View source for Hong Sung-heon

{{short description|South Korean baseball player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{family name hatnote|Hong||lang=Korean}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Hong Sung-heon
|team=
|number=
|position=[[Designated hitter]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1976|10|21}}
|debutleague=[[Korea Baseball Organization|KBO]]
|debutyear=1999
|debutteam=[[Doosan Bears]]
|finalleague = KBO
|finaldate = August 9
|finalyear = 2016
|finalteam = Doosan Bears
|statyear=
|statleague=KBO
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.301
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=208
|stat3label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=1,120
|teams=
* [[Doosan Bears]] ({{baseball year|1999}}–{{baseball year|2008}})
* [[Lotte Giants]] ({{baseball year|2009}}–{{baseball year|2012}})
* [[Doosan Bears]] ({{baseball year|2013}}–{{baseball year|2016}})
| highlights = 
* 3x [[Korean Series]] champion (2001, 2015, 2016)
* 2x [[Korea Baseball Organization|KBO]] All-Star Game MVP (2006, 2010)
* [[Korea Baseball Organization|KBO]] [[KBO League Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]] (1999)
* 6x [[Korea Baseball Organization|KBO]] [[KBO League Golden Glove Award|Golden Glove Award]] winner (2001, 2004, 2008–2011)
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Baseball at the Summer Olympics|Baseball]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{KOR}}}}
{{MedalBronze | [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]] | [[Baseball at the 2000 Summer Olympics|Team]]}}
}}

'''Hong Sung-heon''' ({{Korean|hangul=홍성흔}}; born October 21, 1976, in [[Hoengseong County]], [[Gangwon-do (South Korea)|Gangwon-do]], South Korea) is a former South Korean [[designated hitter]]. He batted and threw right-handed.

Hong was a [[Catcher (baseball)|catcher]], and had been regularly called up to the [[South Korea national baseball team]] as a starting catcher until he was converted to a designated hitter in 2007.

== Amateur career ==
In June 1998, as a senior at [[Kyung Hee University]], Hong got his first call-up to the [[South Korea national baseball team]] for the 4-Nation Friendly Baseball Championship in [[Kobe]], Japan.

In July 1998, Hong participated in the [[1998 Baseball World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BCK/BB/37990.shtml|title=Baseball: Medallists from previous World Cups|publisher=Beijing 2008|access-date=April 23, 2009|date=July 17, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903135522/http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BCK/BB/37990.shtml|archive-date=September 3, 2008}}</ref> South Korea eventually claimed the silver medal two times in a row, and as a starting catcher he led the team attack alongside [[cleanup hitter]] [[Hee-seop Choi|Choi Hee-seop]] and [[Park Han-yi]].

In November 1998, Hong was called up to the South Korean national team for the [[baseball at the 1998 Asian Games|1998 Asian Games]], which included professional players for the first time ever.<ref>{{cite news
 |url      = http://media.daum.net/breakingnews/sports/view.html?cateid=1028&newsid=20061128142012227&p=SpoSeoul
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722134659/http://media.daum.net/breakingnews/sports/view.html?cateid=1028&newsid=20061128142012227&p=SpoSeoul
 |url-status = dead
 |archive-date = July 22, 2011
 |title    = Korean Baseball History at the Asian Games (2): Inaugural Dream Team
 |date     = November 28, 2006
 |work     = [[Seoul Sinmun|Sports Seoul]]
 |first    = Jae-guk
 |last     = Lee
 |language = ko
}}</ref>
He was the only amateur catcher on the roster.

=== Notable international careers ===
{| class="wikitable"
!style="background:#0A6EFF"|<span style="color:white;">Year</span>
!style="background:#0A6EFF"|<span style="color:white;">Venue</span>
!style="background:#0A6EFF"|<span style="color:white;">Competition</span>
!style="background:#0A6EFF"|<span style="color:white;">Team</span>
!style="background:#0A6EFF"|<span style="color:white;">Individual Note</span>
|-
|1998
|{{Bb|ITA}}
|[[1998 Baseball World Cup|Baseball World Cup]]
|style="text-align:center"|[[Image:Silver medal icon.svg]]
|.229 BA (8-for-35), 7 RBI
|-
|1998
|{{Bb|THA}}
|[[Baseball at the Asian Games|Asian Games]]
|style="text-align:center"|[[Image:Gold medal icon.svg]]
|.143 BA (1-for-7), 1 R
|}

