Jae-gyun Hwang

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Jae-gyun Hwang

| image = Jae-Gyun Hwang with the San Francisco Giants in 2017 (Cropped).jpg

| image_size = 250px

| caption = Hwang with the San Francisco Giants in 2017

| team = KT Wiz

| number = 10

| position = Third baseman

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|07|28}}

| birth_place = Seoul, South Korea

| death_date =

| death_place =

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = KBO

| debutdate = April 21

| debutyear = 2007

| debutteam = Hyundai Unicorns

| debut2league = MLB

| debut2date = June 28

| debut2year = 2017

| debut2team = San Francisco Giants

| statyear = 2024 season

| statleague = KBO

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .286

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 214

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 1,033

|stat2league = MLB

|stat2year = 2017 season

|stat21label = Batting average

|stat21value = .154

|stat22label = Home runs

|stat22value = 1

|stat23label = Runs batted in

|stat23value = 5

| teams =

Hyundai Unicorns ({{baseball year|2007}})
Woori / Nexen Heroes ({{baseball year|2008}}–{{baseball year|2010}})
Lotte Giants ({{baseball year|2010}}–{{baseball year|2016}})
San Francisco Giants ({{mlby|2017}})
KT Wiz ({{kboy|2018}}–present)

|awards=

;KBO

Korean Series champion ({{kboy|2021}})
KBO Golden Glove Award ({{kboy|2020}})

;International

WBSC Premier12 All-World Team (2015)

| update =

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | {{KOR}}}}

}}

{{Infobox Korean name

| hangul = 황재균

| hanja = 黃載均

| rr = Hwang Jaegyun

| mr = Hwang Chaegyun

}}

Jae-gyun Hwang ({{korean|hangul=황재균|hanja=黃載均}}; born July 28, 1987) is a South Korean professional baseball infielder for the KT Wiz of the KBO League. He has previously played in the KBO League for the Hyundai Unicorns, Nexen Heroes, and Lotte Giants, and in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants.

Career

=Hyundai Unicorns/Nexen Heroes=

Hwang made his KBO League debut in Hyundai Unicorns in 2007. The team folded after his rookie season, and became the Nexen Heroes, for whom he played from 2008 to 2010.

=Lotte Giants=

The Heroes traded Hwang to the Lotte Giants from 2010, and he continued to play for the Giants through the 2016 season.{{cite web|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2017/01/24/0200000000AEN20170124003800315.html |title=San Francisco Giants had eye on 3B Hwang Jae-gyun for years: sources |publisher=English.yonhapnews.co.kr |access-date=July 6, 2017}} Hwang attracted international attention for a bat flip in July 2015, after he hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning against the NC Dinos.{{cite news|url=https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2015/07/02/korean-bat-flip-lotte-jae-gyun-hwang-video|title=This might be the most ostentatious Korean bat flip of all time|work=Sports Illustrated|date=July 2, 2015|access-date=October 17, 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25231897/look-jae-gyun-hwang-unleashes-mother-of-all-bat-flips-after-hr|title=LOOK: Jae-Gyun Hwang unleashes mother of all bat flips after HR|first=Mike|last=Axisa|date=July 2, 2015|access-date=October 17, 2015|agency=CBS Sports}}

In October 2015, Hwang announced that he had asked the Giants to post him for transfer to Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25342416/report-korean-3b-jae-gyun-hwang-asks-to-be-posted-this-offseason|title=Report: Korean 3B Jae-Gyun Hwang asks to be posted this offseason|agency=CBS Sports|date=October 16, 2015|access-date=October 17, 2015|first=Mike|last=Axisa}} His teammate, Ah-seop Son, also asked to be posted.{{cite news|url=http://www.koreatimesus.com/s-korean-infielder-hwang-jae-gyun-to-test-mlb-market/|title=S. Korean infielder Hwang Jae-gyun to test MLB market|date=October 15, 2015|access-date=October 17, 2015|work=The Korea Times}} No MLB team placed a bid for Hwang.{{cite web|author=Charlie Wilmoth |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/12/lotte-giants-receive-no-bidders-for-jae-gyun-hwang.html |title=Lotte Giants Receive No Bidders For Jae-Gyun Hwang |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=December 4, 2015 |access-date=July 6, 2017}}

