South Korea’s WBC manager In-Sik Kim is considering cutting Jung Ho Kang from his roster this spring, in light of the Pirates infielder’s off-field troubles, Yonhap News Agency reports.
"Kang Jung-ho is a great player, but I've started to wonder if it's worth the trouble taking him to the WBC (amid falling public opinion)," Kim said. "Personally, I am leaning toward taking Kang off the roster."
Kang, of course, was arrested last month in Korea after fleeing the scene of a DUI car crash. Later, it emerged that the arrest was his third DUI arrest since 2009, and the Pirates said they had not been aware of the two earlier arrests. He was also accused of sexual assault in Chicago last summer. He was named to South Korea’s WBC team in November, but the team is allowed to change its roster until February.
This is the latest bit of bad news for Kang, whose reputation has taken a nasty dive in the past six months. His status with the Pirates remains normal at this time, however.