South Korean tech millionaire Hur Min joins American baseball team as a knuckleballer

SEOUL, South Korea – A South Korean millionaire who founded the country’s first independent baseball club has joined an American team as a knuckleball pitcher.

The Goyang Wonders said Thursday that 37-year-old Hur Min is joining the Rockland Boulders, a team in Pomona, N.Y., in the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, also known as the Can-Am League.

The entrepreneur and baseball fan was trained to throw a knuckleball for the past eight years but has not played organized baseball before. Phil Niekro, the knuckleball specialist and Hall of Fame member, has been one of his teachers.

“I’m happy to show the Wonders players and others who haven’t had a chance that you’ll see a fruit of your effort if you don’t give up and keep trying,” Hur said in a statement. “I’ll continue to take up challenges for a higher stage.”

In 2011, Hur founded the Goyang Wonders, the first independent baseball team in South Korea, where there is no minor league.

Hur made it big when his company’s online game, Dungeon & Fighter, became popular in China. He said in a 2011 interview that his assets are close to $900 million.

Hur held a CEO position at the online commerce firm Wemakeprice until last month.