who won 209 games, in 1986 with the Giants. Melvin caught Blue’s 200th victory, on April 20, 1986, against the Padres at Candlestick Park.
“I knew Vida really well,” said Melvin, who went on to manage the A’s from 2011 through ’20. “I got to know him as a teammate (and) when he came back to Oakland for certain days. He used to do a pre- and post (show) with the Giants. Every
time we played them, he’d always come down and we always talked. Luckily I got to know Vida Blue really well.”
Revving
Fernando Tatis Jr. has seemingly found his footing at the plate. It hasn’t happened yet on the bases — at least not when he is on first base with an opportunity to steal.
“I think we’re kind of working our way into that,” Melvin said. “But he’s gonna be on a green light for the most part. I think kind of baby steps as far as that goes, still kind of feeling himself. He’s playing every day. I think you’ll start to see that dynamic a little bit more.”
Tatis entered Sunday’s game having attempted just one steal in 14 games since returning from his PED suspension. He was thrown out.
Melvin said Tatis, who reached 50 career home runs and 50 career steals faster than any player in MLB history (172 games), has not always been given the clearance to run this season.
“It goes on and off at times,” Melvin said of the green light. “But yeah, a guy like that, you want to give them as much freedom as you possibly can.”