South Korea's Nexen Heroes Open Baseball Season in St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG - It was cloudy, windy, cold. Winter in Florida. But spring was in the air.

There was the crack of bats. The thud of gloves. The chatter of infielders, though few could understand what was being said.

The Nexen Heroes, a South Korean professional baseball team, took infield practice at the four fields at Walter Fuller Park in St. Petersburg, open to media and select VIPs. For those hating winter, it was chicken soup for the heart.

For baseball fans, it was yet another reason to long for the upcoming baseball season. The Heroes will play in the city's first International Spring Baseball Series at Al Lang Stadium, which starts Feb. 21. Single-ticket sales start Saturday, at the field box office, 230 1st St. South.

The 13-game series involves college teams (Penn State, St. Petersburg College, Beach State), international teams (Nexen Heroes, the Netherlands, Canada) and Major League Baseball teams (Tampa Bay Rays, Philadelphia Phillies and the Toronto Blue Jays).

The Heroes, normally tight-lipped with the fourth estate, relaxed -- sort of -- while letting media have their way through the dugouts and along the fences with cameras, etc. Players were still off-limits to the press but Heroes manager Kim Si-jin, through the team's official translator, spoke to the pen and mic club, all told some dozen reporters, photographers and cameramen.

After practice concluded, Heroes owner Lee Jang-seok was presented with the key to the city of St. Petersburg by Mayor Bill Foster. The event concluded with a light lunch for the press and the VIP members that included cold cuts, cookies, potato salad, and of course, hot dogs.

Baseball cannot be practiced much less played without hot dogs. How American, despite the team being from South Korea.  

IF YOU PLAN TO GO: Click here for an article that has the season schedule.