The 2026 season brought mixed results for South Korean players in Major League Baseball, with several struggling to secure regular roles or match expectations.
Lee Jung-hoo was the most consistent Korean major leaguer in terms of playing time, appearing in 143 games and batting .276 with 10 home runs, 57 RBIs and a .724 OPS.
Lee had productive stretches early and midway through the season but was less consistent over the rest of the year. His batting average improved from .266 last season, though his OPS slipped from .734.
Kim Ha-seong had a difficult year after a finger tendon injury and surgery delayed the start of his season.
He appeared in 46 games and batted .116 with no home runs, nine RBIs and a .359 OPS. Kim, who won a Gold Glove in 2023, had signed a one-year, $20 million contract with Atlanta for 2026 but was unable to make his usual contribution at the plate after returning.
Kim Hye-seong appeared in 43 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers, batting .259 with one home run, 11 RBIs and a .651 OPS.
He spent much of the season in the minor leagues and was mainly used as a pinch hitter, pinch runner and defensive replacement in the postseason. With strong competition for infield positions in Los Angeles, Kim was unable to establish himself as a regular starter.
Song Sung-moon also found the transition from the KBO to the majors challenging.
After batting .315 with 26 home runs and a .917 OPS in the KBO, Song hit .191 with one home run, 17 RBIs and a .536 OPS in 78 games for San Diego.
Reliever Go Woo-suk made four major league appearances, pitching four innings with a 9.00 ERA and 2.50 WHIP.
The small sample size makes it difficult to assess his overall ability, but he was unable to establish a regular role in the majors this season.
Overall, 2026 was a challenging season for South Korea‘s major leaguers, with Lee Jung-hoo providing the most regular production while several others struggled with injuries, limited opportunities or adjustment to the majors.
(This article was produced with the assistance of AI. — Ed.)