Samsung Lions in dilemma over pitchers facing gambling charges
SEOUL, March 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean baseball club Samsung Lions have a dilemma over using two of their pitchers facing gambling charges, as the police investigation drags on.
Starter Yun Sung-hwan and reliever An Ji-man first faced charges last fall, and they, along with a third Samsung pitcher, Lim Chang-yong, were left off the Lions' roster for the Korean Series, the championship final for the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).
Lim has since been released by the Lions and was fined for his charges. However, police said Monday they are not close to wrapping up their investigation into Yun and An's charges of illegal overseas gambling.
"We will need testimonies from people who ran gambling houses but they're still at large," one official at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said on Monday. "We've secured some information on bank accounts and phone records (for the two pitchers) but we are pressing on to determine more specific charges."
Both Yun and An have claimed innocence.
According to manager Ryu Joong-il, both pitchers are ready to take the mound during the ongoing preseason. Yet the club has yet to determine when -- or if -- they will make an appearance.
The Lions may want to operate under the presumption of innocence, with neither pitcher having been convicted, and benching them could be seen as a way of punishing the players for crimes they haven't been convicted of committing.
On the other hand, at least in the court of public opinion, Yun and An have no business playing baseball until suspicions are cleared.
Both were integral parts of the 2015 Lions team that clinched the franchise's fifth consecutive pennant. Yun led the club with 17 wins, and An picked up 37 holds while going 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
(Yonhap Interview) Fintech startup AIM aims to bring professional wealth services to ordinary investors
-
N.K. leader declares victory in fight against COVID-19: state media
-
N. Korea appears to release border dam water without prior notice: official
-
7 dead, 6 missing in heaviest rainfall in 80 years
-
(2nd LD) 7 dead, 6 missing in heaviest rainfall in 80 years
-
(Yonhap Interview) Fintech startup AIM aims to bring professional wealth services to ordinary investors
-
7 dead, 6 missing in heaviest rainfall in 80 years
-
(5th LD) 8 dead, 7 missing in record rainfall in Seoul, surrounding areas
-
N. Korea appears to release border dam water without prior notice: official
-
(LEAD) 7 dead, 6 missing in heaviest rainfall in 80 years
-
Heavy rain-caused deaths this week rise to 14; 5 go missing
-
(LEAD) Suspended ruling party chief again cries foul over leadership switch
-
(LEAD) Ex-presidential candidate Lee wins more rounds of voting for new DP leadership
-
(LEAD) N. Korea hits out at U.N. chief over remarks on denuclearization
-
(LEAD) New COVID-19 cases down for 4th day; critical cases at over 3-month high