'Assault' SSG Lee Won-jun Suspended for 72 Games... 'Corporal Punishment' Lee Geoyeon and Choi Sang-min Suspended for 30 Games

Professional baseball SSG Landers pitcher Lee Won-jun, who hit a junior player with a bat, has been suspended for 72 games by the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) Disciplinary Committee. SSG infielder Lee Geo-yeon and outfielder Choi Sang-min, who collectively punished the juniors, were confirmed to receive 30-game suspensions.

On the 19th, the disciplinary committee meeting for the three SSG Landers players involved in group corporal punishment and violence was held at the Korea Baseball Organization in Dogok-dong.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 19th at 2 p.m., the KBO held a closed disciplinary meeting at the Baseball Hall in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and issued these penalties to Lee Won-jun, who struck a junior’s thigh twice with a bat, and to Lee Geo-yeon and Choi Sang-min, who collectively punished juniors.

The KBO Baseball Regulations Article 151 [Conduct Detrimental to Dignity] stipulates the disciplinary level for 'violence' as 'a suspension from participation activities for two months or more, or a suspension from games for 50 games or more, or a fine of 5 million won or more.'

The three offending players attended the disciplinary committee in person to explain themselves. On the 6th, at the SSG Futures Team training ground, Incheon Ganghwa SSG Futures Field, they assaulted juniors. Lee Geo-yeon gathered juniors, saying a rookie player acted arrogantly, and subjected them to physical punishment (eolcharyeo). After the punishment ended, Lee Won-jun struck the rookie player who caused the incident with a bat. After Lee Won-jun’s assault, dissatisfied with the group punishment, Choi Sang-min continued collective physical punishment on the juniors. A Futures Team coach happened to check player B’s condition, discovered the harsh treatment late, reported it to the club, and the SSG club reported it to the KBO Clean Baseball Center.

SSG dismissed Lee Won-jun before the KBO held the disciplinary meeting. The KBO prohibits additional disciplinary actions by clubs beyond the committee’s penalties. The 10 clubs agreed to prevent 'double punishment.' The dismissal was interpreted as not constituting 'double punishment.'

SSG also requested the KBO to waive Lee Won-jun’s waiver notice. The KBO decided to proceed with the waiver notice process once the 'KBO-level discipline' is confirmed by the disciplinary committee. Lee Won-jun is expected to be waived soon. Lee Geo-yeon and Choi Sang-min will not receive additional penalties beyond those set by the KBO disciplinary committee. The KBO issued only a warning to the SSG club, stating, "They reported to the Clean Baseball Center immediately after recognizing the issue and actively cooperated with follow-up measures."