View source for Kwang-hyun Kim

{{Short description|South Korean baseball player (born 1988)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{western name order|Kim Kwang-hyun}}
{{family name hatnote|Kim|lang=Korean}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name        = Kwang-hyun Kim
|image       = Kim Kwang-hyun 2019 Premier 12.jpg
|image_size  = 250
|caption     = Kim with Team [[South Korea national baseball team|South Korea]] at the [[2019 WBSC Premier 12]]
|team        = SSG Landers
|number      = 29
|position    = [[Pitcher]]
|birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1988|7|22}}
|birth_place = [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]]
|bats        = Left
|throws      = Left
|debutleague = KBO
|debutdate   = April 10
|debutyear   = 2007
|debutteam   = SK Wyverns
|debut2league= MLB
|debut2date  = July 25
|debut2year  = 2020
|debut2team  = St. Louis Cardinals
|statyear    = 2024 season
|statleague  = KBO
|stat1label  = [[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value  = 170-98
|stat2label  = [[Earned run average]]
|stat2value  = 3.33
|stat3label  = [[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value  = 1,882
|stat2year   = 2021 season
|stat2league = MLB
|stat21label = Win-loss record
|stat21value = 10–7
|stat22label = Earned run average
|stat22value = 2.97
|stat23label = Strikeouts
|stat23value = 104
|teams       =
* [[SSG Landers|SK Wyverns]] ({{baseball year|2007}}–{{baseball year|2019}})
* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{mlby|2020}}–{{mlby|2021}})
* [[SSG Landers]] ({{baseball year|2022}}–present)
|awards      = 
;KBO
* [[Choi Dong-won Award]] ({{baseball year|2022}})
* [[KBO League Most Valuable Player Award|MVP]] (2008)
* [[KBO League Golden Glove Award|Golden Glove Award]] (2008)
* 5× [[Korean Series]] Champion ([[2007 Korean Series|2007]], [[2008 Korean Series|2008]], [[2010 Korean Series|2010]], [[2018 Korean Series|2018]], [[2022 Korean Series|2022]])
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport | Men's [[baseball]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{bb|KOR}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[World Baseball Classic]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[2009 World Baseball Classic|2009 Los Angeles]] | [[South Korea national baseball team|Team]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[WBSC Premier12]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2015 WBSC Premier12|2015 Tokyo]] | [[South Korea national baseball team|Team]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[2019 WBSC Premier12|2019 Tokyo]] | [[South Korea national baseball team|Team]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Baseball at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing]] | [[South Korea national baseball team|Team]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Baseball at the Asian Games|Asian Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Baseball at the 2014 Asian Games|2014 Incheon]]| [[South Korea national baseball team|Team]] }}
}}
{{Infobox Korean name
| hangul  = 김광현
| hanja   = {{linktext|金|廣|鉉}}
| rr      = Gim Gwanghyeon
| mr      = Kim Kwanghyŏn
}}

'''Kwang-hyun Kim''' ({{Korean|hangul=김광현}}; born July 22, 1988) is a South Korean professional [[baseball]] [[pitcher]] for the [[SSG Landers]] of the [[KBO League]]. He has also played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[St. Louis Cardinals]].

==Amateur career==
Kim attended Ansan Technical High School in [[Ansan]], [[Gyeonggi Province]], [[South Korea]]. In 2004, he led his team to the first national championship ever, pitching four-consecutive complete game victories in the tournament with a 0.96 ERA, and was named MVP.

