Jae-gyun Hwang

Jae-gyun Hwang
KT Wiz – No. 10
Infielder
Born: (1987-07-28) July 28, 1987
Seoul, South Korea
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Professional debut
KBO: April 21, 2007, for the Hyundai Unicorns
MLB: June 28, 2017, for the San Francisco Giants
KBO statistics
(through 2016 season)
Batting average .286
Home runs 115
Runs batted in 594
MLB statistics
(through 2017 season)
Batting average .154
Home runs 1
Runs batted in 5
Teams
Medals
Representing  South Korea
2015 WBSC Premier12
2015 Tokyo Team
Jae-gyun Hwang
Hangul 황재균
Hanja 黃載均
Revised Romanization Hwang Jaegyun
McCune–Reischauer Hwang Chaegyun

Jae-gyun Hwang (Hangul: 황재균; Hanja: 黃載均; born July 28, 1987) is a South Korean professional baseball infielder for the KT Wiz of the KBO League. He previously played for the Hyundai Unicorns, Nexen Heroes, and Lotte Giants. Hwang has also played for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Career

Hwang made his KBO League debut in Hyundai Unicorns in 2007. The team folded after his rookie season, and became the Nexen Heroes, for whom he played from 2008–2010. The Heroes traded Hwang to the Lotte Giants from 2010, and he continued to play for the Giants through the 2016 season.[1] Hwang attracted international attention for a bat flip in July 2015, after he hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning against the NC Dinos.[2][3]

In October 2015, Hwang announced that he had asked the Giants to post him for transfer to Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States.[4] His teammate, Ah-seop Son, also asked to be posted.[5] No MLB team placed a bid for Hwang.[6]

After becoming a free agent after the 2016 season, Hwang sought a contract with an MLB franchise. On January 23, 2017, the San Francisco Giants announced they had signed Hwang to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training for a chance to make the major league roster. Hwang began the season with the Sacramento River Cats of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League on April 8, 2017.[7][8] In late June, Hwang told the Giants that he would use the opt-out clause in his contract and become a free agent if he was not called up to the major leagues by July 1.[9] He had batted .287 with seven home runs and 44 RBIs, splitting his time between third and first base,[10] before the Giants promoted Hwang to the major leagues. Hwang debuted for the Giants at third base on June 28. He picked up his first hit, a solo home run, on the same day.[11] On August 31, 2017 Hwang was designated for assignment by the Giants and was outrighted to the Sacramento River Cats, the Giants AAA affiliate.[12] He elected free agency on November 6, 2017.

On November 12, 2017, Hwang signed a four-year, $7.9 million contract with the KT Wiz.[13]

International career

He represented South Korea at the 2014 Asian Games, 2015 WBSC Premier12 and 2018 Asian Games.[14]

Year Venue Competition Team Individual Note
2014  South Korea Incheon Asian Games
2018  South Korea Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games

References

  1. ↑ "San Francisco Giants had eye on 3B Hwang Jae-gyun for years: sources". English.yonhapnews.co.kr. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  2. ↑ "This might be the most ostentatious Korean bat flip of all time". Sports Illustrated. July 2, 2015. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  3. ↑ Axisa, Mike (July 2, 2015). "LOOK: Jae-Gyun Hwang unleashes mother of all bat flips after HR". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  4. ↑ Axisa, Mike (October 16, 2015). "Report: Korean 3B Jae-Gyun Hwang asks to be posted this offseason". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  5. ↑ "S. Korean infielder Hwang Jae-gyun to test MLB market". The Korea Times. October 15, 2015. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  6. ↑ Charlie Wilmoth (December 4, 2015). "Lotte Giants Receive No Bidders For Jae-Gyun Hwang". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  7. ↑ "S. Korean 3B Hwang Jae-gyun signs with San Francisco Giants". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Giants sign Korean third baseman Hwang". Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Giants' Jae-Gyun Hwang: Plans to opt out of contract". CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  10. ↑ Shea, John (June 27, 2017). "Giants calling up Jae-Gyun Hwang, showcasing Heliot Ramos". SFGate. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  11. ↑ "WATCH: Giants' Hwang crushes home run for first MLB hit, doesn't flip his bat". CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  12. ↑ http://www.knbr.com/2017/08/31/giants-dfa-jae-gyun-hwang-call-up-four-players-report/
  13. ↑ Polishuk, Mark (November 12, 2017). "KBO's KT Wiz Sign Jae-Gyun Hwang". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  14. ↑ "2018 아시안게임 야구 대표팀 선수 교체" (in Korean). Korea Baseball Organization. August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
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