== Professional career ==

=== Doosan Bears ===
Hong was drafted by the [[Doosan Bears]] in the first round of the [[Korea Baseball Organization|KBO]] Draft after graduating from [[Kyung Hee University]] in 1999. In his first season, he batted a respectable .258 with 16 home runs and 63 RBI, and earned the starting position behind the plate in the Bears. Hong ended up earning KBO Rookie of the Year Award honors, becoming the first Bear since [[Yoon Suk-Hwan]] in 1984 to win the award.

In 2000, his [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] rose to .290, leading the league in batting average until the All-Star break. In September, Hong was selected as a member of the [[South Korea national baseball team]] that won their first olympic medal at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] in Sydney, Australia. In the tourney, he batted .240 with a home run and 3 RBI, sharing a starting position behind the plate with [[Park Kyung-Oan]] of the [[Hyundai Unicorns]].

In 2004, Hong led the KBO league in [[Hit (baseball)|hits]] (165), appearing in 133 all regular season games as a starting catcher. He was third in [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] (.329) and fifth in [[Run batted in|RBI]] (86), smacking 14 [[home run]]s and stealing 10 [[stolen base|base]]s, and won his second Golden Glove Award as a [[catcher]].

During the 2005 season, due to his hamstring injury and defensive deficiencies, Hong began to split his time between catching and designating hitting. After the season, he announced that he would not give up his catching position in the Bears, and his intention came into conflict with the team's manager [[Kim Kyung-Moon]].

In the beginning of the 2007 season, he was sidelined with hamstring injury, and the Bears' backup catcher [[Chae Sang-Byung]] filled Hong's void behind the plate. Hong came back as the starting catcher for the Bears in the middle of the season. His offense, however, did not perform at the level expected, as he spent the majority of the season platooning with Chae Sang-Byung, and amid much controversy the manager Kim eventually named Chae the starter for the end of the season.

In 2008, as a full-time designated hitter, Hong finished runner-up in [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] with .331 and fourth in [[Hit (baseball)|hits]] (140). After the season, he won his third Golden Glove Award as a designated hitter.
In a broadcast program, which appeared after retirement, he introduced a story of his past experience with Stephen Blas' syndrome. Steven Blass syndrome refers to a syndrome in which a baseball player suffers from poor control, such as a sudden strike. It is a term derived from a real example of Steve Blas, a right-hander who led Pittsburgh to the World Series title in 1971. Hong Sung-heun's frequent defensive errors at the time were also due to skills problems caused by suffering from Steven Blas syndrome.

=== Lotte Giants ===
Hong became a [[free agent]] after the 2008 season and signed a four-year deal with the [[Lotte Giants]] on November 27, 2008.

In 2009, Hong noyce was runner-up in [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] again with a career-high .371, only .001 behind league-leader [[Park Yong-Taik]] of the [[LG Twins]]. On December 11, 2009, he won his fourth the Golden Glove Award in Designated hitter nomination for two consecutive years.<ref>{{in lang|ko}} [http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=001&oid=109&aid=0002069860 KIA, GG 수상자 4명 배출…최다득표 김현수(종합)]</ref>

In 2010, Hong was runner-up in [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]], [[Hit (baseball)|hits]], [[Run batted in|RBI]], [[Slugging percentage]], [[On-base plus slugging|OPS]], third in [[On-base percentage]] and fourth in [[Homeruns]]. On July 24, 2010, he became All-star Game MVP. He also became the most voted All-star game player of KBO history.<ref>{{in lang|ko}} [http://sports.media.daum.net/baseball/news/breaking/view.html?cateid=1028&newsid=20100712085822409&p=joynews24, 롯데 홍성흔, 올스타 역대 '최다 득표'… 삼성·SK '올스타' 없어]</ref> On December 11, 2010, he won his fifth the Golden Glove Award in Designated hitter nomination for three consecutive years.<ref>{{in lang|ko}} [http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/12/11/2010121100622.html, 롯데 홍성흔, 최다득표로 골든글러브 수상]</ref>

