Pittsburgh Pirates 3B Jung Ho Kang sees travel ban

March 24 (UPI) -- Jung Ho Kang was denied a work visa to enter the United States, according to reports.

The Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman has been arrested for DUI three times and also was accused of sexual assault. He has been waiting to receive the work visa in South Korea while the Pirates partake in spring training.

Pirates general manager Neal Huntington told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Thursday that Kang will not be ready for the team's opening day contest.

Sung Min Kim reported Friday that there is suspicion that Kang was convicted of drunk driving in another country, in addition to the United States and South Korea. Kang, 29, hit .255 with a career-high 21 home runs and 62 RBI last season in 103 games for the Pirates. He began his baseball career in 2006 with the Hyundai Unicorns of the Korean Baseball Organization.

David Freese is expected to be the club's starting third baseman. Kang will also likely see discipline from Major League Baseball on the matter. The Pirates also added Phil Gosselin to the fold last month in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks.