Song Seung-jun
Pitcher
Born: (1980-06-29) June 29, 1980 (age 43)
Pusan, South Korea
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
KBO debut
April 21, 2007, for the Lotte Giants
Last KBO appearance
September 8, 2020, for the Lotte Giants
KBO statistics
Win–loss record109–85
Earned run average4.48
Strikeouts1,238
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  South Korea
Men's baseball
Gold medal – first place 2008 Beijing Team

Song Seung-jun (Korean: 송승준; Hanja: 宋勝準; born June 29, 1980 in Busan, South Korea) is a South Korean former professional baseball player. A pitcher, Song played for the Lotte Giants in the Korea Baseball Organization. Prior to playing for Lotte, Song played minor league baseball in the United States from 1999 through 2006. He bats and throws right-handed. Song's bread-and-butter pitch is a forkball.[1]

Amateur career

Song attended Kyungnam High School in Busan, 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. He helped lead the baseball team to the Korean national high school championship in 1998.[2][3]

Notable international careers

Year Venue Competition Team Individual Note
1998  Japan Asian Junior Baseball Championship

Professional career

Minor League Baseball

Though Song was the first overall selection in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) amateur draft,[4] Song signed with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball as an amateur free agent in February 1999, receiving a $800,000 signing bonus.[3] He started his professional career in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League (GCL) with the GCL Red Sox that season.[5] He pitched for the Lowell Spinners of the Class A-Short Season New York–Pennsylvania League in 2000.[6]

In 2001, Song began the season with the Augusta GreenJackets of the Class A South Atlantic League (SAL), earning the victory in the SAL All-Star Game.[7] He received a promotion to the Sarasota Red Sox of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League on his 21st birthday.[8] He finished the season with a 1.90 earned run average, finishing second in minor league baseball behind Josh Beckett, and 135 strikeouts in 138 innings pitched.[3] He 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.[3]

Prior to the 2002 season, Song was rated as the 60th-best prospect in baseball by Baseball America.[9] In 2002, he played for the Trenton Thunder of the Class AA Eastern League, and competed in the 2002 All-Star Futures Game.[10] That season, the Boston Red Sox traded Song to the Montreal Expos with Sun-Woo Kim for Cliff Floyd.[3]

In April 2003, while pitching for the Harrisburg Senators, the Expos' Class AA affiliate in the Eastern League, Song threw a no-hitter.[11][12] He was selected again as a member of World Team for the 2003 All-Star Futures Game.[13] This made Song the first three-time participant in the All-Star Futures Game.[14] Later that year, the Expos attempted to trade Song and Josh McKinley to the Texas Rangers for Juan González, but Gonzalez used a no-trade clause in his contract to block the deal.[15] In 2004, the Expos optioned Song to the Edmonton Trappers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League.[16][17]

After the 2004 season, the Toronto Blue Jays claimed Song off of waivers.[16] In 2005, he pitched for the San Francisco Giants organization. In 2006, he pitched for the Wichita Wranglers, the Kansas City Royals' Class AA affiliate, in the Texas League.[18] He appeared in the Texas League All-Star Game.[19]

KBO League

Song transferred to the Lotte Giants of the KBO, who signed him to one-year contract for $300,000 in March 2007.[14] Song led the Giants in wins in 2010, and was selected to start the first game of the playoffs.[20] Between 2008 and 2011, Song won at least 12 games a year for the Giants. In 2012, he was named a starter in the KBO All-Star Game,[21] as the fans voted for ten Giants as starters.[22]

In 2016, he grade down in 1st major in Lotte. Because of his Fascia rupture, his doctor said that he will need to cure of two weeks.[23]

International career

Song was named to the preliminary roster for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in July 2007,[14] and made the final 24-man roster in July 2008, his first major international competition.[24] Song started two games at the Olympics. On August 14, he pitched six scoreless innings against the Chinese national baseball team, giving up only two hits while striking out nine. On August 19, Song pitched 6+1⁄3 innings against Cuban national baseball team, allowing three runs and five hits to earn the win for South Korea.[25]

Notable international careers

Year Venue Competition Team Individual Note
2008  China Olympic Games 1-0; 2.19 ERA (2 G, 12.1 IP, 3 ER, 12 K)

Filmography

Television show

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2022 Strongest Baseball Cast Member [26]

See also

References

  1. ^ a2017001 (Yonhap). "After horrendous 2016, right-hander enjoying renaissance," The Korea Herald (May 11, 2017).
  2. ^ Whiteside, Larry (1999-02-03). "Red Sox look to Korea again Prospect Song is Duquette's latest pitching acquisition". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Baseball America Online – Trade Central". Baseballamerica.com. 2002-07-30. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
  4. ^ Bangor Daily News via Google News Archive Search
  5. ^ Beaton, Rod (1999-06-15). "Majors tap South Korea for talent Young arms deal with new culture, troubles on field". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  6. ^ "P-Mets open in Lowell tonight with Joey Cole on the mound". Berkshire Eagle, The. 2000-06-20.
  7. ^ The Madison Courier via Google News Archive Search
  8. ^ Hohler, Bob (2001-07-01). "Top Prospect Song Moving Up Charts". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
  9. ^ "All-Time Top 100 Prospects". Baseball America. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  10. ^ Stephanie Storm. "Article | Eastern League News". Milb.com. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
  11. ^ "Philadelphia Inquirer: Search Results". 2003-04-29.
  12. ^ "Leave 'em in, take 'em out, leave 'em in ... – MLB – ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. 2003-04-29. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  13. ^ Jonathan Mayo. "U.S. ekes out Futures Game win | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  14. ^ a b c "Korean Baseball Team Adds New Arms for Beijing Qualifiers". The Korea Times. 2007-08-28. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  15. ^ "Star Telegram: Search Results". 2003-06-25.
  16. ^ a b "Jays claim pitcher from Expos – MLB – ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. 2004-11-13. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  17. ^ "NewsLibrary.com – newspaper archive, clipping service – newspapers and other news sources". Nl.newsbank.com. 2004-03-26. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  18. ^ "Wichita Eagle: Search Results". 2006-05-30.
  19. ^ Capital, The (2006-06-06). "Local sports notes". CJOnline.com. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  20. ^ "Bears, Giants face off in first-round playoff today". The Korea Times. 2010-09-28. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  21. ^ "Lotte Giants Team Named All Star Starters". Busan Haps. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  22. ^ "All-Giants Game". The Korea Times. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  23. ^ Kwon, Ki boem. "송승준, 근막파열 2주 치료 진단…1군 엔트리 말소". 2016-04-16. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  24. ^ "Olympic Team Finalizes Roster". The Korea Times. 2008-07-14. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  25. ^ "Korea Roughs Up Cuba, Stays Unbeaten". The Korea Times. 2008-08-19. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  26. ^ Kang Ae-ran (April 21, 2022). "이승엽·박용택 등 레전드 총출동…예능 '최강야구' 상반기 방송" [Lee Seung-yeop, Park Yong-taek, etc. Legends all dispatched… 'Strongest Baseball' broadcast in the first half of the entertainment show] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved April 21, 2022 – via Naver.

External links

Lotte Giants current roster
South Korea baseball roster โ€“ 2008 Summer Olympics โ€“ Gold Medalists
South Korea roster โ€“ 2013 World Baseball Classic
Categories