Jae Weong Seo
Encyclopedia
Jae Weong Seo usually referred to as simply Jae Seo and pronounced "Jay So", is a Korean professional baseball player. Originally signed by the New York Mets
of Major League Baseball
, Seo is now a starting pitcher
in the Korea Professional Baseball League for the Kia Tigers
.
in Incheon, South Korea where he led his team to the Korean collegiate championship in 1997.
In , Seo was signed as a free agent
by the New York Mets. After an excellent first year of professional play, Seo underwent reconstructive surgery
on his elbow in . He did not pitch again until . On July 21, , Seo made his major league debut with a scoreless inning of relief
against the Cincinnati Reds
. In , Seo spent the entire season with the Mets as a starting pitcher. He logged 188 innings pitched
and 31 games started
, both tops among rookie
pitchers in the National League
that year. In , Seo struggled, splitting his time between the Mets and the Triple-A Norfolk Tides
.
When he first pitched in the major leagues, he had two pitches - a fastball
which topped out at 91-92 miles per hour (he threw in the mid-90s before Tommy John surgery
), and a deceptive changeup
in the mid 80s. Not being able to throw as hard as earlier in his career meant it was important for Seo to maintain a high degree of control over his pitches which, on occasion he was unable to do. This, along with Seo's reluctance to change his pitching mechanics, led to confrontations with Mets' pitching coach Rick Peterson
.
In , Seo seemed to have taken heed of this advice, developing a slider
, splitter
, and curveball
. The Mets' surplus of pitcher
s resulted in his spending much of the year at Norfolk. However, he was called up to the majors in early August 2005, and pitched extremely well.
On January 4, , Seo was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers
along with Tim Hamulack
in exchange for relievers Duaner Sanchez
and Steve Schmoll
. On June 26, he was traded by the Dodgers, along with catcher
Dioner Navarro
and outfielder
Justin Ruggiano
to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
in exchange for pitcher Mark Hendrickson
and catcher Toby Hall
. Seo made his debut with the Rays on June 28, 2006, against the Florida Marlins
, pitching two scoreless innings
.
In , despite his strong performance during spring training
, he recorded a 3-4 record with a 8.13 ERA
. He was then sent to the Triple-A Durham Bulls
and had a solid season of 9-4 with 3.69 ERA.
On December 11, , Seo signed with the Kia Tigers of the Korea Professional Baseball League.
. He pitched extremely well, having tied with the second lowest ERA in the tournament with the Dominican Republic
's Bartolo Colón
, with a 0.64 ERA. In the semi final game against Japan
, in 6 innings Seo did not allow a single run
. Even though Japan eventually won the game, Seo's start was still considered as one of the best pitching performances in the WBC.
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, Seo is now a starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in the Korea Professional Baseball League for the Kia Tigers
Kia Tigers
Kia Tigers Professional Baseball Club is a Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982. The Tigers are a member team of the Korean Baseball Organization and the most successful team in Korean baseball having won the national championship, the Korean Series, ten times, with a perfect 10-0...
.
Career
Seo attended Inha UniversityInha University
Inha University is a private, co-educational university located in Incheon, South Korea. It is owned by Hanjin Group.Inha University was established by the first president of South Korea, Syngman Rhee. It is a Korean-American collaboration school, even in its name: the Morpheme "In" comes from the...
in Incheon, South Korea where he led his team to the Korean collegiate championship in 1997.
In , Seo was signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the New York Mets. After an excellent first year of professional play, Seo underwent reconstructive surgery
Reconstructive surgery
Reconstructive surgery is, in its broadest sense, the use of surgery to restore the form and function of the body, although Maxillo-Facial Surgeons, Plastic Surgeons and Otolaryngologists do reconstructive surgery on faces after trauma and to reconstruct the head and neck after cancer.Other...
on his elbow in . He did not pitch again until . On July 21, , Seo made his major league debut with a scoreless inning of relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. In , Seo spent the entire season with the Mets as a starting pitcher. He logged 188 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
and 31 games started
Games started
In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter...
