Obtaining a visa to re-enter the United States was only one step in Jung Ho Kang's mission to return to the major leagues. Kang, who was cleared to rejoin the Pirates late last month, has progressed to playing seven innings in extended spring training games.
He even hit a home run Saturday afternoon. However, Neal Huntington told reporters before first pitch Sunday at PNC Park that Kang has performed like a player who needs to face more live pitching, and the Pirates have yet to determine when or if the 31-year-old third baseman is ready for the next step.
"Continues to work hard," Huntington said. "He continues to do everything he can do to get back to being the best player he’s going to be. ... He’s in that spring training mode right now where it’s five innings on, five innings off, and start to build up to seven innings and off. He’s had a handful of live game opportunities and has been fine. At times (he) shows he hasn’t played competitively, other than the short stint in the Dominican Republic, in a long time. And at times (he) shows he can still hit a ball and still play the game."
Kang has not played in a game for the Pirates since Oct. 2, 2016. He crashed a BMW through a guard rail in Seoul, South Korea less than three months later. He was later convicted of driving under the influence, receiving an eight-month suspended sentence in March 2017, and he lost an appeal in May. Kang was not granted a visa — it was his third DUI in South Korea since 2009 — and was unable to play for the Pirates in 2017.
Kang’s application for a visa was denied by the US State Department prior to last season, and the Pirates placed him on the restricted list. He then chose to play in the Dominican Winter League, where he joined Aguilas Cibaenas in October, only to be released after 24 games when he batted .143/.219/.202 with only three extra-base hits, including one home run, and 31 strikeouts to eight walks.
Kang remained in the country, though, taking ground balls, running, hitting off a pitching machine and doing coach-pitch batting practice to prepare himself for when or if he finally received his visa. That finally came last month and his immigration attorney broke the news by tweeting a picture of he and Kang at the airport.
Kang hit 21 home runs with a .354 on-base percentage in 103 games in 2016, and he was accused of sexual assault in June 2016, although charges were not filed against him after investigators could not locate his accuser. He was also a key cog for the Pirates’ 98-win season in 2015, batting .287/.355/.461 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in 126 games, finishing third in rookie of the year voting for the season after he played nine years in the Korea Baseball Organization.
He is participating in Major League Baseball’s joint treatment program and reported to Pirate City earlier this month. Shortly after his arrival, Huntington told reporters Kang was a "long ways away" from joining the Pirates. That hasn't changed, either.
"We’re still a ways away from really being able to truly have the feel for what we think is best for him in his progression," Huntington said. "Again, we still need to get game at-bats. As [Startling] Marte showed us a year ago, it’s hard to sit for an extended period of time and come back and be competitive at the major league level and do it in 15 days. It’s a long time of extended at-bats … He reminds us this game is hard. Kang is going to need at-bats."