Jae-gyun Hwang

Jae-gyun Hwang (Korean: 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).

The native form of this personal name is Hwang Jae-gyun. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
In this Korean name, the family name is Hwang.
Jae-gyun Hwang
Hwang with the San Francisco Giants in 2017
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 April 5, 2022)
Batting average.290
Home runs191
Runs batted in904
MLB statistics
(through 2017 season)
Batting average.154
Home runs1
Runs batted in5
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Representing  South Korea
2015 WBSC Premier12
Gold medal – first place 2015 Tokyo Team
Jae-gyun Hwang
Hangul
황재균
Hanja
黃載均
Revised RomanizationHwang Jaegyun
McCune–ReischauerHwang Chaegyun

Career

Hyundai Unicorns/Nexen Heroes

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.

Lotte Giants

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]

San Francisco Giants
Hwang during his tenure with the San Francisco Giants in 2017 Spring Training

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.

KT Wiz

On November 12, 2017, Hwang signed a four-year, $7.9 million contract with the KT Wiz.[13] Cho Moo-geun was named as his reward player.[14] On December 27, 2021, Hwang re-signed with the Wiz on a four-year, $5.1 million contract.[15]

Personal life

On February 10, 2022, Hwang announced in a handwritten letter via personal SNS that he and singer-actress Park Ji-yeon, will get married in the winter of this year.[16] They married in a private ceremony on December 10 at Shilla Hotel.[17] The ceremony was attended by the couple's closest family and friends, and IU sang the congratulatory song.[18]

International career

He represented South Korea at the 2014 Asian Games, 2015 WBSC Premier12 and 2018 Asian Games.[19]

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

Television appearances

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". January 23, 2017. 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. "Giants DFA Jae-gyun Hwang, call up four players [report] | KNBR".
  13. Polishuk, Mark (November 12, 2017). "KBO's KT Wiz Sign Jae-Gyun Hwang". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  14. "롯데, 황재균 보상선수로 kt 조무근 지명". sports.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  15. "KT Wiz re-sign free agent Hwang Jae-gyun". December 27, 2021.
  16. Kim Ga-young (February 10, 2022). "티아라 지연♥야구선수 황재균, 올 겨울 결혼 [공식]" [T-ara Jiyeon♥ Baseball player Hwang Jae-gyun to get married this winter [Official]] (in Korean). E-Daily. Retrieved February 10, 2022 – via Naver.
  17. Shin, Young-eun (November 2, 2022). "티아라 지연♥황재균, 12월 10일 결혼" [T-ara Jiyeon♥ Hwang Jae-gyun to get married on December 10th] (in Korean). Meil Star Today business. Retrieved November 2, 2022 – via Naver.
  18. Kang Min-kyung (December 10, 2022). "'오늘 결혼' 티아라 지연♥황재균, 웨딩 화보 공개…그림 같은 힙한 매력" ['Today's Marriage' T-ara Jiyeon ♥ Hwang Jae-gyun, wedding pictorial release... Picturesque hip charm]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  19. "2018 아시안게임 야구 대표팀 선수 교체" (in Korean). Korea Baseball Organization. August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  20. Kim Na-ra (January 10, 2021). "'복면가왕' 지코 친형 우태운의 반전 역습 "잘나가는 동생 때문에 불편했는데…" [종합]". My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved January 10, 2021.
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