Baseball-Major League Baseball roundup
March 24 (The Sports Xchange) - Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang has been denied a work visa, leaving the South Korean unable to enter the United States and his status for the 2017 season in doubt.
According to a Korean media news report Friday, the U.S. Embassy rejected Kang's visa application.
Kang was convicted in South Korea earlier this month after leaving the scene of a DUI accident on Dec. 2 in Seoul. He received a suspended eight-month jail sentence and recently filed an appeal, which will reportedly be heard in early April. It was Kang's third drunk-driving arrest in his home country after previously being charged in August 2009 and May 2011.
Kang is also suspected of a drunk-driving offense in a country other than Korea or the U.S., according to the Korean news outlet.
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Detroit Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez is expected to miss up to four weeks due to a right foot injury.
Martinez was diagnosed with a sprain of the Lisfranc ligament during an examination. He will wear a cast for seven to 10 days before being re-evaluated.
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus was surprised by the timetable.
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Chicago White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon could open the season on the disabled list after he was scratched from his Friday start due to left biceps tightness.
Rodon was scheduled for an MRI exam.
"It's too early to speculate how long we'll be without Carlos," general manager Rick Hahn told MLB.com. "Since we are slowing down his schedule by having him miss a start today, the odds are probably that he'll start the season on the DL." (Editing by Andrew Both)
