Jeong Keun-Woo
Encyclopedia
Jeong Keun-Woo (Hangul
: 정근우, Hanja
: 鄭根宇) (born October 2, 1982 in Busan
, South Korea
) is a second baseman
and shortstop
who currently plays for the SK Wyverns
in the Korea Baseball Organization
. He bats and throws right-handed.
, South Korea
. In 1999, he was selected for the South Korea national junior team and participated in the 1999 World Junior Baseball Championship
held in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
. In 2000, he was selected again for the South Korea national junior team that won the 2000 World Junior Baseball Championship
in Edmonton
, Canada
. He led the attack alongside future pro baseball stars Choo Shin-Soo, Kim Tae-Kyun
and Lee Dae-Ho
, batting .333 with 3 RBIs as a starting second baseman.
Upon leaving high school, Jeong was considered the top infielder prospect for the 2001 KBO
Draft, but went undrafted. Instead, he played college baseball at Korea University
.
In his sophomore year at Korea University
, he made his first appearance for the South Korea national baseball team at the 2002 Intercontinental Cup
, where they claimed the silver medal.
In November 2003, Jeong competed for the South Korean national team as an amateur player again in the 2003 Baseball World Cup
. In the tournament, he batted .308 with 2 home runs and 10 RBIs, leading the team in RBI. In Team Korea's second game against Russia
, he went 5-for-6 with a home run and 5 RBIs to lead his team to a 26-3 victory.
In 2004, as a senior he participated in the 2nd World University Baseball Championship
and led his team to the bronze medal, winning the RBI title.
in the second round (15th overall) of the 2005 KBO Draft, Jeong made his pro league debut on April 2, 2005. He had a disappointing rookie season, managing only a .193 batting average.
However, the next season he batted .284 with 45 stolen bases (2nd in the league) and 122 hits, and won the Golden Glove award at second base. After the 2006 KBO season, Jeong was selected for the South Korea national team, and won a bronze medal at the 2006 Asian Games
in Doha
, Qatar
.
Jeong had a .323 batting average (4th in the league) in the 2007 KBO season, the first season of a .300-plus batting average, leading his team to the Korean Series Championship
. As a member of the South Korea national team, he competed in the 2007 Asian Baseball Championship
and 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament
.
In the 2008 KBO season, Jeong hit .300-plus once again (.317), and ranked 2nd in hits (154) and 3rd in stolen bases (40).
On July 16, 2008, Jeong was selected for South Korea national team in the 2008 Olympics. In Beijing, he batted 9-for-29 with 4 runs and a RBI, playing as a utility infielder
. In the team's third game of round-robin play against Canada
, he smacked a solo home run off Mike Johnson in the third inning that held up for a 1-0 win for South Korea.
On December 11, 2009, he obtained his first Golden Glove Award in the second baseman nomination.
Bold = led KBO
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...
: 정근우, Hanja
Hanja
Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 鄭根宇) (born October 2, 1982 in Busan
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 second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
and shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
who currently plays for the SK Wyverns
SK Wyverns
SK Wyverns Baseball Club is a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 2000. Based in Incheon, they play their home games at Munhak Baseball Stadium.Their current manager is Man Soo Lee .-History:...
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
Jeong attended Busan 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 1999, he was selected for the South Korea national junior team and participated in the 1999 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...
held in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. In 2000, he was selected again for the South Korea national junior team that won the 2000 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 Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He led the attack alongside future pro baseball stars Choo Shin-Soo, Kim Tae-Kyun
Kim Tae-Kyun
Kim Tae-Kyun is a South Korean first baseman who plays for the Chiba Lotte Marines in the Nippon Pro Baseball league. He bats and throws right-handed.-Amateur career:...
and Lee Dae-Ho
Lee Dae-Ho
Lee Dae-Ho is primarily a first baseman who plays for the Lotte Giants in Korea Baseball Organization. He bats and throws right-handed...
, batting .333 with 3 RBIs as a starting second baseman.
Upon leaving high school, Jeong was considered the top infielder prospect for the 2001 KBO
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...
