[K-Sports highlights with Jason Lee] Son Heung-min transfers from Tottenham to LAFC

It's time for K-sports highlights, after a decade at Tottenham Hotspur global football icon, South Korea's superstar Son Heung-min has transferred to Major League Soccer, to join Los Angeles FC. And in the KBO, a legendary pitcher has announced his retirement after this season. For all the details, we have our sportscaster Jason Lee joining us in the studio. Jason hello!

Q1. Clearly, the big news is Son Heung-min leaving Tottenham Hotspur and joining LAFC in the Major League Soccer!

Yes, there had been rumours for quite some time of the possibility of Son Heung-Min leaving Tottenham this offseason and I have to admit I didn't want to hear it. He's been such a staple and icon with the team over the last decade that I think many (including myself) were in denial of a possible move. But when you actually consider everything, it actually does make a lot of sense for all parties.

I've said for the last several months now that Son Heung-Min has clearly lost a step he's not as explosive as he used to be especially 1-on-1 or even 1-on-2 situations that he would attempt confidently in the past. Injuries have also been an issue as of late and that's resulted in a drop in playing time and a lack of playing time becomes an issue with personal confidence and the whole thing just snowballs.

So this should be a good move for Son Heung-Min in that, yes he's going to a lesser league, but he'll continue to have a significant role, which I just don't think would've been the case had he decided to stay with Tottenham. This is also a good move for Tottenham as they receive a whopping 26-million dollar transfer fee. And for LAFC they get a big name star that the large Korean population in LA will be willing to pay money to see. And LAFC has always been like the LA Clippers of MLS with the LA Galaxy being more like the Lakers so this maybe gives the team a chance to catch up to the Galaxy in terms of local popularity and support.

Q2. And Sonny has actually already made his debut for his new team, how did he do in his first game against the Chicago Fire?

Yeah, He entered the game at the 1 hour mark so he played about the last 40 minutes factoring in injury time.

He obviously got a huge cheer from fans when entering the game eventhough the game was on the road in Chicago.

Son Heung-Min earned a breakaway late in the game, but was clearly taken down in the penalty area and earned his team a penalty kick which was converted by Denis Bouanga to tie the game so Son Heung-Min already paying off for LAFC.

Q3. A lot has been going on in the KBO as of late not all good news though, let's start with the news that Kim Do-Young is out with another hamstring injury

Yeah, I guess you could say his leg has hamstrung his season This is the 3rd time his leg is knocking him out for a considerable amount of time and his Kia Tigers have announced that they'll keep him out for the rest of the regular season.

This is huge because Kim Do-Young is the reigning KBO MVP after hitting 38 home runs last year the thing is Kia can really use him just to get into the post season right now.

They're right on the playoff bubble I can say this much no team will want to face Kia in the post season if they're adding Kim Do-Young to a team that somehow made it without him.

Q4. Kim Do-Young may have been the KBO's big story last year, but this year he's been upstaged by a fellow 21 year old

Yes, you are obviously talking about KT's Ahn Hyun-Min, who was just named the KBO's player of the month for July.

He's currently hitting.348, which is tops in the league his 1.060 OPS is also tops in the league and for the month of July he hit.441 while slugging.706.

As you mentioned he's the same age as Kia's Kim Do-Young, but Ahn is still eligible for Rookie of the Year this year and it's already a foregone conclusion that he'll win the award. The only question is if he'll be a unanimous winner, which he has a good shot at.

The one other thing I'll mention is that a lot of people worried with Lee Jung-Hoo and Kim Hye-Seong both leaving for Major League baseball over the past 2 years. But since then, the KBO has broken attendence records and has seen the rise of stars like Kim Do-Young and Ahn Hyun-Min the last 2 years so it seems the league is still in good hands.

Q5. Speaking of players leaving the KBO, Samsung Lions pitcher Oh Seung-Hwan has announced he would be retiring after this season how big of a deal is that?

It's huge If you've just gotten into baseball or the KBO recently you might not fully appreciate the accomplishments of Oh Seung-Hwan, but he has been as great as they come as a reliever.

He set the single season saves record back in 2006 as a sophomore and was a finalist for League MVP that season unfortunately for him, that same season Lee Dae-Ho won the hitting triple crown, while Ryu Hyun-Jin took the pitching triple crown and MVP honours.

But Oh Seung-Hwan, I think you can safely say is the greatest Korean reliever of all-time.

Not only are his 427 saves, more than any other KBO pitcher ever, he accomplished that while spending 2 years in Japan with the Hanshin Tigers and 4 years in major league baseball with the Cardinals, Jays and Rockies.

And I've gotta say beyond the numbers and accomplishments I'll always remember him for his nickname, "the final boss".

He helped Samsung to back to back Korean series titles in 2005 and 2006 and then he led them to 3 straight from 2011 to 2013.

Q6. It's getting late in the year, but there have been a couple of other serious injuries resulting in players missing the rest of this year and a good chunk of next year as well

Yes, both players on the Kiwoom Heroes let's start with their closer Ju Seung-Woo.

He will need Tommy John Surgery so there's a good chance he misses all of this year and next year as well.

He last pitched on Sunday and complained of pain in his elbow and tests revealed ligament damage in his right elbow.

This is a big blow because Kiwoom has been terrible this year in last place, but Ju had been one of the few bright spots with a 2.45 ERA.

And more bad news for the Heroes as Ahn Woo-Jin will also miss about a year after requiring shoulder surgery for an incident that could've been avoided.

Ahn was basically forced to do extra drills by a coach for being on the losing team of a scrimmage and during those drills he got hurt.

Ahn is also recovering from Tommy John surgery so hasn't played in over a year and was targetting a return to play this fall.

And talent wise he's the type of guy Korea could use on their national team for the World Baseball Classic next Spring, but he won't even be a consideration for that now so a big loss to Korea, not just Kiwoom.

Thank you very much Jason for all the updates, have a great rest of the week.

Thank you Bella, we'll see you back tomorrow.