== Professional career ==

=== SK Wyverns (2007–2019) ===
Signed by the [[SK Wyverns]], Kim made his professional debut on April 10, 2007. He was in the Wyverns' starting pitching rotation for most of the [[2007 Korea Baseball Organization season|2007 KBO League season]]. Although his performance was inconsistent, he showed signs of promise as a rookie, including pitching a one-hit victory in 7{{frac|1|3}} innings over the [[Doosan Bears]], facing MVP [[Danny Rios|Daniel Rios]] in the [[2007 Korean Series]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2019}}

In the 2008 season, Kim had a career year. He went 16–4 with a 2.39 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 162 innings pitched. Kim ended the season as the KBO League leader for both wins and strikeouts.<ref name="kbo">[https://www.koreabaseball.com/Record/Player/PitcherBasic/Basic1.aspx 기록실 | 기록 | KBO]. [[Korea Baseball Organization]]. Retrieved December 20, 2019.</ref>

On August 2, 2009, Kim was [[hit (baseball)|hit]] with a batted ball hit by [[Hyun-soo Kim]] when he had one of the worst pitching performances in his [[KBO League]] career, allowing 4 runs in just 2 innings against the [[Doosan Bears]]. He suffered a [[fracture]] on the back of his [[hand]] and he was out for the [[season (sports)|season]] as the result. However, he won the 2009 [[earned run average|ERA]] title, pitching 138.1 innings which enabled him enough to qualify for the ERA title.<ref name="kbo" />

On November 4, 2014, Kim was [[Posting system|posted]] to [[Major League Baseball|MLB]]. The [[San Diego Padres]] won the bidding with a bid of $2 million.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2014/11/11/san-diego-padres-post-bid-kim-kwang-hyun|title=Report: Padres post $2 million bid for Korean pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun|access-date=July 10, 2015|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=November 11, 2014}}</ref> However, contract negotiations ended without an agreement and Kim returned to the SK Wyverns.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20141212000472|title=Kim Kwang-hyun fails to reach deal with San Diego Padres|access-date=July 10, 2015|date=December 12, 2014|publisher=[[Korean Herald]]}}</ref>

For the 2019 season, Kim went 17–6 with a 2.51 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP over 190.1 innings.<ref>{{cite web|author=Air 9:53PM |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/sports/mlb/stl-cardinals/cardinals-announce-signing-of-korean-lefty-kwang-hyun-kim/63-9db6524f-1276-4bfb-bc3c-c73fc6de19c9 |title=Cardinals {{pipe}} St. Louis signs lefty Kwang-hyun Kim |date=December 17, 2019 |publisher=ksdk.com |access-date=December 18, 2019}}</ref>

=== St. Louis Cardinals (2020–2021) ===
On December 17, 2019, Kim signed a two-year contract worth $11 million (combined option $3 million) with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Post-Dispatch store |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals-sign-korean-lefty-kim-to--year-deal-worth/article_19257c31-a60e-5d53-b52a-2a4ce475acde.html |title=Cardinals sign Korean lefty Kim to 2-year deal worth $8 million {{pipe}} St. Louis Cardinals |publisher=stltoday.com |date=January 1, 1970 |access-date=December 18, 2019}}</ref> The SK Wyverns received a $1.6 million [[Posting system (KBO)|posting fee]].<ref>[https://www.wbsc.org/news/wbsc-premier12-star-kim-kwanghyun-signs-for-mlb-st-louis-cardinals "WBSC Premier12 star Kim Kwanghyun signs for MLB St. Louis Cardinals,"] World Baseball Softball Federation (Dec. 18, 2019).</ref>  When the start of the [[2020 Major League Baseball season]] was [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports#Baseball|delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic]], Kim considered returning to Korea to be with his family. He was convinced, however, by Cardinals teammate [[Adam Wainwright]] to stay in the United States with the Cardinals.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hummel |first1=Rick |title=Time off was extra hard for Cardinals' Kim |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/time-off-was-extra-hard-for-cardinals-kim/article_34827d37-57e4-506b-b47c-18b0c3925790.html |access-date=31 July 2021 |work=[[STLtoday.com]] |publisher=[[St. Louis Post Dispatch]] |date=July 9, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

