*This content was translated by AI.
The KBO exhibition game, which marks the start of the 2026 KBO league, will be held at 1 p.m. on the 12th at five stadiums in Icheon (Kiwoom - Doosan), Daejeon (Samsung-Hanwha), Gwangju (SSG-KIA), Sajik (KT-Lotte), and Masan (LG-NC).
Starting with the opening game on this day, a total of 60 games will be played, 12 games per team until March 24, and overtime and doubleheader will not be played.
All the newly changed regulations for the 2026 KBO League regular season will be applied to the exhibition game. The pitch clock shortened the pitch interval by 2 seconds compared to the previous year, reducing the pitch interval to 18 seconds when there was no runner and 23 seconds when there was a runner.
The check-swing video reading (twice per team, keeping the opportunity in case of reversal) introduced in the middle of last season will be implemented again this year. Strategic overruns that occur at second and third bases will also be newly added to the video review target. The first and second basemen will play with wireless intercoms to reduce the time required to read the video.
The new rules for the injured list also apply. Each club may apply for the player's injured list within three days of the announcement of the opening game entry for injuries that have occurred in matches and training after the opening day of the exhibition game.
The KBO League has boasted of its enthusiasm since last year's exhibition game, which surpassed 10 million spectators for the second consecutive year and broke the record for the largest number of spectators (12,312,519). A total of 321,763 spectators were attracted to 42 games, setting a new record for the largest number of spectators ever in exhibition games. The average attendance per game was 7,661, which was also the highest ever.
The exhibition games have been held since 1983, with the exception of 2020, which was canceled due to COVID-19. There have been a total of six cases in which the No. 1 team in the exhibition game has won the Korean Series (excluding the two major leagues in 1999-2000). Haitai in 1987, Lotte in 1992, Haitai in 1993, Hyundai in 1998, Samsung in 2002, and SK in 2007 ranked first in the exhibition games, and then drove the momentum to win the Korean Series. LG, which won the Korean Series last year, ranked fifth in the exhibition game.
Oh Myung-jin (Doosan), who ranked No. 1 in batting average with a batting average of 0.407 in exhibition games last season, continued his performance in the regular season. He played 107 games and was responsible for the most defensive innings (488 innings) by the second baseman in the team, and was reborn as the future of Doosan's infield with a batting average of 0.263, four homers and 41 RBIs.
In the pitching category, Ponce (former Hanwha) played in two exhibition games and tied for first place in multiple wins and nine scoreless innings, raising expectations for his regular season performance. In the pennant race that followed, Ponce left the pitcher with 17 wins, 1 loss, 252 strikeouts, and a 1.89 ERA in 29 games and became a four-time pitcher (multiple wins, strikeouts, ERA, winning percentage). He swept the season MVP and pitcher Golden Glove along with the KBO league's record for the most strikeouts in a single season.
Heroes who miraculously brought Korean baseball to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) are also expected to be seen. The WBC quarterfinals will be held from the 14th to the 18th. After the tournament, the players returning home will return to their respective teams and show their fans.
Meanwhile, the 2026 KBO exhibition game can be watched directly at the stadium, as well as through five sports cable channels (KBSN Sports, MBC Sports Plus, SBS Sports, SPOTV, and SPOTV2) and OTT platform TVING.
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*This content was translated by AI.
