The Oakland Ballers will send a group of current and former players to compete in the 2026 KBO Fall League in Ulsan, South Korea, from October 15 through 31. This represents the first time an American team has participated in the KBO Fall League.
The players will compete under the team name Long Beach Coast, which includes several familiar Oakland Ballers like starting pitcher Ren Abe-Arias, shortstop Tremayne Cobb Jr., utility player Esai Santos, first baseman Jeter Ybarra and outfielder Logan Johnstone.
Don Wakamatsu, Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations for Innovation Baseball Partners and former manager of the Seattle Mariners, will come out of managerial retirement to lead the team. Wakamatsu was the first Asian American manager in Major League Baseball history and was instrumental in building the 2025 Oakland Ballers championship roster that set a wins record in the Pioneer Baseball League.
John McLaren, a former MLB manager and current manager of the Poland national baseball team, will join the coaching staff. McLaren brings extensive international experience, having coached Team USA in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and managed Team China in 2013 and 2017.
Wakamatsu highlighted the importance of the experience for the players, saying, “For young players, a trip like this is bigger than baseball. It9s a chance to compete, to grow, and to see the game through a different lens. Korea has such a deep baseball culture, and I9m proud our players will get to experience that together.”
This opportunity allows Oakland Ballers players to compete internationally in one of the world9s most passionate baseball environments and gain valuable cultural and competitive experience.
CSB Take
The participation of Oakland Ballers players in the 2026 KBO Fall League under the Long Beach Coast banner marks a notable expansion of American baseball talent into international competition. Bringing Don Wakamatsu out of retirement to manage alongside veteran coach John McLaren ensures experienced leadership for these players. This experience could deepen player development and broaden their global perspective on the sport, potentially shaping future organizational strategies and international relations for the Oakland Ballers.
Source: Original report
