Song Seung-Jun
Encyclopedia
Song Seung-Jun (born June 29, 1980 in Busan
, South Korea
) is a South Korea
n starting pitcher
who plays for the Lotte Giants
in the Korea Baseball Organization
. He bats and throws right-handed.
, South Korea
. In September 1998, he was selected for the South Korean national junior team, and participated in the 3rd Asian Junior Baseball Championship in Osaka
, Japan
, along with Baek Cha-Seung, Lee Jong-Wook
and Lee Jin-Young
.
as an amateur free agent
after graduating from Kyungnam High School, and started his first American pro career with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox
in the Rookie League.
In 2001, Song pitched to a 1.90 ERA (1st in the league) with 135 strikieouts (1st in the league) in 138 innings for the A Augusta GreenJackets
and the high A Sarasota Red Sox, and was named Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America
. He also competed in the 2001 All-Star Futures Game
as a member of World Team.
In 2002, he played for the AA Trenton Thunder
, and competed in the 2002 All-Star Futures Game
again. However, on August 1 he was traded to the Montreal Expos
with Kim Sun-Woo in exchange for Cliff Floyd
.
In 2003, he was selected again as a member of World Team for the 2003 All-Star Futures Game
, but since then, he had not got a fair chance to make his MLB debut until playing for the 2006 Wichita Wranglers
, the Kansas City Royals
AA affiliate.
Song, the former Boston Red Sox
prospect, was finally transferred to the Lotte Giants
in the KBO league
who signed him to one-year contract for $300,000 in March 2007.
In July 2008, Song was named to the 24-man roster for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, his first major international competition. Song started two games at the Olympics. On August 14, he pitched six scoreless innings against China
, giving up only two hits while striking out nine. On August 19, Song pitched 6.1 innings against Cuba
, allowing three runs and five hits to earn the win for South Korea.
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the 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...
) 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 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....
who plays for the Lotte Giants
Lotte Giants
The Lotte Giants are a professional baseball team based in Busan, Korea, and one of the original franchises of the Korea Baseball Organization league. The Lotte Giants are owned by the Japanese-South Korean Lotte conglomerate....
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...
. He bats and throws right-handed.
Amateur career
Song attended Kyungnam High School in BusanBusan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the 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 September 1998, he was selected for the South Korean national junior team, and participated in the 3rd Asian Junior Baseball Championship in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, 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...
, along with Baek Cha-Seung, Lee Jong-Wook
Lee Jong-wook (baseball)
Lee Jong-wook is a South Korean outfielder who plays for the Doosan Bears in the Korean professional baseball league.- Professional career :...
and Lee Jin-Young
Lee Jin-Young
Lee Jin-Young is a South Korean right fielder who plays for the LG Twins in the Korea Baseball Organization. He bats and throws left-handed.-Amateur career:...
.
Notable international careers
| Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Asian Junior Baseball Championship |  |
||
Professional career
In 1999, Song was signed by the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
as an amateur 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....
after graduating from Kyungnam High School, and started his first American pro career with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox
Gulf Coast League Red Sox
The Gulf Coast League Red Sox are the Rookie Level minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The team plays in Fort Myers, Florida, at the Boston Red Sox Player Development Complex and some games at City of Palms Park....
in the Rookie League.
In 2001, Song pitched to a 1.90 ERA (1st in the league) with 135 strikieouts (1st in the league) in 138 innings for the A Augusta GreenJackets
Augusta GreenJackets
The Augusta GreenJackets are a minor league baseball team that plays in Augusta, Georgia, as a Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Lake Olmstead Stadium has been the home of the GreenJackets since the 1995 season, although Augusta has fielded a team in the South Atlantic League since 1988...
and the high A Sarasota Red Sox, and was named Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
. He also competed in the 2001 All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
as a member of World Team.
In 2002, he played for the AA Trenton Thunder
Trenton Thunder
The Trenton Thunder are an American Minor League Baseball team and are the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Thunder play in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League, and are the two-time defending league champions...
, and competed in the 2002 All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
again. However, on August 1 he was traded to the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
with Kim Sun-Woo in exchange for Cliff Floyd
Cliff Floyd
Cornelius Clifford Floyd, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early years:Floyd was born to parents Cornelius Clifford Floyd, Sr. and Olivia Floyd. After spending 13 years as an only child, Floyd was joined by brother Julius...
.
In 2003, he was selected again as a member of World Team for the 2003 All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
, but since then, he had not got a fair chance to make his MLB debut until playing for the 2006 Wichita Wranglers
Wichita Wranglers
The Wichita Wranglers were a minor league baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas. The team, which played in the Texas League, was the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major-league club from 1995 to 2007, and of the San Diego Padres from 1987 to 1994. The Wranglers played in...
, the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
AA affiliate.
Song, the former Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
prospect, was finally transferred to the Lotte Giants
Lotte Giants
The Lotte Giants are a professional baseball team based in Busan, Korea, and one of the original franchises of the Korea Baseball Organization league. The Lotte Giants are owned by the Japanese-South Korean Lotte conglomerate....
in the KBO league
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...
who signed him to one-year contract for $300,000 in March 2007.
In July 2008, Song was named to the 24-man roster for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, his first major international competition. Song started two games at the Olympics. On August 14, he pitched six scoreless innings against China
China national baseball team
The China national baseball team is the national representative team of the People's Republic of China.-Olympic Games:China secured qualification to the 2008 Summer Olympics automatically as host nation, giving the country its first Olympics berth....
, giving up only two hits while striking out nine. On August 19, Song pitched 6.1 innings against Cuba
Cuba national baseball team
The Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. The team is made up of amateur players from the Cuban national baseball system, as there are no professional sports leagues in Cuba...
, allowing three runs and five hits to earn the win for South Korea.
Notable international careers
| Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Olympic Games |  |
1-0; 2.19 ERA (2 G, 12.1 IP, 3 ER, 12 K) | |