CINCINNATI — As some of the Pirates' veterans trickled into the visitors clubhouse and a few starting pitchers relaxed on a nearby couch, Jung Ho Kang stood by a locker stall waiting to speak with the media Friday afternoon. Though the third baseman was not in the starting lineup, he was readying to potentially play his first big league game in almost two years.
Kang didn't sleep much the night before, and he didn't have much time to meet all of his new teammates, most of whom he'd never spoken to before. At 31 years old, he was already among the oldest players available on Clint Hurdle's lineup card for the series opener against the Reds at Great American Ball Park. Yet, he appeared as gregarious as a rookie recalled for the first time.
Kang was unable to enter the United States last year after being convicted of a third DUI in his native South Korea, preventing him from playing for the Pirates. This could potentially be his first game since Oct. 2, 2016, a reality that was not lost on him after joining the team Friday for the final three games of the season.
"Last night I had trouble sleeping with a lot of mixed emotions and excitement," Kang said through interpreter Mark Kim. "Just wanted to get back here and see my teammates and staff, the coaching staff. Everyone’s been really generous in welcoming me back today, so it’s been great so far."
Clint Hurdle would not tell reporters his plan to give Kang playing time this weekend other than he intends to give the former National League Rookie of the Year finalist one start. Kang, two years removed from hitting 21 home runs and driving in 62 runs, has appeared in only five instructional league games since undergoing surgery on his left wrist in August, an injury suffered while attempting to steal second base this July in Triple-A Indianapolis.
Kang had played only five games in the fall instructional league this month and only seven with Triple-A Indianapolis earlier this season before injuring his left wrist. He batted .235 with no home runs and five RBIs in 34 at-bats at Indy, splitting time between third base and shortstop. He arrives as the Pirates, 80-78, try to finish above .500 and with the front office facing a decision whether or not to pick up his $5.5 million option for 2019.
This weekend won't determine which direction they choose, Neal Huntington and Hurdle both said. However, they'll closely monitor how Kang interacts off the field. Hurdle and Kang met briefly in the visiting manager's office Friday morning and will talk more at length Saturday. Hurdle wanted to give Kang more time to address his teammates in some form, though he declined to discuss what he expected will be said.
"The reports have been positive," Hurdle said. "The work’s been done. There’s really no more value in having him remain at the instructional league program. There comes a point in time, I do think, in players that have had different experience, have played above that level, the instructional league program runs its gamut. He worked hard to try and put himself in position to come back before the season ended. ... I think we want to honor the responsibility and the work that he put in to get back here. There may be a start here for him, use him off the bench. Probably would like to get him out here one game in a start, so stay tuned."
That echoed Huntington's thoughts Thursday at Wrigley Field, when the general manager said the Pirates wanted to "respect" the work Kang did to return from the wrist injury. On the other hand, the majority of Kang's two-year-long absence from the majors was the result of a third DUI conviction. He didn't tell his employer about the first two arrests, either. Kang avoided jail time but his indiscretions prevented him from receiving a work visa.
He's also had to follow Major League Baseball's joint treatment program, the details of which haven't been disclosed.
"I’ve been putting a lot of effort into it and been honoring the program so far and I plan to continue to do that during the offseason," Kang said.
Efforts made by the Pirates and Kang's former agent, Alan Nero, helped him finally gain entrance into the country this April, and Kang reported to Pirate City shortly thereafter. One month later, he told a small group of reporters, including DKPittsburghSports.com, he planned to no longer drink and expressed regret for not disclosing his previous convictions to the Pirates.
During his interview with reporters Friday, Kang called his absence a time for "self-reflection," and the only regret expressed was not showing "more appreciation for the fans in Pittsburgh." He also said he hasn't given much thought to his future beyond this weekend. His work visa expires in December, and he plans to return to Pittsburgh.
"I worked really hard to get back to this point and stay healthy, and I think Neal and Clint have really honored that," Kang said. "They understood what kind of work I put in so far. So I’m really appreciative of that and I’d like to show my good response to that and stay healthy during the offseason and hopefully we’ll go from there after that."