He announced his retirement from active service on November 21, 2016. He has since moved to the U.S. under Park Chan-ho's introduction to take training as a leader and coach the San Diego Padres Rookie team.<ref>{{Cite web|title=[이영미 人터뷰] 홍성흔은 어떻게 해서 샌디에이고 정식 코치가 되었나|url=https://sports.news.naver.com/news.nhn?oid=380&aid=0000001056|website=sports.news.naver.com|language=ko|access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref>

=== Awards and honors ===
*2001 Golden Glove Award (Catcher)
*2004 Golden Glove Award (Catcher)
*2008 Golden Glove Award (Designated hitter)
*2009 Golden Glove Award (Designated hitter)
*2010 Golden Glove Award (Designated hitter)
*2011 Golden Glove Award (Designated hitter)

=== Interesting record ===
No. 2 batting average for the third consecutive year. (2008~2010)
First catcher to record the most hits in a season. (2004)

=== Notable international careers ===
{| class="wikitable"
!style="background:#0A6EFF"|<span style="color:white;">Year</span>
!style="background:#0A6EFF"|<span style="color:white;">Venue</span>
!style="background:#0A6EFF"|<span style="color:white;">Competition</span>
!style="background:#0A6EFF"|<span style="color:white;">Team</span>
!style="background:#0A6EFF"|<span style="color:white;">Individual Note</span>
|-
|1999
|{{Bb|KOR}}
|[[Asian Baseball Championship]]
|style="text-align:center"| [[Image:Gold medal icon.svg]]
|.125 BA (1-for-8), 1 R
|-
|2000
|{{Bb|AUS}}
|[[baseball at the 2000 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|style="text-align:center"| [[Image:Bronze medal icon.svg]]
|.240 BA (6-for-25), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R
|-
|2002
|{{Bb|KOR}}
|[[Baseball at the 2002 Asian Games|Asian Games]]
|style="text-align:center"| [[Image:Gold medal icon.svg]]
|.240 BA (4-for-15), 2 RBI, 2 R
|-
|2006
|{{Bb|USA}}
|[[2006 World Baseball Classic|World Baseball Classic]]
|style="text-align:center"| [[Image:Bronze medal icon.svg]]
|.500 BA (2-for-4), 1 RBI
|}

== Filmography ==
===Television shows ===
{| class="wikitable  plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" | Notes
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2021–present
| ''[[Mr. House Husband]] 2''
| rowspan=2| Cast Member
| Season 2
| <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=001&aid=0012594849 |author=Kim Jeong-jin |title=홍성흔, KBS '살림남2' 합류…가족과의 일상 공개|trans-title=Hong Seong-heon joins KBS 'Salim Nam 2'... Daily life with family|work=Yonhap News   |publisher=[[Naver]] |date= August 12, 2021 |access-date= August 12, 2021 |language=ko}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| 2021
| ''Wild Cave'' 
|
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=079&aid=0003556495|author=Yoo Won-jeong |title=현주엽→함연지 라인업 '동굴캐슬' 부부 극한 생존기|trans-title=Hyun Joo-yeop → Ham Yeon-ji Lineup 'Cave Castle' Couple Extreme Survival |work=CBS No Cut News|via=[[Naver]] |date=September 27, 2021|access-date= September 27, 2021|language=ko}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=3| 2022
| ''Back to the Ground''
| Participant
| 
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=311&aid=0001408838|author=Kim Ye-eun|title=[단독] 홍성흔·이대형·채태인, 다시 그라운드로…'빽투더그라운드' 합류|trans-title= [Exclusive] Hong Seong-heon, Lee Dae-hyung, Chae Tae-in, back to the ground… Joining 'Back to the Ground'|publisher=xportsnews|via=[[Naver]]|date=February 11, 2022|access-date= February 11, 2022|language=ko}}</ref> 
|-
| ''Round Table''
| rowspan=3| Contestant
|Chuseok Special
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=421&aid=0006317245|author=Ahn Tae-hyun|title=강호동, 추석특집 '라운드 테이블' MC 낙점…6년만에 KBS 귀환|trans-title=Kang Ho-dong, Chuseok special 'Round Table' MC selected... Return to KBS after 6 years |publisher=News1|via=[[Naver]]|date=September 5, 2022|access-date=September 5, 2022|language=ko}}</ref> 
|-
|''The First Business in the World''
|
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=477&aid=0000381590|author=Jeong Seo-hee|title=이경규X배성재, '천하제일장사' MC…추성훈·홍성흔→윤형빈, 씨름 강자 가른다|trans-title=Lee Kyung-gyu X Bae Seong-jae, MC of 'The World's Best Sellers'... Choo Seong-hoon and Hong Seong-heon → Yoon Hyung-bin, the best wrestling players |publisher=spoTV News|via=[[Naver]]|date=September 14, 2022|access-date=September 14, 2022|language=ko}}</ref> 
|-
! scope="row"| 2023
| ''World's First Merchant''
| Season 2
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=449&aid=0000246137 |author= |title=천하제일장사2’ 조진형·남경진·모태범, 인터뷰…조진형 "피지컬팀 마선호·김경진, 우승 확률 50%|trans-title=Interview with Cho Jin-hyung, Nam Kyung-jin, and Mo Tae-beom of ‘The First Merchant 2’ Cho Jin-hyung “Physical team Ma Seon-ho and Kim Kyung-jin, 50% chance of winning”|publisher=[[Channel A (TV channel)|Channel A]]|via=[[Naver]]|date=March 22, 2023|access-date=March 22, 2023|language=ko}}</ref>  
|-
|}

