As the professional baseball season approaches, the variable of “condition management” has emerged. Due to unpredictable weather, the exhibition game schedule has not been carried out smoothly, causing problems for each team.
On the 18th, four out of five KBO League exhibition games scheduled were canceled due to snowfall. This is the first time since March 2018, and the 12th to 15th time since 2001, that exhibition games have been canceled due to snow. Except for the Kiwoom Heroes-Lotte Giants game held at the Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome, all other games were unable to proceed, leaving eight teams that had prepared for the final rehearsal before the opening game unable to do so. The KBO League completed its exhibition game schedule on the 18th and will take a three-day break before opening the regular season on the 22nd.
Disruption of Exhibition Game Schedule
This year’s exhibition games were not the first to be disrupted. On the 17th, the KIA Tigers-SSG Landers game scheduled in Gwangju was canceled due to cold weather. This is the first time since March 2018, and the 13th time since 2001, that an exhibition game was canceled due to cold weather. On the same day, the Hanwha Eagles-Samsung Lions game in Daejeon was shortened to a five-inning game due to chilly weather. Additionally, two games scheduled in Changwon and Sajik on the 15th were canceled due to rain, and the Lotte Giants-KT Wiz game at Sajik on the 16th was declared a no-game after five innings due to rain.
In this situation, a representative from Team A expressed concern, saying, “It is inevitable that there will be disruptions in preparing for the regular season. If the early exhibition game schedule had been canceled, it would have been better, but with the opening game approaching, preparation is not easy. I think it will affect the early part of the season.”
Weather and Player Condition Management
In the chilly weather, preventing player injuries has become a top priority. Especially, starting pitchers are directly affected. A representative from Team B said, “Starting pitchers have a process of increasing their pitch count as the opening game approaches. If they miss a start due to weather issues, they can make up for the scheduled pitches in the bullpen, but it’s less intense than actual games.” Batters also struggle with condition management, as not having real-game experience can impact the early part of the season.
KBO’s Schedule Adjustment
KBO adjusts its schedule flexibly when international competitions like the WBSC Premier12 or the Asia Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) are scheduled after the season. This is to prevent the postseason from being pushed too far back. However, there are no scheduled international competitions this year. The director of Team C analyzed, “(Like last season) there might be many rainouts in the summer, so KBO might have decided to start the season early to secure as many dates as possible. The goal is to finish the fall baseball by October.”
Key Changes and Outlook for the 2025 KBO Season
Season Start Date
The 2025 KBO season begins on March 22, marking the earliest start in history.
Exhibition Games and Spring Training
KBO teams conducted spring training overseas. Major teams trained in the United States, Japan, and Australia. During exhibition games, they tested new rules and systems while checking player conditions.
New Rules and Systems
For the 2025 season, the Automatic Strike System (ABS) has been introduced. This aims to expand the strike zone and automate pitch judgments to enhance game fairness. Additionally, the Pitch Clock has been implemented to reduce game time and increase the pace of the game.
Notable Players
The return of Hyun-Jin Ryu to the KBO has drawn significant attention. He signed an eight-year contract with the Hanwha Eagles and is expected to make a strong impact from the start of the season.
Team Outlook
Each team is focusing on strengthening their lineup and adjusting strategies for the new season. Notably, the KIA Tigers and Samsung Lions have strong rosters, while the LG Twins and SSG Landers are also teams to watch.