=San Francisco Giants=

File:Jae-Gyun Hwang 2017 San Francisco Giants Spring Training (1) (Cropped).jpg]]

After becoming a free agent after the 2016 season, Hwang sought a contract with an MLB franchise. On January 23, 2017, the San Francisco Giants announced they had signed Hwang to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training for a chance to make the major league roster. Hwang began the season with the Sacramento River Cats of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League on April 8, 2017.{{Cite news|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2017/01/24/0200000000AEN20170124003600315.html|title=S. Korean 3B Hwang Jae-gyun signs with San Francisco Giants|newspaper=Yonhap News Agency|language=en|access-date=January 24, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Giants sign Korean third baseman Hwang|date=January 23, 2017|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/01/23/giants-agree-to-terms-with-korean-third-baseman-jae-gyun-hwang/|access-date=January 24, 2017}} In late June, Hwang told the Giants that he would use the opt-out clause in his contract and become a free agent if he was not called up to the major leagues by July 1.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-jae-gyun-hwang-plans-to-opt-out-of-contract/|title=Giants' Jae-Gyun Hwang: Plans to opt out of contract|work=CBSSports.com|access-date=June 28, 2017|language=en}} He had batted .287 with seven home runs and 44 RBIs, splitting his time between third and first base,{{cite web|last=Shea |first=John |url=http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Giants-calling-up-Jae-Gyun-Hwang-showcasing-11251836.php |title=Giants calling up Jae-Gyun Hwang, showcasing Heliot Ramos |publisher=SFGate |date=June 27, 2017 |access-date=July 6, 2017}} before the Giants promoted Hwang to the major leagues. Hwang debuted for the Giants at third base on June 28. He picked up his first hit, a solo home run, on the same day.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/watch-giants-hwang-crushes-home-run-for-first-mlb-hit-doesnt-flip-his-bat/|title=WATCH: Giants' Hwang crushes home run for first MLB hit, doesn't flip his bat|work=CBSSports.com|access-date=June 28, 2017|language=en}} On August 31, 2017, Hwang was designated for assignment by the Giants and was outrighted to the Sacramento River Cats, the Giants AAA affiliate.{{Cite web|url=http://www.knbr.com/2017/08/31/giants-dfa-jae-gyun-hwang-call-up-four-players-report/|title = Giants DFA Jae-gyun Hwang, call up four players [report] | KNBR}} He elected free agency on November 6, 2017.

=KT Wiz=

On November 12, 2017, Hwang signed a four-year, $7.9 million contract with the KT Wiz.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/11/kbos-kt-wiz-sign-jae-gyun-hwang.html|title=KBO's KT Wiz Sign Jae-Gyun Hwang|last=Polishuk|first=Mark|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=November 12, 2017|access-date=November 12, 2017}} Cho Moo-geun was named as his reward player.{{Cite web|title=롯데, 황재균 보상선수로 kt 조무근 지명|url=https://sports.news.naver.com/news.nhn?oid=001&aid=0009699774|access-date=2020-06-18|website=sports.news.naver.com|language=ko}} On December 27, 2021, Hwang re-signed with the Wiz on a four-year, $5.1 million contract.{{cite web | url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20211227000575 | title=KT Wiz re-sign free agent Hwang Jae-gyun | date=December 27, 2021 }}