Draft, but went undrafted. Instead, he played college baseball at Korea University
Korea University
Korea University is a prestigious nonsectarian, private research university located primarily in Seoul, South Korea, and one of the SKY universities, a historical acronym used in South Korea to refer to Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University. Founded by Lee Yong-ik in...
.
In his sophomore year at Korea University
Korea University
Korea University is a prestigious nonsectarian, private research university located primarily in Seoul, South Korea, and one of the SKY universities, a historical acronym used in South Korea to refer to Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University. Founded by Lee Yong-ik in...
, he made his first appearance for the South Korea national baseball team at the 2002 Intercontinental Cup
Intercontinental Cup (baseball)
The Intercontinental Cup is a baseball tournament between the members of the International Baseball Federation . It was first held in 1973 in Italy, and was held every other year following until 1999....
, where they claimed the silver medal.
In November 2003, Jeong competed for the South Korean national team as an amateur player again in the 2003 Baseball World Cup
2003 Baseball World Cup
The XXXV Baseball World Cup was in Cuba from 12 to 25 October 2003. Participating countries were split in two groups, with the first four of each group qualifying for the finals.-First round:Results for Group A:# # # # # # #...
. In the tournament, he batted .308 with 2 home runs and 10 RBIs, leading the team in RBI. In Team Korea's second game against Russia
Russia national baseball team
The Russia national baseball team is the national baseball team of Russia. The team competes in the bi-annual European Baseball Championship.-Placings:Baseball World Cup : 16th : 13th : 14thIntercontinental Cup : 9th...
, he went 5-for-6 with a home run and 5 RBIs to lead his team to a 26-3 victory.
In 2004, as a senior he participated in the 2nd World University Baseball Championship
World University Baseball Championship
The World University Baseball Championship is an under-23 international college baseball competition sponsored by the International University Sports Federation and sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation , which was first held in 2002 in Italy...
and led his team to the bronze medal, winning the RBI title.
Notable international careers
| Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 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... |
5th | ||
| 2000 | 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... |
 |
.333 BA (9-for-27), 3 RBI | |
| 2002 | Intercontinental Cup Intercontinental Cup (baseball) The Intercontinental Cup is a baseball tournament between the members of the International Baseball Federation . It was first held in 1973 in Italy, and was held every other year following until 1999.... |
 |
.294 BA (5-for-15) | |
| 2003 | Baseball World Cup 2003 Baseball World Cup The XXXV Baseball World Cup was in Cuba from 12 to 25 October 2003. Participating countries were split in two groups, with the first four of each group qualifying for the finals.-First round:Results for Group A:# # # # # # #... |
8th | .308 BA (12-for-39), 2 HR, 10 RBI, 9 R | |
| 2004 | World University Baseball Championship World University Baseball Championship The World University Baseball Championship is an under-23 international college baseball competition sponsored by the International University Sports Federation and sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation , which was first held in 2002 in Italy... |
 |
1st in RBI | |
Professional career
Drafted by the SK WyvernsSK Wyverns
SK Wyverns Baseball Club is a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 2000. Based in Incheon, they play their home games at Munhak Baseball Stadium.Their current manager is Man Soo Lee .-History:...
in the second round (15th overall) of the 2005 KBO Draft, Jeong made his pro league debut on April 2, 2005. He had a disappointing rookie season, managing only a .193 batting average.
However, the next season he batted .284 with 45 stolen bases (2nd in the league) and 122 hits, and won the Golden Glove award at second base. After the 2006 KBO season, Jeong was selected for the South Korea national team, and won a bronze medal at the 2006 Asian Games
Baseball at the 2006 Asian Games
Baseball was one of the many sports which was held at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar beginning on November 29, 2006. Six East and Southeast Asian nations participated in the tournament. Chinese Taipei won its first ever baseball gold medal in the Asian Games when they mounted a ninth inning...
in Doha
Doha
Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...
, Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
.
Jeong had a .323 batting average (4th in the league) in the 2007 KBO season, the first season of a .300-plus batting average, leading his team to the Korean Series Championship
Korean Series
The Korean Series is the championship series of the Korea Baseball Organization. It has been held since the KBO's first season in and is the final series of in the post-season play-offs. From , the winner of the Korean Series goes on to play in the Asia Series....
