Yoon Ji-Woong
Encyclopedia
Yoon Ji-Woong (born March 11, 1982 in Busan
) is a South Korean relief pitcher
who plays for the Nexen Heroes in the South Korean professional baseball league. He bats and throws left-handed
.
. As a sophomore in 2008 he earned MVP honors at the National Amateur Baseball Championship, racking up 3 wins with a 0.00 ERA in 5 games. In the 2008 season, he posted a 0.11 ERA, allowing only one earned run in 85 innings.
In April 2009, Yoon won another MVP at the Spring Collegiate National Baseball Championship, posting 4-0 with a 0.27 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 33 innings. In May 2009, he led his team to its second national championship alongside Moon Kwang-Eun
at the Summer Collegiate National Baseball Championship, voted for the competition's best pitcher. Yoon finished the 2009 collegiate season with a record of 7-1 and an ERA of 0.15 in 61.1 innings pitched, and was named the best Korean amateur pitcher of the year. After the season, Yoon was selected for the South Korean collegiate national baseball team to compete in the 2009 Asian Baseball Championship
held in Sapporo, Japan
. At the championship, he was named to the All-Star team as the best left-handed pitcher, hurling a 2.16 ERA with 9 strikeouts in 8.1 innings pitched.
Yoon slumped in the beginning of his last collegiate season, allowing 13 runs with a 7.90 ERA at the Spring Collegiate National Baseball Championship. However, he was called up to the South Korean collegiate national team again to compete in the friendly baseball series against the USA national baseball team. In the series, he posted the lowest ERA (1.80) amongst the eight pitchers on the Korean roster, striking out 14 batters in 10 innings pitched.
Draft by the Nexen Heroes. On May 10, 2011, Yoon was called up to the first team for the first time. On March 13, he made his pro league debut against the LG Twins
and pitched 1/3 of a scoreless inning. Yoon earned his first career win, tossing 2/3 inning, on July 19 against the LG Twins, coming on in relief in the tenth inning and inducing Lee Jin-Young
to hit into a double play. In the 2011 season, in which Yoon posted a 2-0 record and a 4.08 ERA, his primary role was as a left-handed relief specialist against left-handed hitters, appearing in 53 games. As a reliever he accumulated 9 hold
s which was ranked 15th in the KBO league. After the 2011 KBO season, Yoon competed in the 2011 Baseball World Cup
as a member of the South Korean national baseball team. In the bottom of the ninth inning of the second round game against Panama
, Yoon entered with a 5-4 lead, two out and runners at first and third, and racked up a save, enducing a flyout to center from César Quintero
.
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...
) is a South Korean 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 Nexen Heroes in the South Korean professional baseball league. He bats and throws left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
.
Amateur career
Yoon played college baseball at Dong-eui UniversityDong-eui University
Dong-eui University is one of the leading private university in Busan, a metropolitan city on the southeastern coast of South Korea. Busan is the second largest city in Korea and the population of metropolitan area exceeds 4.5 million. The University has 10 colleges, 116 master and doctoral...
. As a sophomore in 2008 he earned MVP honors at the National Amateur Baseball Championship, racking up 3 wins with a 0.00 ERA in 5 games. In the 2008 season, he posted a 0.11 ERA, allowing only one earned run in 85 innings.
In April 2009, Yoon won another MVP at the Spring Collegiate National Baseball Championship, posting 4-0 with a 0.27 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 33 innings. In May 2009, he led his team to its second national championship alongside Moon Kwang-Eun
Moon Kwang-Eun
Moon Kwang-Eun is a South Korean pitcher who plays for the SK Wyverns in the Korean Baseball Organization.-External links:* Career statistics and player information from...
at the Summer Collegiate National Baseball Championship, voted for the competition's best pitcher. Yoon finished the 2009 collegiate season with a record of 7-1 and an ERA of 0.15 in 61.1 innings pitched, and was named the best Korean amateur pitcher of the year. After the season, Yoon was selected for the South Korean collegiate national baseball team to compete in the 2009 Asian Baseball Championship
2009 Asian Baseball Championship
The 2009 Asian Baseball Championship is an international baseball competition that was held in Sapporo, Japan from July 27 to August 3, 2009. It was the 25th edition of the tournament and featured teams from China, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, South Korea, and...
held in Sapporo, 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...
