BRADENTON, Fla. -- Jungho Kang's request for a work visa has reportedly been denied, leaving him in South Korea awaiting entrance to the United States and casting further doubt on his availability for the Pirates this year.
On Thursday, general manager Neal Huntington said the application for Kang's visa was "ongoing" but confirmed he would not be ready by Opening Day. On Friday, several Korean reports indicated Kang's request was not granted. According to a Korean Broadcasting System report, it is uncertain when -- or even if -- Kang will be able to join the Pirates this season.
"A Korean news outlet has reported on a purported development in Jung Ho Kang's effort to secure permission to travel to the United States for purposes of continuing his career as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates and added speculation regarding a driving incident in a 'third country,'" Pirates president Frank Coonelly said in a statement issued on Friday.
"The facts, as we know them, are that Kang still has not been granted permission to travel to the United States under a work visa. We continue to work with Kang and his representatives to present materials and information to the appropriate parties in the United States government that we believe establish that Kang should be permitted to travel to the United States under a work visa and we remain hopeful that such a resolution will be reached in the near future.
"We have no indication that Jung Ho has had a driving incident in a country other than Korea."
Kang has been in South Korea resolving his December DUI case. The infielder, who has not been disciplined by the Pirates or Major League Baseball, has been on the Pirates' restricted list since March 10.
Speaking to MLB Network radio on Friday morning, manager Clint Hurdle said the Pirates have remained in contact with Kang throughout the offseason. Asked if there is a chance Kang won't play for the Pirates this year, Hurdle responded, "I don't know those chances.
"We're focusing on the men we have here. That's the best I can tell you," Hurdle added. "We'd love to have him back. We don't have him back. We're going to adapt, improvise and overcome."
The denial is reportedly related to the suspended eight-month jail sentence Kang received following his Dec. 2 DUI arrest, a charge later revealed to be his third since 2009. Kang was initially expected to pay a fine, but he was brought before a court, indicted and levied a sentence that was suspended for two years.
Kang has appealed that sentence, according to the Yonhap News Agency, seeking to have the punishment lowered to a fine that would make it easier to acquire a visa. According to the Korea Times, a ruling on Kang's appeal might not be made until mid-April or later.
In Kang's absence, veteran infielder David Freese is expected to receive most of the Pirates' playing time at third base. Pittsburgh will also shuffle in utility infielders Adam Frazier and Phil Gosselin as well as first baseman/right fielder John Jaso. Josh Harrison, the everyday second baseman last year, could return to his former role as a super-utility man and factor into the mix at third.
"We're good with our depth. We've got a lot of players that we're focused on there," Hurdle said. "We've moved a lot of men over to third base. I like the options that we have."
The Pirates were counting on Kang to be their everyday third baseman and a fixture in the middle of their lineup. The first position player to jump directly from the Korean Baseball Organization into the Majors, Kang finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year Award voting in 2015. He missed a month to start last season while rehabbing a devastating knee injury but returned to bat .255 with an .867 OPS and 21 homers in 103 games.