With more than 30 pitchers per team... it is regrettable that we must rely on the Asia quota [Kim In-sik's One Word]

*This content was translated by AI.

The KBO League introduced the Asia quota system starting this season. It begins with one player per team, totaling 10 players, and approximately 15 players are brought in throughout the season including mid-season replacements. Most of them are pitchers.

The very existence of such a system suggests that our players' skills are insufficient, does it not? As a senior figure, I find this deeply regrettable.

Moreover, compared to Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States or Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan, the KBO League offers many advantages for teams in terms of game operations.

The number of players on a game roster is one more than that of the U.S. and Japan based on eligible players, and during expanded rosters, 4 to 6 additional players can participate. The number of video review requests also differs: while MLB allows only one request per team including extra innings, KBO permits two requests, with an additional one if the game goes into extra innings. Furthermore, the ABS zone in the KBO League is also more favorable for pitchers.

According to the February 2026 announcement, there are a total of 621 players affiliated with the KBO League this year. Among them, 317 (51%) are pitchers, accounting for more than half. Although each of the ten teams holds an average of over 30 pitchers, it seems they are not making full use of these favorable conditions. This reality of Korean baseball may be one of the reasons why Choi Geun (CEO) has failed to achieve strong results in international competitions.

While a player's talent and effort are important, I believe coaches also bear responsibility. They must teach players not only technical skills but also how to think independently and engage in baseball that requires strategic thinking. I hope coaching staffs will dedicate more attention to their guidance, and that players will train with utmost dedication to improve their abilities.

I believe the upcoming 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Summer Asian Games in late September will serve as a benchmark for assessing the current state of Korean baseball. In this tournament, strike-ball judgments will be made by umpires rather than the ABS system. While our pitchers may perform well enough within Asia, this event will provide an opportunity to compare the differences between domestic ABS usage and international standards.

Finally, following recent cancellations due to extreme heat, the issue of whether each team should play 144 games per season has resurfaced. I believe there are pros and cons to this matter, depending on one's perspective. Since the number of games is closely tied to broadcasting rights and ticket revenue, it is necessary for the ten clubs and the KBO (Korea Baseball Organization) to find the most suitable solution.

If game cancellations due to extreme heat increase in the future, another option could be shortening the All-Star break period. MLB teams rest for only about three to four days, whereas KBO teams take a six-day break.

Additionally, it is better to raise issues regarding league operations after the entire season has concluded. Otherwise, complaints may appear as grievances motivated by self-interest or team-specific advantages.

/Kim In-sik, former manager of the Korean national baseball team (currently a senior advisor to the KBO)

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*This content was translated by AI.