Baseball NSW thanks the Doosan Bears for visiting Blacktown International Sports Park to hold their 2026 Spring Training!
The Bears were in Sydney for four weeks, starting from 19 January to 19 February 2026, and they conducted high-intensity training sessions every day at Blacktown. They also played two scrimmage games. Both the training and the scrimmages were open to the public.
Moreover, the Bears used all three diamonds at BISP, proving their determination to sharpen their skills and their work ethic to pursue constant improvement.
The team held their annual Spring Training to prepare for the upcoming 2026 KBO season. Their training at Sydney was also one stage in their preparation, as they will also fly to Japan to play preseason matches before the season starts.
Meanwhile, the Bears are led by coach Kim Won-hyung, former pitching coach for the Korean National team who debuted as a pitcher in 1991 with the now-disbanded Ssangbangwool Raiders after playing for Jeonju Dong Middle School and Jeonju High School.
As a pro, Kim played for 21 years before moving on to coaching.
Prior to their trip, Kim spoke to Korea JoongAng Daily and said that the Bears “have always been a team that puts pressure on opponents with dynamic, high-energy play.” He added that he “will work to restore that ‘Hustle Bears’ identity and bring meaningful baseball to [Bears] fans.”
In the KBO, the Doosan Bears are one of the league’s powerhouse clubs, with a rich history dating back to 1982. Throughout the years, the Seoul-based club has also won six Korean Series titles (1982, 1995, 2001, 2015, 2016, 2019).
Baseball NSW’s facilitation of Doosan’s Spring Training signifies the strengthening of the relationship between the Asia Pacific baseball organisations. We hope to see the Bears and other teams across Asia visit Sydney for training and other partnership opportunities.
We also wish the Bears the very best as they move on to the next stages of their preparation for the coming KBO season! Go Bears!
Photo from Doosan Bears