Personal life

On February 10, 2022, Hwang announced in a handwritten letter via personal SNS that he and singer-actress Park Ji-yeon, will get married in the winter of this year.{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=018&aid=0005144027|author=Kim Ga-young|title=티아라 지연♥야구선수 황재균, 올 겨울 결혼 [공식]|trans-title=T-ara Jiyeon♥ Baseball player Hwang Jae-gyun to get married this winter [Official]|publisher=E-Daily|via=Naver|date=February 10, 2022|access-date= February 10, 2022|language=ko}} They married in a private ceremony on December 10 at Shilla Hotel.{{cite web |last=Shin |first=Young-eun |date=November 2, 2022 |title=티아라 지연♥황재균, 12월 10일 결혼 |trans-title=T-ara Jiyeon♥ Hwang Jae-gyun to get married on December 10th |url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=009&aid=0005039172 |access-date=November 2, 2022 |publisher=Meil Star Today business |language=ko |via=Naver}} The ceremony was attended by the couple's closest family and friends, and IU sang the congratulatory song.{{Cite web |last=Kang Min-kyung |date=December 10, 2022 |title='오늘 결혼' 티아라 지연♥황재균, 웨딩 화보 공개…그림 같은 힙한 매력 |trans-title='Today's Marriage' T-ara Jiyeon ♥ Hwang Jae-gyun, wedding pictorial release... Picturesque hip charm |url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=312&aid=0000584801 |access-date=December 10, 2022 |website=Ten Asia |language=ko}} On October 5, 2024, it was officially announced that after nearly two years of marriage, they had separated and mutually agreed to divorce.{{cite web|title=지연·황재균, 별거 끝 결혼 2년만에 이혼…"좋지 않은 모습 죄송"|trans-title=Jiyeon and Hwang Jae-gyun, divorce after 2 years of marriage after separation… "Sorry for not looking good"|url=https://www.news1.kr/life-culture/general-cultural/5559690|website=News1|language=ko|last=Hwang|first=Mi-hyun|date=October 5, 2024|access-date=October 5, 2024}}{{cite web|title="사실무근"이라더니…황재균·지연, 2년 여만에 결국 이혼|trans-title=“It’s groundless”, they said… Hwang Jae-gyun and Ji-yeon finally divorce after 2 years|url=https://www.hankyung.com/article/2024100564647|website=Hankyung|language=ko|last=Kim|first=Se-rin|date=October 5, 2024|access-date=October 5, 2024}}

International career

He represented South Korea at the 2014 Asian Games, 2015 WBSC Premier12 and 2018 Asian Games.{{cite news |title=2018 아시안게임 야구 대표팀 선수 교체 |url=https://www.koreabaseball.com/News/Notice/View.aspx?bdSe=7133 |language=ko |publisher=Korea Baseball Organization |date=August 13, 2018|access-date=August 29, 2018}}

class="wikitable"
Year !Venue !Competition !Team !Individual Note
2014 \|{{Bb\|KOR}} \|Incheon Asian Games \|style="text-align:center"\| Image:Gold medal icon.svg \|
2018 \|{{Bb\|KOR}} \|Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games \|style="text-align:center"\| Image:Gold medal icon.svg \|

class="wikitable"

Year

!Venue

!Competition

!Team

!Individual Note

2014

|{{Bb|KOR}}

|Incheon Asian Games

|style="text-align:center"| Image:Gold medal icon.svg

2018

|{{Bb|KOR}}

|Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games

|style="text-align:center"| Image:Gold medal icon.svg

Television appearances

2021, King of Mask Singer (MBC): Contestant as "Mr. Bean" (episode 289){{Cite news|author=Kim Na-ra|title='복면가왕' 지코 친형 우태운의 반전 역습 "잘나가는 동생 때문에 불편했는데…" [종합]|url=http://mydaily.co.kr/new_yk/html/read.php?newsid=202101101929635935|website=My Daily|date=January 10, 2021|access-date=January 10, 2021|language=ko}}

References

External links

{{baseballstats|mlb=666561|espn=36152|br=h/hwangja01|fangraphs=19369|brm=hwang-001jae|retro=H/Phwanj001}}

[http://eng.koreabaseball.com/Teams/PlayerInfoHitter/Summary.aspx?pcode=76313 Career statistics and player information] from the KBO League
[http://www.giantsclub.com/html/?pcode=412&pc=76313 Hwang Jae-gyun] at Lotte Giants Baseball Club {{in lang|ko}}

Category:1987 births

Category:Living people

Category:Asian Games gold medalists for South Korea

Category:Asian Games medalists in baseball

Category:Baseball players at the 2014 Asian Games

Category:Baseball players at the 2018 Asian Games

Category:Baseball players at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Category:Baseball players from Seoul

Category:Hyundai Unicorns players

Category:KBO League third basemen

Category:Kiwoom Heroes players

Category:KT Wiz players