== Awards and nominations ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
! scope="col" | Award ceremony
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Category
! scope="col" | Nominee / Work
! scope="col" | Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
! scope="row"  rowspan="2" | [[KBS Entertainment Awards]]
| rowspan="2" |[[2021 KBS Entertainment Awards|2021]]
| Rookie Award in Reality Category
| rowspan="2" |''[[Mr. House Husband]] 2''
| {{won}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=117&aid=0003564923|author=Lee Seung-rok|title=라비·홍성흔 가족, 생애 단 한번뿐인 신인상 쾌거 [KBS연예대상]|trans-title=Ravi and Hong Seong-heon's family, a once-in-a-lifetime Rookie of the Year award [KBS Entertainment Awards] |publisher=My Daily|via=[[Naver]] |date=December 25, 2021|access-date= December 26, 2021|language=ko}}</ref>
|-
| Best Teamwork Award
| {{won}}
|
|-
|}

==Personal life==
Hong married former model Kim Jung-im in 2004. They have a son and [[Hong Hwa-ri|a daughter]].<ref>{{cite news|title="아내에게 욕한 모친과 인연 끊어" 홍성흔 가정사 고백|url=https://www.chosun.com/culture-life/broadcast-media/2021/09/08/4DDLQNMHIFAXFB6HVXXK7LGJPQ/|work=[[The Chosun Ilbo]]|date=September 8, 2021}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* Career statistics and player information at the [http://eng.koreabaseball.com/Teams/PlayerInfoHitter/Summary.aspx?pcode=99222 KBO official website]
{{baseballstats |mlb= |espn= |br= |fangraphs= |cube= |brm=hong--000seo}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930010632/http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HONGSUN02 databaseolympics]

{{KBO League Rookie of the Year}}
{{South Korea baseball roster 2000 Summer Olympics}}
{{South Korea roster 2006 World Baseball Classic}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hong, Sung-Heon}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:2006 World Baseball Classic players]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists in baseball]]
[[Category:Asian Games baseball players for South Korea]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 1998 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 2002 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Doosan Bears players]]
[[Category:KBO League catchers]]
[[Category:KBO League designated hitters]]
[[Category:KBO League Rookie of the Year Award winners]]
[[Category:Kyung Hee University alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Lotte Giants players]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for South Korea]]
[[Category:Olympic baseball players for South Korea]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in baseball]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Gangwon Province, South Korea]]
[[Category:South Korean baseball players]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1998 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2002 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists for South Korea]]
[[Category:1998 Baseball World Cup players]]
[[Category:World Baseball Classic players of South Korea]]