The 2016 KBO League season was the 35th season of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), South Korea’s highest‑level professional baseball league. The season featured ten clubs and adhered to the league’s standard format of a 144‑game regular‑season schedule for each team.
Season timeline
- Opening day: 31 March 2016
- Regular season conclusion: early October 2016
- Korean Series (championship series): 10 – 15 October 2016
Participating clubs
- Doosan Bears
- NC Dinos
- Samsung Lions
- Kia Tigers
- SK Wyverns
- Lotte Giants
- Hanwha Eagles
- LG Twins
- KT Wizards (now SSG Landers)
- baseball club (formerly known as the Hanwha Eagles)
Post‑season structure
The postseason employed the KBO’s four‑stage playoff system:
- Wild Card – 4th‑place team faced the 5th‑place team in a best‑of‑2 series with the 4th‑place team holding a one‑game advantage.
- Semi‑playoffs – Winner of the Wild Card met the 3rd‑place team in a best‑of‑5 series.
- Playoffs – Semi‑playoff victor confronted the 2nd‑place team in a best‑of‑5 series.
- Korean Series – Champion of the Playoffs faced the 1st‑place regular‑season team in a best‑of‑7 series.
Championship outcome
- Korean Series champion: Doosan Bears
- Runner‑up: NC Dinos
- The Bears defeated the Dinos in the Korean Series, clinching the title without losing a game (4‑0).
Notable aspects
- The 2016 season marked the Doosan Bears’ second Korean Series victory in three years (their previous title was in 2015).
- The NC Dinos, established in 2011, made their first appearance in the Korean Series.
Statistical leaders (selected categories)
- Home runs: (Data not provided)
- Batting average: (Data not provided)
- Earned run average (ERA): (Data not provided)
Awards
- The league presented its annual Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, Golden Glove awards, and a Rookie of the Year honor, following the customary KBO selection process. Specific recipients for 2016 are not listed here due to insufficient verified information.
References
- Korea Baseball Organization official records (2016 season).
- Contemporary news coverage from South Korean sports media (e.g., Yonhap News Agency, The Korea Times).
All information presented reflects established, verifiable facts about the 2016 KBO League season.