, both tops among rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
pitchers in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
that year. In , Seo struggled, splitting his time between the Mets and the Triple-A Norfolk Tides
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
.
When he first pitched in the major leagues, he had two pitches - a fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
which topped out at 91-92 miles per hour (he threw in the mid-90s before Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
), and a deceptive changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
in the mid 80s. Not being able to throw as hard as earlier in his career meant it was important for Seo to maintain a high degree of control over his pitches which, on occasion he was unable to do. This, along with Seo's reluctance to change his pitching mechanics, led to confrontations with Mets' pitching coach Rick Peterson
Rick Peterson
Erick Harding "Rick" Peterson is a former pitcher and pitching coach in Major League Baseball. He was a pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, but is most notable as the pitching coach for the Oakland Athletics and New York Mets...
.
In , Seo seemed to have taken heed of this advice, developing a slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
, splitter
Split-finger fastball
A split-finger fastball or splitter is a pitch in baseball. It is named after the technique of putting the index and middle finger on different sides of the ball, or "splitting" them. When thrown hard, it appears to be a fastball to the batter, but suddenly "drops off the table" towards home...
, and curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
. The Mets' surplus of pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
s resulted in his spending much of the year at Norfolk. However, he was called up to the majors in early August 2005, and pitched extremely well.
On January 4, , Seo was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
along with Tim Hamulack
Tim Hamulack
Timothy Wm. Alexander Hamulack is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball. Hamulack is 6' 4" and weighs 220 pounds...
in exchange for relievers Duaner Sanchez
Duaner Sánchez
Duaner Sánchez is a Dominican-American professional baseball player currently playing for the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League. He is a right-handed relief pitcher who is currently a free agent in Major League Baseball...
and Steve Schmoll
Steve Schmoll
Stephen John Schmoll is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He bats and throws right-handed....
. On June 26, he was traded by the Dodgers, along with catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Dioner Navarro
Dioner Navarro
Dioner Favian Navarro Vivas is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher, who is a free agent.-New York Yankees:In 2000, Navarro was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent...
and outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Justin Ruggiano
Justin Ruggiano
Justin Marshall Ruggiano is a Major League Baseball outfielder in the Tampa Bay Rays organization.-Baseball career:Ruggiano played college baseball at Texas A&M....
to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
in exchange for pitcher Mark Hendrickson
Mark Hendrickson
Mark Allan Hendrickson is an American Major League Baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Baltimore Orioles. Hendrickson is also a retired National Basketball Association power forward who played 114 NBA games before becoming a pitcher full-time. He is one of just 12 athletes to play in both...
and catcher Toby Hall
Toby Hall
Toby Jason Hall is a Major League Baseball catcher who is currently with the Camden Riversharks in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball....
. Seo made his debut with the Rays on June 28, 2006, against the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
, pitching two scoreless innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
.
In , despite his strong performance during spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, he recorded a 3-4 record with a 8.13 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. He was then sent to the Triple-A Durham Bulls
Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the International League. The Bulls play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park located in the downtown area of Durham, North Carolina. Durham Bulls Athletic Park is often called the "DBAP" or "D-Bap". The Bulls are...
and had a solid season of 9-4 with 3.69 ERA.
On December 11, , Seo signed with the Kia Tigers of the Korea Professional Baseball League.
International play
Seo was selected and played for the Korean national team in the World Baseball ClassicWorld Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
. He pitched extremely well, having tied with the second lowest ERA in the tournament with the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
's Bartolo Colón
Bartolo Colón
Bartolo Colón is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He played in Major League Baseball from 1997 to 2009 and again in 2011...
, with a 0.64 ERA. In the semi final game against Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, in 6 innings Seo did not allow a single run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
. Even though Japan eventually won the game, Seo's start was still considered as one of the best pitching performances in the WBC.