SOUTH KOREA – A total of 27 players are eligible to file for free agency in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), the league announced earlier this month.

The eligible free agent list consists of seven pitchers, nine infielders, six outfielders and five catchers.

Hanwha Eagles’ first baseman Kim Tae-kyun is the top free agent and will receive offers from both KBO and Japanese clubs. A career .310 hitter, Kim led the KBO in home runs in 2008.

Korean players become eligible for free agency after playing in at least 66 percent of the games (133 innings for pitchers) in each of nine seasons. And, if a player is registered with a first-league team for more than 150 days, that counts as a full season, even if the player does not step on the field.

2009 KBO POTENTIAL FREE AGENTS:

HANWHA EAGLES
Jeong Min-cheol (P), Kim Tae-gyun (INF), Lee Beom-ho (INF), Kim Min-jae (INF), Kang Dong-woo (INF) and Lee Do-hyeong (C).

KIA TIGERS
Lee Dae-jin (P), Jang Seong-ho (INF), Lee Jong-beom (OF) and Kim Sang-hoon (c).

LG TWINS
Oh Sang-min (P), Park Ji-cheol (P), Park Jong-ho (INF) and Kim Jeong-min (C).

LOTTE GIANTS
Park Hyeon-seung (INF) and Choi Ki-moon (C).

SAMSUNG LIONS
Park Han-yi (OF).

SEOUL HEROES
Jeon Joon-ho (P), Kim Su-kyeong (P), Lee Soong-yeong (INF), Song Ji-man (OF), Jeon Joon-ho (OF) and Kim Dong-su (C).

SK WYVERNS
Ga Deuk-yeom (P), Ahn Kyeong-hyeon (INF), Son Ji-hwan (INF) and Park Jae-hong (OF).

Photo courtesy of Koreabaseball.blogspot.com

Tags: South Korea