On July 24, 2020, Kim made his MLB debut against the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], allowing 1 earned run over 1 inning of work.<ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/jack-flaherty-cardinals-top-pirates-on-opening-day | title=In 'weird' opener, Flaherty lifts Cards to win | work=MLB.com | author=Anne Rogers | date=July 25, 2020 | access-date=July 30, 2020 }}</ref> On August 22, he earned his 1st MLB win.<ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/kwang-hyun-kim-cardinals-shut-out-reds-in-win | title=Kim earns 1st MLB win, leads Cards' shutout | work=MLB.com | author=Anne Rogers | date=August 23, 2020 | access-date=August 24, 2020 }}</ref> Kim finished his first MLB season with a 3–0 record, 24 strikeouts and a 1.62 ERA.

In 2021, Kim appeared in 27 games (21 starts) and posted a 7–7 record with a 3.46 ERA, 80 strikeouts and 39 walks in {{frac|106|2|3}} innings. He became a free agent following the season.

===SSG Landers (2022–present)===
On March 7, 2022, Kim signed a 4-year, $12.3M contract with the [[SSG Landers]], returning to the KBO.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/kwang-hyun-kim-signs-four-year-deal-with-kbos-ssg-landers.html|title=Kwang-Hyun Kim Signs Four-Year Deal With KBO's SSG Landers|website=www.mlbtraderumors.com|date=March 7, 2022|access-date=March 8, 2022}}</ref> His contract was the most valuable in the history of the league.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goold |first1=Derrick |title=Kim returns to South Korea on record-setting contract with KBO's Landers |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/birdland/kim-returns-to-south-korea-on-record-setting-contract-with-kbos-landers/article_d1bc6611-bbe9-5cd2-b874-dcb89190c429.html |access-date=25 March 2023 |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |date=March 8, 2022 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308143147/https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/birdland/kim-returns-to-south-korea-on-record-setting-contract-with-kbos-landers/article_d1bc6611-bbe9-5cd2-b874-dcb89190c429.html |archive-date=March 8, 2022}}</ref>

On June 1, 2023, South Korea baseball began an investigation of Kim and two other [[2023 World Baseball Classic|WBC]] pitchers ([[Lee Yong-chan]] and Jeong Cheol-won) for violating behavioral codes. The violation was a result of the three pitchers [[boozing]] during two nights of the tournament, and Kim was demoted to the minor leagues by SSG as a result of the investigation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=South Korea investigates boozing World Baseball Classic players|url=https://uk.style.yahoo.com/south-korea-investigates-boozing-world-061624831.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABaFAjYA4mq_YUZLVv4Lrl3nNNuJaiDK91GFD1IGhHTY_IC8Nclao_U-Y6ucXLIS6Xm9RnTCe6NA0-_BEAiNTr3--M4puc2EgJExEGzY7duTiuZAv9bkAZNFI-StIg8XYieijQM47Fjy3LKPoFgfsEPX9ShGsvM5l2Tl-vnV3kRV|access-date=2023-06-05|website=uk.style.yahoo.com| date=June 2, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
===Awards===
*2008 [[KBO MVP]]{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
*2008 Golden Glove Award (Pitcher){{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

===Achievements===
*2008 [[win (baseball)|Wins]] Title
*2008 [[Strikeout]]s Title
*2009 [[earned run average|ERA]] Title
*2009 [[Winning percentage|Winning Percentage]] Leader
*2010 [[win (baseball)|Wins]] Title<ref name="kbo" />

== International career==
In 2005, Kim was selected for the South Korea national junior team that was runner-up at the 6th Asian Junior Baseball Championship in [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]]. He earned two wins against [[Chinese Taipei]], and pitched a five-inning [[no-hitter]] against [[Japan]].

In 2006, Kim competed for the South Korea national junior team in the 22nd [[World Junior Baseball Championship]] in [[Havana]], [[Cuba]]. He led his team to the gold medal, earning four of South Korea's six wins. Kim tossed a five-hit [[complete game]] [[shutout]] to lead South Korea to a 1–0 victory over [[Chinese Taipei national baseball team|Chinese Taipei]] in the quarterfinals, and pitched two wins over [[Canada national baseball team|Canada]] in the semifinals and [[United States national baseball team|USA]] in the final. He posted a solid 0.87 ERA and 22 strikeouts throughout the tournament, and was named the Most Valuable Player.

