(Photo courtsey of haps Magazine Korea)
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) Board of Directors has officially approved the participation of the newly established the tentatively named Ulsan Professional Baseball Team for the 2026 KBO Futures League.
With this decision, Ulsan becomes the first local government in Korea to found and operate its own professional baseball team, marking a milestone in regional sports development.
Ulsan has steadily expanded its baseball infrastructure through hosting the KBO Fall League and various pro-level events. Its momentum accelerated last month when Ulsan City, KBO, and the Ulsan Sports Council signed an MOU outlining the plan to launch the new team.
League Restructuring Ahead of 2026 Season
The addition of Ulsan changes the structure of the Futures League. Based on geography, Ulsan will join the Southern League, while the military team Sangmu, previously in the south, will move to the Northern League.
Beginning in 2026, both leagues will operate with six teams each:
Southern League: KT, NC, Lotte, Samsung, KIA, Ulsan
Northern League: Hanwha, LG, SSG, Doosan, Goyang, Sangmu
The 2026 Futures League will open on March 20, with each team scheduled to play 116 games, totaling 696 across the season.
Game schedules will be announced later.