. At the championship, he was named to the All-Star team as the best left-handed pitcher, hurling a 2.16 ERA with 9 strikeouts in 8.1 innings pitched.
Yoon slumped in the beginning of his last collegiate season, allowing 13 runs with a 7.90 ERA at the Spring Collegiate National Baseball Championship. However, he was called up to the South Korean collegiate national team again to compete in the friendly baseball series against the USA national baseball team. In the series, he posted the lowest ERA (1.80) amongst the eight pitchers on the Korean roster, striking out 14 batters in 10 innings pitched.
Notable international careers
| Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Asian Baseball Championship 2009 Asian Baseball Championship The 2009 Asian Baseball Championship is an international baseball competition that was held in Sapporo, Japan from July 27 to August 3, 2009. It was the 25th edition of the tournament and featured teams from China, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, South Korea, and... |
 |
0-1; 2.16 ERA (2 G, 8.1 IP, 2 ER, 9 K) | |
| 2009 |  EuropeConfederation of European Baseball The Confederation of European Baseball , is the governing body of baseball within Europe. The CEB was founded in 1953 with 5 members, which were Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. As of today, there are 38 members, excluding Armenia... |
Baseball World Cup 2009 Baseball World Cup The 2009 Baseball World Cup was an international baseball tournament that started on 9 September 2009. The final was held in Nettuno, Italy on 27 September 2009. It was the 38th time the World Cup took place, and the first time that it was hosted by a continent rather than a single country... |
9th | 1-1, 1 SV; 2.18 ERA (6 G, 17.0 IP, 4 ER, 16 K) |
| Korea vs USA Baseball Series | 0W-5L | 0-0; 1.80 ERA (5 G, 10.0 IP, 2 ER, 14 K) |
Professional career
Yoon was drafted with the third overall pick of the KBOKorea 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...
Draft by the Nexen Heroes. On May 10, 2011, Yoon was called up to the first team for the first time. On March 13, he made his pro league debut against the LG Twins
LG Twins
LG Twins Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. The club was known as the MBC Blue Dragons owned by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation until , when they were taken over by the LG Group...
and pitched 1/3 of a scoreless inning. Yoon earned his first career win, tossing 2/3 inning, on July 19 against the LG Twins, coming on in relief in the tenth inning and inducing 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:...
to hit into a double play. In the 2011 season, in which Yoon posted a 2-0 record and a 4.08 ERA, his primary role was as a left-handed relief specialist against left-handed hitters, appearing in 53 games. As a reliever he accumulated 9 hold
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...
s which was ranked 15th in the KBO league. After the 2011 KBO season, Yoon competed in the 2011 Baseball World Cup
2011 Baseball World Cup
The 2011 Baseball World Cup was an international baseball tournament held from October 1 to October 15, 2011. It was the 39th Baseball World Cup. The International Baseball Federation selected Panama to host the tournament, turning down bids from Chinese Taipei and Venezuela...
as a member of the South Korean national baseball team. In the bottom of the ninth inning of the second round game against Panama
Panama national baseball team
The Panama national baseball team is the national team of Panama. They are currently the 16th ranked baseball team in the world.- Roster :PitchersManuel Acosta,Albenis Castillo,Bienvenido Cedeno,Bruce Chen,Manuel Corpas,Jorge Cortez,...
, Yoon entered with a 5-4 lead, two out and runners at first and third, and racked up a save, enducing a flyout to center from César Quintero
César Quintero
César Augusto Quintero is a former minor league baseball catcher who is most notable for playing for Panama in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and 2009 World Baseball Classics....
.
Notable international careers
| Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseball World Cup 2011 Baseball World Cup The 2011 Baseball World Cup was an international baseball tournament held from October 1 to October 15, 2011. It was the 39th Baseball World Cup. The International Baseball Federation selected Panama to host the tournament, turning down bids from Chinese Taipei and Venezuela... |
6th | 0-1, 1 SV; 5.40 ERA (7 G, 6.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 K) | ||
External links
- Profile and stats from KBO (official website)