. As a member of the South Korea national team, he competed in the 2007 Asian Baseball Championship
2007 Asian Baseball Championship
The 24th Asian Baseball Championship was contested in Taichung, Taiwan in November and December 2007. The tournament is sanctioned by the Asian Baseball Federation. The winner of the tournament will gain automatic entry into the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing...
and 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Qualification
Eight teams will qualify for the Olympic baseball tournament. The host nation qualifies automatically. Additionally, two teams will qualify from the American qualifying tournament, and one team will qualify from both the European and Asian qualifying tournaments...
.
In the 2008 KBO season, Jeong hit .300-plus once again (.317), and ranked 2nd in hits (154) and 3rd in stolen bases (40).
On July 16, 2008, Jeong was selected for South Korea national team in the 2008 Olympics. In Beijing, he batted 9-for-29 with 4 runs and a RBI, playing as a utility infielder
Utility infielder
A utility infielder is a baseball player, usually one who does not have a regular starting role on the team and who is capable of playing more than one of the four defensive infield positions: second base, third base, shortstop, and less typically first base...
. In the team's third game of round-robin play against Canada
Canada national baseball team
Canada has qualified for two Olympic games, in 2004 and 2008. Canadian teams also competed twice when baseball was a demonstration sport, in 1984 and 1988.-1984 Summer Olympics:...
, he smacked a solo home run off Mike Johnson in the third inning that held up for a 1-0 win for South Korea.
On December 11, 2009, he obtained his first Golden Glove Award in the second baseman nomination.
Awards and honors
- 2006 Golden Glove Award (Second baseman)
- 2009 Golden Glove Award (Second baseman)
Career statistics
| Year | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | TB | SB | CS | SH | BB | HBP | K | GIDP | E | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| 2005 | SK SK Wyverns SK Wyverns Baseball Club is a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 2000. Based in Incheon, they play their home games at Munhak Baseball Stadium.Their current manager is Man Soo Lee .-History:... |
52 | 88 | 11 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 3 | 7 | .193 | .236 | .216 | .452 |
| 2006 | 120 | 430 | 69 | 122 | 19 | 4 | 8 | 42 | 173 | 45 | 10 | 17 | 36 | 4 | 60 | 3 | 8 | .284 | .333 | .402 | .735 | |
| 2007 | 111 | 341 | 62 | 110 | 24 | 2 | 9 | 44 | 165 | 24 | 10 | 9 | 35 | 6 | 44 | 6 | 20 | .323 | .386 | .484 | .870 | |
| 2008 | 124 | 491 | 73 | 154 | 20 | 4 | 8 | 58 | 206 | 40 | 20 | 10 | 46 | 3 | 53 | 9 | 15 | .314 | .369 | .420 | .789 | |
| 2009 | 127 | 480 | 98 | 168 | 29 | 4 | 9 | 59 | 232 | 53 | 13 | 7 | 55 | 4 | 8 | .350 | .437 | .483 | .920 | |||
| Total | 534 | 1850 | 313 | 571 | 94 | 14 | 34 | 208 | 795 | 166 | 65 | 53 | 176 | 21 | 170 | 29 | 50 | .312 | .352 | .434 | .753 | |
Bold = led KBO
Notable international careers
| Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Asian Games Baseball at the 2006 Asian Games Baseball was one of the many sports which was held at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar beginning on November 29, 2006. Six East and Southeast Asian nations participated in the tournament. Chinese Taipei won its first ever baseball gold medal in the Asian Games when they mounted a ninth inning... |
|
.350 BA (7-for-20), 3 RBI, 8 R, 3 SB, 4 BB | |
| 2007 | Asian Baseball Championship Asian Baseball Championship The Asian Baseball Championship is the main championship tournament between national baseball teams in Asia, governed by the Baseball Federation of Asia . It is held every other year in odd-numbered years and since 1983 it also functions as the qualification games for the Baseball at the Summer... |
|
.250 BA (2-for-8), 2 RBI, 2 R | |
| 2008 | Olympic Games | |
.310 BA (9-for-29), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 5 R | |
| 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... |
|
.292 BA (7-for-24), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 7 R | |
| 2010 | Guangzhou Asian Games | |
.563 BA (9-for-16), 3 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB | |