Jong Hyun-Wook
Encyclopedia
Jong Hyun-Wook (born December 2, 1978 in Goryeong, Gyeongsangbuk-do
, South Korea
), nicknamed "Slave Jong (Hangul
: 정노예)," is a South Korea
n relief pitcher
who plays for the Samsung Lions
in the Korea Baseball Organization
.
, South Korea
. In 1995, he was selected to the South Korea national junior team, and participated in the 1995 World Junior Baseball Championship
in Boston
, United States
, along with future Major League
pitchers Kim Sun-Woo, Seo Jae-Weong and Kim Byung-Hyun.
on January 1998, he temporarily left the Samsung Lions for the two-year military service In the 2005 season, and returned to the team in August 2007.
Many baseball fans describe him as a "whatever-is-needed utility pitcher" because of his ability to fill in as a starting pitcher
or relief pitcher
as needed. In the 2008 season, Jong took a role as a utility pitcher for the Lions, pitching 127 innings in 53 games, starting 7, going 10-4 with an ERA of 3.40 and 11 holds
in the process. His 3.40 ERA ranked 9th in the league, pitching over the required innings to qualify for the ERA title.
After the 2008 season, Jong was called up to the South Korea national baseball team for the 2009 World Baseball Classic
. Although Jong was expected to garner nothing but mopup duties for the team, he was brought up in the five critical games as a long reliever
because of the multiple injuries to the South Korea's bullpen. He emerged as a WBC relief hero, going 1–0 with a 1.74 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 10.1 innings pitched. He tied for third in the Classic in strikeouts. In Round 2, he silenced the Mexican
bats, earning the win with two strikeouts and allowing only a hit in 2.2 innings pitched. Jong appeared in the semifinal game against Venezuela
, and pitched a 1.1 inning no-hitter
, striking out MLB All-Star sluggers Melvin Mora
, Carlos Guillen
and Magglio Ordóñez
.
In the 2009 KBO season, Jong appeared in 62 games, taking a role as a utility pitcher and posting 8 wins, 6 saves and 16 holds. He was pitching a 2.20 ERA for a 5-4 record in 65.1 innings before the All-Star break, but his stats dipped in the second half of the season due to arm fatigue and he finished the year with a 3.42 ERA.
Gyeongsangbuk-do
Gyeongsangbuk-do or shortly Gyeongbuk is a province in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea.The Gyeongsangbuk-do Office is...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
), nicknamed "Slave Jong (Hangul
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 정노예)," is a South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n relief pitcher
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...
who plays for the Samsung Lions
Samsung Lions
Samsung Lions Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team founded in 1982. They are based in Daegu and are members of the Korean Baseball Organization. Their home stadium is Daegu Baseball Stadium...
in the Korea Baseball Organization
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...
.
Amateur career
Jong attended Dongdaemoon Commerce High School in SeoulSeoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. In 1995, he was selected to the South Korea national junior team, and participated in the 1995 World Junior Baseball Championship
World Junior Baseball Championship
The IBAF AAA World Junior Championships is an under-18 international baseball competition sponsored by the International Baseball Federation , which was first held in 1981 in United States...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, along with future Major League
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...
pitchers Kim Sun-Woo, Seo Jae-Weong and Kim Byung-Hyun.
Notable international careers
| Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | World Junior Baseball Championship World Junior Baseball Championship The IBAF AAA World Junior Championships is an under-18 international baseball competition sponsored by the International Baseball Federation , which was first held in 1981 in United States... |
4th | ||
Professional career
Signed by the Samsung LionsSamsung Lions
Samsung Lions Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team founded in 1982. They are based in Daegu and are members of the Korean Baseball Organization. Their home stadium is Daegu Baseball Stadium...
on January 1998, he temporarily left the Samsung Lions for the two-year military service In the 2005 season, and returned to the team in August 2007.
Many baseball fans describe him as a "whatever-is-needed utility pitcher" because of his ability to fill in as 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....
or relief pitcher
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...
as needed. In the 2008 season, Jong took a role as a utility pitcher for the Lions, pitching 127 innings in 53 games, starting 7, going 10-4 with an ERA of 3.40 and 11 holds
Hold (baseball)
A hold is awarded to a relief pitcher who meets the following three conditions:Unlike saves, wins, and losses, more than one pitcher per team can earn a hold for a game, though it is not possible for a pitcher to receive more than one hold in a given game...
in the process. His 3.40 ERA ranked 9th in the league, pitching over the required innings to qualify for the ERA title.
After the 2008 season, Jong was called up to the South Korea national baseball team for the 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
. Although Jong was expected to garner nothing but mopup duties for the team, he was brought up in the five critical games as a long reliever
Long reliever
A Long reliever is a type of relief pitcher in baseball.Long relievers traditionally enter early in a game when the starting pitcher cannot continue, whether due to ineffective pitching, lack of endurance, rain delays, injury, or ejection...
because of the multiple injuries to the South Korea's bullpen. He emerged as a WBC relief hero, going 1–0 with a 1.74 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 10.1 innings pitched. He tied for third in the Classic in strikeouts. In Round 2, he silenced the Mexican
Mexico national baseball team
The Mexico national baseball team is the baseball team which represents Mexico in international tournaments. They are currently the eighth ranked baseball team in the world.-Pan American Games:*1951 Bronze Medal *1963 Bronze Medal...
bats, earning the win with two strikeouts and allowing only a hit in 2.2 innings pitched. Jong appeared in the semifinal game against Venezuela
Venezuela national baseball team
The Venezuela national baseball team is the national team of Venezuela. They are currently ranked seventh in the world by the International Baseball Federation.-World Baseball Classic:...
, and pitched a 1.1 inning no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
, striking out MLB All-Star sluggers Melvin Mora
Melvin Mora
Melvin Mora , affectionately nicknamed Melmo or Melvy, is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder who is a free agent...
, Carlos Guillen
Carlos Guillén
Carlos Alfonso Guillén is a Major League Baseball second baseman and switch-hitter....
and Magglio Ordóñez
Magglio Ordóñez
Magglio José Ordóñez Delgado is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right fielder. He has played for the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers . Ordóñez is six feet, one inch tall and weighs .-Professional career:...
.
In the 2009 KBO season, Jong appeared in 62 games, taking a role as a utility pitcher and posting 8 wins, 6 saves and 16 holds. He was pitching a 2.20 ERA for a 5-4 record in 65.1 innings before the All-Star break, but his stats dipped in the second half of the season due to arm fatigue and he finished the year with a 3.42 ERA.
Notable international careers
| Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | World Baseball Classic 2009 World Baseball Classic The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the... |
 |
1-0, 1.74 ERA (5 G, 10.1 IP, 2 ER, 13 K) | |