| Kang Baek-ho | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Baek-ho in 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| KT Wiz – No. 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| First baseman / Outfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born: July 29, 1999 Incheon, South Korea | |||||||||||||||||||||
Bats: Left Throws: Right | |||||||||||||||||||||
| KBO debut | |||||||||||||||||||||
| March 24, 2018, for the KT Wiz | |||||||||||||||||||||
| KBO statistics (through June 1, 2024) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting average | .312 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Home runs | 111 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 460 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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| Kang Baek-ho | |
| Hangul | 강백호 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Gang Baek-ho |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kang Paek-ho |
Kang Baek-ho (Korean: 강백호; born July 29, 1999) is a South Korean professional baseball first baseman and outfielder for the KT Wiz of the KBO League.
Amateur career
Kang began playing baseball in elementary school but had to move between schools several times as a youth due to "a family issue" which he told Ilgan Sports was "hard to talk about."[1]
Kang played high school baseball as a pitcher, catcher and designated hitter at Seoul High School where, as a freshman, he was the first player to hit a home run at Gocheok Sky Dome. In 2017, he led Seoul to a high school baseball championship and was named the most valuable player of the tournament.[2] Kang's accomplishments as a high schooler brought him significant media attention.[1][2][3] After high school, Kang decided to enter the KBO against the wishes of his father who wanted him to try for "a bigger stage."[1]
Professional career
Kang was selected with the first overall pick in the 2017 KBO draft by the KT Wiz. He made his KBO debut at 18 years old and hit a home run against Héctor Noesí in the first plate appearance of his career.[4] As a professional, he stopped pitching and catching and transitioned to the field.[2] Kang set the rookie record with 29 home runs en route to winning the KBO League Rookie of the Year Award.[5] He pitched in the 2018 KBO All-Star Game and reached speeds of 150 kilometres per hour (93.2 mph). Following the season, his salary was more than tripled to ₩120 million (equivalent to $102,973 in 2019), setting a record for a sophomore player.[2]
In June 2019, Kang underwent surgery on his hand after cutting it on a piece of metal while making a catch in foul territory at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium.[6] He sat out for the entire month of July due to the injury but was voted a starter on the all-star team nonetheless.[1][7]
Kang missed three weeks of the 2020 season after hurting his wrist while sliding on defense.[3] Fans voted Kang to the all-star team again in 2020 although the game did not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]
At the halfway point of the 2021 season, Kang had a batting average of .395 which led the league by 47 points.[9] He reached base in eight consecutive plate appearances in Games 1 and 2 of the 2021 Korean Series, tying a Korean Series record.[10]
International career
Kang represented South Korea at the 2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup where he pitched and played the field. He won a silver medal and was named to the All-World Team.[11]
In 2019, he represented South Korea in the Premier12 and played well.[12]
He was named to the South Korean roster for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[13]
Kim won a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games for South Korea, appearing in six baseball contests, and batting .273/.409/.333 in 22 at-bats.[14]
References
- ^ a b c d Hee-Soo, An (September 20, 2019). "Kang Baek-ho reflects on his sophomore season". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d Kim, Hyo-Kyung (January 14, 2019). "Kang Baek-ho becomes best-paid sophomore". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ a b Hee-Soo, Ahn; Ji-Eun, Seo (March 3, 2021). "KT Wiz slugger Kang Baek-ho has been hitting the weights". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ "1st overall draft pick hits 1st home run of 2018 KBO season". The Korea Herald. Yonhap News Agency. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
- ^ "Former two-way baseball player abandons pitching dreams after one bullpen session". 8 February 2019.
- ^ "(2nd LD) All-Star outfielder has surgery on right hand after incident at road stadium". Yonhap News Agency. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ "Romak tops KBO All-Star vote". Korea JoongAng Daily. Yonhap News Agency. July 8, 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
- ^ Jee-ho, Yoo (7 September 2020). "Lotte Giants' shortstop Machado tops KBO All-Star fan voting". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
- ^ "Youngest franchise on top as 1st half of KBO season comes to abrupt halt". The Korea Herald. Yonhap News Agency. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ "With hot bats, airtight defense, Wiz take 2-0 Korean Series lead over Bears | Yonhap News Agency". Yonhap News Agency. 15 November 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ "U-18 Baseball World Cup 2017 standout Baek-ho Kang wins 2018 KBO Rookie of the Year". wbsc.org. World Baseball Softball Confederation. November 19, 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ News), 경기일보(Kyeonggi Daily (2019-10-02). "김광현·강백호, 프리미어12 '김경문호' 승선…드림팀 출범". 경기일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ "Defending Olympic baseball champ Korea announces Tokyo 2020 roster, includes eight rookies". wbsc.org. World Baseball Softball Confederation. June 16, 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ "KANG Baekho". World Baseball Softball Confederation Asia. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
External links
- Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
- 1999 births
- Living people
- Baseball players from Seoul
- South Korean baseball players
- Asian Games gold medalists for South Korea
- Olympic baseball players for South Korea
- 2019 WBSC Premier12 players
- 2023 World Baseball Classic players
- Asian Games medalists in baseball
- Baseball players at the 2020 Summer Olympics
- Baseball players at the 2022 Asian Games
- KBO League first basemen
- KBO League outfielders
- KBO League Rookie of the Year Award winners
- KT Wiz players
- Seoul High School alumni
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