Reds Waive Bong; Will Return to Korea

It seems that Bong Jung-keun, the 26 year-old Cincinnati Reds player, will be returning to Korea.

It has been confirmed that Cincinnati team, who owns the rights to him, has asked to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) through the Major League commission how to transfer him.

Bong, who has been on the waiver list of the team before the season’s start, is currently playing with the AA Chattanooga Lookouts. His record for the season is one win, one loss with an ERA of 5.09.

After quitting Shinil High School in 1997 to enter the majors, Bong does not have any restrictions in coming back to Korea according to KBO rules, because he left before January 1, 1999.

If Bong is to play in Korea, first he should submit an application form to the KBO before June 5, the deadline of pro baseball’s first round draft. Afterwards, KBO will report this to Doosan and LG, who have priority negotiations rights to the Seoul native Bong, and the teams can announce whether or not they reached a contract within two weeks.

Bong started his life in the big leagues with the Atlanta Braves in 2002 and moved to Cincinnati in 2004. His major league career record, which has shuttled from the majors to the minors, is seven wins, four losses, and one save with an ERA of 5.17.

On the other hand, the active homerun leader Barry Bonds, who plays for the San Francisco Giants, hit his 712th homerun, and is two short of the second place all-time homerun leader Babe Ruth. Hank Aaron is the all time homerun leader with 755.

On May 3, Bonds started in a home field game against San Diego Padres and hit a one-run homer off right-hander Scott Linebrink in the eighth, with his team trailing 2-5, after going to a full count. However, the Giants failed to score after Bonds’ homer, and lost 3-5.