Jul 6, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang (27) hits a two run double off of St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Jonathan Broxton (not pictured) during the seventh inning at Busch Stadium. Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Embattled third baseman Jung Ho Kang will not be able to report to Pittsburgh Pirates’ spring training on time because of an ongoing legal situation in his native South Korea, the team announced Tuesday.
Kang, 29, is expected to go on trial for DUI-related charges on Feb. 22.
“We have been staying in close contact with Jung Ho, his representatives and his counsel throughout the process,” a Pirates’ statement read. “All have been extremely forthcoming and diligent in their efforts to resolve matters in Korea so that Jung Ho can return in time to participate in the Club’s preparation for the 2017 season.
” … We will continue to do whatever we can to assist he and his representatives in their efforts to resolve all necessary matters so that Jung Ho will be able to travel to the United States to prepare for and to play in the 2017 season, but his reporting date remains undetermined.”
Pittsburgh holds its first full-squad workouts on Friday.
Kang was arrested in December and charged with leaving the scene of a DUI accident near a Seoul subway station with a blood alcohol level 0.084 (the legal limit in South Korea is 0.05).
Kang signed a four-year, $11 million contract with the Pirates in 2015 after spending nine seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization. Last season, Kang hit .255 with 21 home runs and 62 RBIs in 103 games.
