Will Kang Jung-ho come back to Nexen?

Kang Jung-ho, Korean infielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates, is now finding himself at the crossroads. “In the event he again is denied a visa, (it is likely that) Kang will request a release from his contract and part ways with the Pirates,” said the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Thursday in an article titled “The rise, and the shame, of Jung Ho Kang,” describing Kang’s rise and fall in his major league career.

Kang, 31, signed with the Pirates through the posting system in 2015, but in December 2016, he was charged with leaving the scene of a DUI accident and was sentenced to an eight-month suspended jail sentence. During the investigation, it was also revealed that this was Kang’s third DUI. The U.S. Embassy denied the renewal of his work visa last year, forcing Kang to play at the Dominican Winter League until he can get back to where he had been playing. Yet, Kang has been released by his Dominican team, Aguilas Cibaenas.

It remains to be seen whether Kang, with limited options, will choose to return to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) and his old team, Nexen Heroes. Even if it were so, he would not be able to avoid punishment, which would be decided upon by the KBO through committee meetings.