KBO Baseball Resumes After Unprecedented Heat Wave Break

The Korea Baseball Organization resumed its season on Tuesday with five games across the country following an unprecedented midseason break caused by a record breaking heat wave. The league had previously canceled all remaining games of the prior week after oppressive conditions led to dozens of fans being treated for heat related illnesses during a game between the LG Twins and the SSG Landers in Incheon, where one fan fell unconscious. To prioritize the safety of players and fans, the KBO also announced that games will now start at 7 p.m. until further notice, shifting from the usual 6:30 p.m. weeknight and 6 p.m. weekend start times.

Tuesday served as a reset for the league, allowing all 10 teams to restart their rotations and field their top starting pitchers. At Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, the Doosan Bears started ace Gwak Been against the Hanwha Eagles' Wang Yan-Cheng. Doosan manager Kim Won-hyong expressed a mix of relief and concern, noting that while players received a needed breather, their timing at the plate might be affected by the layoff. The Bears entered the break on a three game winning streak, placing them 1.5 games behind the LG Twins.

LG Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb stated that the break allowed his team to regroup after a poor July performance where they fell from first to third place. Youm used the hiatus to adjust his rotation, replacing Lachlan Wells with sophomore Park Si-won as the number five starter. Similarly, the Kiwoom Heroes benefited from the pause, as it provided their ace, Raul Alcantara, additional time to recover from elbow problems before his scheduled return on Thursday.