Live baseball is back on ESPN — from South Korea.
ESPN announced Monday it will televise six Korean Baseball Organization League games a week, starting at midnight with the NC Dinos opposing the Samsung Lions in the league opener.
The telecasts will air Tuesdays through Fridays at 4:30 a.m. (CT), Saturdays at 3 a.m. and Sunday at midnight on ESPN2.
Under terms of the agreement, ESPN will become the exclusive English-language home for KBO games and highlights for the 2020 season. The agreement includes the postseason and best-of-seven Korea Series championship.
Karl Ravitch, Eduardo Perez, Jon Sciambi, Kyle Peterson and Jessica Mendoza will serve as commentators from remote locations.
For Chicago baseball fans, there are a few local connections.
Former Cubs shortstop prospect Hak-Ju Lee plays for the Samsung Lions
Dan Straily, who pitched seven games for the Cubs in 2014 during an eight-year major league career, is on the Lotte Giants
Former Cubs scout Min-kyu Sung is the Lotte Giants general manager
Left-hander Erik Jokisch, a former Northwestern star who pitched for the Cubs in 2014, is on the Kiwoom Heroes
Former Cubs minor league pitcher Aaron Brooks is on the roster of the KIA Tigers, which is managed by former Giants third baseman Matt Williams
Hee-seop Choi, who played for the Cubs in 2002-03, is the KIA Tigers hitting coach
Casey Kelly, who was at Cubs spring training in 2017, pitches for the LG Twins