Kwang-hyun Kim

Kwang-hyun Kim (Hangul: 김광현; born July 22, 1988) is a South Korean left-handed pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He formerly played for the SK Wyverns of the KBO League.

The native form of this personal name is Kim Kwang-hyun. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Kwang-hyun Kim
St. Louis Cardinals – No. 33
Pitcher
Born: (1988-07-22) July 22, 1988
Seoul, South Korea
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Professional debut
KBO: April 10, 2007, for the SK Wyverns
MLB: July 25, 2020, for the St. Louis Cardinals
KBO statistics
Win–loss record136–77
Earned run average3.27
Strikeouts1,456
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record3–0
Earned run average1.62
Strikeouts24
Teams
Career highlights and awards
KBO
Kwang-hyun Kim
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGim Gwanghyeon
McCune–ReischauerKim Kwanghyŏn

Amateur career

Kim attended Ansan Technical High School in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. In 2004, he led his team to the first national championship ever, pitching four-consecutive complete game victories in the tournament with a 0.96 ERA, and was named MVP.

Professional career

SK Wyverns (2007–2019)

Signed by the SK Wyverns, Kim made his professional debut on April 10, 2007. He was in the Wyverns' starting pitching rotation for most of the 2007 KBO League season. Although his performance was inconsistent, he showed signs of promise as a rookie, including pitching a one-hit victory in 7​1⁄3 innings over the Doosan Bears, facing MVP Daniel Rios in the 2007 Korean Series.

In the 2008 season, Kim had a career year. He went 16–4 with a 2.39 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 162 innings pitched. Kim ended the season as the KBO League leader for both wins and strikeouts.[1]

On August 2, 2009, Kim was hit with a batted ball hit by Kim Hyun-soo when he had one of the worst pitching performances in his KBO League career, allowing 4 runs in just 2 innings against the Doosan Bears. He suffered a fracture on the back of his hand and he was out for the season as the result. However, he won the 2009 ERA title, pitching 138.1 innings which enabled him enough to qualify for the ERA title.[1]

On November 4, 2014, Kim was posted to MLB. The San Diego Padres won the bidding with a bid of $2 million.[2] However, contract negotiations ended without an agreement and Kim returned to the SK Wyverns.[3]

For the 2019 season, Kim went 17-6 with a 2.51 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP over 190.1 innings.[4]

St. Louis Cardinals (2020–present)

On December 17, 2019, Kim signed a two-year contract worth $11 million (combined option $3 million) with the St. Louis Cardinals.[5] The SK Wyverns received a $1.6 million posting fee.[6]

On July 24, 2020, Kim made his MLB debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing 1 earned run over 1 inning of work.[7] On August 22, he earned his 1st MLB win.[8]

Awards and honors

Achievements

International career

In 2005, Kim was selected for the South Korea national junior team that was runner-up at the 6th Asian Junior Baseball Championship in Seoul, South Korea. He earned two wins against Chinese Taipei, and pitched a five-inning no-hitter against Japan.

In 2006, Kim competed for the South Korea national junior team in the 22nd World Junior Baseball Championship in Havana, Cuba. He led his team to the gold medal, earning four of South Korea's six wins. Kim tossed a five-hit complete game shutout to lead South Korea to a 1–0 victory over Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals, and pitched two wins over Canada in the semifinals and USA in the final. He posted a solid 0.87 ERA and 22 strikeouts throughout the tournament, and was named the Most Valuable Player.

On January 2008, Kim was selected for the South Korea national baseball team and participated in the Beijing Olympic Qualification Final Tournament held from March 7 through March 14, 2008 in Taichung, Taiwan. There he helped his team win a spot in the Beijing Summer Olympics by starting two times and going 2–0 with a 1.64 ERA. At the 2008 Olympic Games, Kim contributed to his team's victories as results of 1–0 with a 1.26 ERA and 12 strike outs in 3 games. In the semifinal game against Japan, he gave up one earned run and six hits in eight innings for Korea to get the victory. Kim did not allow a runner past first base after the 3rd inning, when Japan scored on a walk, a sacrifice and a single by Norichika Aoki.

In March 2009, Kim competed for the South Korea national baseball team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, where they finished runner-up. He started against Japan in South Korea's first game in Tokyo, Japan, but suffered one of his worst games, giving up eight runs in just 1.1 innings of a 14–2 loss to Japan. Kim couldn't get over the disastrous start in Tokyo, struggling in the exhibition games against MLB teams before the start of Round 2. Command of his pitches became a trouble spot, and Team Korea manager Kim In-sik pitched him in relief until the end of the competition.

Year Venue Competition Team Individual Note
2005  South Korea Asian Junior Baseball Championship 2–2, 1.04 ERA (4 G, 11.2 IP, 3 ER, 12 K)
2006  Cuba World Junior Baseball Championship 4–0, 0.87 ERA (5 G, 20.2 IP, 2 ER, 22 K)
Most Valuable Player
2008  Chinese Taipei Final Olympic Qualification Tournament 2–0, 1.64 ERA (2 G, 11.0 IP, 2 ER)
2008  China Olympic Games 1–0, 1.26 ERA (3 G, 14.1 IP, 2 ER)
2009  United States World Baseball Classic 0–1, 21.60 ERA (4 G, 3.1 IP, 8 ER)
2014  South Korea 2014 Asian Games 0–0, 3.52 ERA (2 G, 7.2 IP, 3 ER)
2015  Japan WBSC Premier12 0–1, 5.14 ERA (2 G, 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 K)
2019  Japan WBSC Premier12 1-1, 2.89 ERA (2 G, 9.1 IP, 3 ER, 10 K)

Pitching style

With an overhand delivery, Kim pitches a fastball averaging 91–92 mph[10] (tops out at 96 mph[11]) as a starter. His slider is considered above-average[12] and usually sits around 85 mph. He also has a curveball and a forkball.[13] When Kim was young, he struggled with his control and command. However, in 2018, he had improved his control and command.[14]

See also

References
  1. 기록실 | 기록 | KBO. Korea Baseball Organization. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  2. "Report: Padres post $2 million bid for Korean pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun". Sports Illustrated. November 11, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  3. "Kim Kwang-hyun fails to reach deal with San Diego Padres". Korean Herald. December 12, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  4. Air 9:53PM. "Cardinals | St. Louis signs lefty Kwang-hyun Kim". ksdk.com. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  5. Post-Dispatch store (January 1, 1970). "Cardinals sign Korean lefty Kim to 2-year deal worth $8 million | St. Louis Cardinals". stltoday.com. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  6. "WBSC Premier12 star Kim Kwanghyun signs for MLB St. Louis Cardinals," World Baseball Softball Federation (Dec. 18, 2019).
  7. Anne Rogers (July 25, 2020). "In 'weird' opener, Flaherty lifts Cards to win". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  8. Anne Rogers (August 23, 2020). "Kim earns 1st MLB win, leads Cards' shutout". MLB.com. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  9. "Korea Baseball Organization Gold Gloves - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  10. "Hankook Ilbo". Hankook Ilbo. October 30, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  11. "[미스터칸]155㎞ 강속구 팍!팍! '김광현'이 돌아왔다". Sports.news.naver.com. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  12. https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2009-world-baseball-classic-top-20-prospects/
  13. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20191107011951315
  14. "Gwang-hyun Kim Korean Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
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