Geelong-Korea joined the Australian Baseball league (ABL) as part of an expanded 2018-19 season, but only managed to win seven of their 40 matches.
The results may not have gone to plan, but their inclusion saw the league attract thousands of new viewers.
Baseball Australia CEO Cam Vale told SBS Korean that each Geelong-Korea match attracted an average of 550,000 viewers during broadcasts into South Korea through MBC Sports+.
The matches were also broadcast through the ABL's channel on Korean online video platform Naver TV, which has generated more than 2 million views since the channel's launch in November.
Furthermore, the team's YouTube channel has generated more than 2.1 million video views since its launch in September.
Mr Vale said the numbers coming out of the team's first season were "excellent”.
“This season’s ABL was the most viewed ever, and Geelong-Korea’s inclusion was a major factor in our unprecedented digital numbers," he said.
“We identified a gap in the Korean baseball market, signed long-term broadcast deals and strengthened our status as the world’s premier winter baseball league.”
Mr Vale said the broadcast deals ensured that "baseball-mad Korean market has access to live games in their traditional offseason".
“Other major sporting leagues are working towards growth into Asia, but we’ve taken the plunge, and we’re working through further opportunities for continued expansion."
Geelong-Korea player Tae-Joon Lim in a match against the Sydney Blue Sox (ABL) Source: ABL
Season standouts
The team enjoyed some standout moments during their maiden season.
Batter Seung-Hun Kim said his most memorable moments were when the team won their first match and when he hit a grand slam, which is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners.
“The moment when our team won our first victory in Australia was the most memorable. It was the most exciting moment," he said.
"Honestly, I couldn't avoid public opinion because I am human. Many people pointed out what [was] missing. We won the first game with it, so that's the most memorable moment.
"Another good memory is when I hit a home run, it was the game against the Melbourne Aces. My concentration was very low. It was our duty to do our best. So, I tried to focus more on the batter's box and hit a grand slam. That's what I remember the most."
Pitcher Jin-Yong Jang, who was a key element in three of the team's seven wins, said he was inspired for the fans who turned up to the games.
Geelong Korea player Joo-Ho Lee bats vs Adelaide Bite, Sunday, December 9 2018. Source: ABL
“I did my best in every game. I know there were a lot of fans watching our games in both Korea and Australia. So I did my best.”
Kwang-Min Kwon recorded 10 home runs during the 2018-19 season and finished as the league's 10th top homerun maker.
After graduating from high school in Korea, he signed with US Major League side Chicago Cubs in 2016.
Despite playing in the Rookie and Single-A leagues for three years, he said he "couldn't ignore" the quality of the ABL.
"They are doing better than I thought. [It's] like the United States," Kwon said.
"Thank you [fans] for coming to see our game, and thank you for your support and interest."
Jin-Yong Jang who said he had played with Australian players for 15 years, said he was surprised to see just how much they had improved over the past few years.
Seung-Hun Kim, who hit the grand slam, also thanked fans.
Geelong-Korea player Byeong-Geun Kim. Source: ABL
"I'm so grateful for all the support you've given us," he said.
"Geelong-Korea is not the end, we will do our best to show a good performance at each of our places. I hope you will always support each player."
Pitcher Jin-Yong Jang said he could hear fans cheer from the dugout.
“Thank you very much. They always come and cheer for us. I can hear you even when I was in the dugout," he said.
"We didn't show you a lot of good things until the end. I will try to show you a better side of myself next time."
Geelong-Korea manager Dae-Sung Koo, who also led the side on the diamond this season, joined the club after stints in Korea, Japan and the US.
He said the message he expressed to the team was to stay motivated going forward.
“Every moment I asked our players that they remember and record how many strikes did you throw? How many balls did you throw?” Koo said.
“In the case of a batter, is it good or bad today? Did I play baseball without doing my best? That's what I talked about. I told them to think a lot about what they should do while playing baseball."
Choong-sik Park, head of Geelong Korea, said he would look to make some adjustments to ensure a better showing next season.
“I'm going to think a lot about it and start from the beginning," he said.
"We got a lot of information for the Australian Baseball League in this season and we will be back with a stronger team next year.”
