Jung Ho Kang has received a visa for the USA after more than a year and is now aiming for a comeback with the Pittsburgh Pirates. After the Third Baseman was repeatedly convicted in January 2017 in his home country South Korea for driving under the influence of alcohol, he was denied a residence certificate for the USA.
“We are encouraged by the steps Jung Ho has taken,” said Pirates President Frank Coonelly in a broadcast. “We hope that the measure to take away the game he loves so much has made it clear to him that he will have to make better decisions in the future.”
We have informed him throughout the process that we will provide Jung Ho with the resources and support he needs to meet the high expectations we have of him.
According to the Pirates officials, Kang will first travel to the Florida Spring Training Camp to get in shape.
31-year-old Kang made his MLB debut in 2015 and was immediately voted into the top three in the National League rookie of the year classification. Over two seasons he had 35 home runs, 120 RBIs and an OPS of .838.