Pro baseball suspended through weekend due to heatwave

South Korea's unprecedented heatwave has forced the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) to suspend games through the weekend. The KBO and its 10 club managers, along with the secretary general of the Professional Baseball Players Association, held an emergency meeting on July 6th and decided to cancel all 15 games scheduled from July 7th to 9th across five stadiums nationwide.

This decision follows previous cancellations on July 5th and 6th due to the relentless heat, prioritizing the safety of players and spectators. With these latest postponements, the total number of games canceled due to extreme weather this season has reached 30. To mitigate the impact of the heat, the league will introduce a "cooling time" during games, similar to a "cleaning time" break, to protect players and fans.

Game start times have also been adjusted. Previously scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and 6 p.m. on weekends, all games will now commence at 7 p.m. for both weekdays and weekends until further notice. Games at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, which is not affected by weather, will start at 7 p.m. on weekdays, 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and potentially 2 p.m. on Sundays depending on broadcast schedules.

A KBO official stated that the adjusted schedule aims to minimize players' and spectators' exposure to the heat by starting games during times when temperatures and perceived temperatures are lower. The Futures League (minor league) also faces cancellations through July 10th. Subsequent night games until July 31st will begin at 7 p.m., with an option for games to start as early as 10 a.m. if both teams agree. The league also retains the option to shorten games if the heat becomes severe.

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This is a measure to minimize the exposure of players and spectators to the heatwave by starting games at times when the temperature and perceived temperature are relatively low.