In January 2008, Kim was selected for the [[South Korea national baseball team]] and participated in the [[Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Qualification#Final Qualifying Tournament|Beijing Olympic Qualification Final Tournament]] held from March 7 through March 14, 2008 in [[Taichung]], [[Taiwan]]. There he helped his team win a spot in the [[Beijing Summer Olympics]] by starting two times and going 2–0 with a 1.64 ERA. At the [[2008 Olympic Games]], Kim contributed to his team's victories as results of 1–0 with a 1.26 ERA and 12 strike outs in 3 games. In the semifinal game against [[Japan national baseball team|Japan]], he gave up one earned run and six hits in eight innings for Korea to get the victory. Kim did not allow a runner past first base after the 3rd inning, when Japan scored on a walk, a sacrifice and a single by [[Norichika Aoki]].

In March 2009, Kim competed for the [[South Korea national baseball team]] in the [[2009 World Baseball Classic]], where they finished runner-up. He started against [[Japan national baseball team|Japan]] in South Korea's first game in [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]], but suffered one of his worst games, giving up eight runs in just 1.1 innings of a 14–2 loss to Japan. Kim couldn't get over the disastrous start in Tokyo, struggling in the exhibition games against [[MLB]] teams before the start of [[2009 World Baseball Classic#Round 2|Round 2]]. Command of his pitches became a trouble spot, and Team Korea manager [[Kim In-sik]] pitched him in relief until the end of the competition.
{| 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>
|-
|2005
|{{Bb|KOR}}
|Asian Junior Baseball Championship
|style="text-align:center"|[[File:Silver medal icon.svg]]
|2–2, 1.04 ERA (4 G, 11.2 IP, 3 ER, 12 K)
|-
|2006
|{{Bb|CUB}}
|[[World Junior Baseball Championship]]
|style="text-align:center"|[[File:Gold medal icon.svg]]
|4–0, 0.87 ERA (5 G, 20.2 IP, 2 ER, 22 K)<br />Most Valuable Player
|-
|2008
|{{Bb|TPE}}
|[[Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Qualification#Final Qualifying Tournament|Final Olympic Qualification Tournament]]
|style="text-align:center"| [[File:Silver medal icon.svg]]
|2–0, 1.64 ERA (2 G, 11.0 IP, 2 ER)
|-
|2008
|{{Bb|CHN}}
|[[Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|style="text-align:center"| [[File:Gold medal icon.svg]]
|1–0, 1.26 ERA (3 G, 14.1 IP, 2 ER)
|-
|2009
|{{Bb|USA}}
|[[2009 World Baseball Classic|World Baseball Classic]]
|style="text-align:center"| [[File:Silver medal icon.svg]]
|0–1, 21.60 ERA (4 G, 3.1 IP, 8 ER)
|-
|2014
|{{Bb|KOR}}
|[[2014 Asian Games]]
|style="text-align:center"| [[File:Gold medal icon.svg]]
|0–0, 3.52 ERA (2 G, 7.2 IP, 3 ER)
|-
|2015
|{{Bb|JPN}}
|[[WBSC Premier12]]
|style="text-align:center"| [[File:Gold medal icon.svg]]
|0–1, 5.14 ERA (2 G, 7.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 K)
|-
|2019
|{{Bb|JPN}}
|[[WBSC Premier12]]
|[[File:Silver medal icon.svg]]
|1–1, 2.89 ERA (2 G, 9.1 IP, 3 ER, 10 K)
|}

==Pitching style==
With an overhand delivery, Kim pitches a fastball averaging 91–92&nbsp;mph<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hankookilbo.com/News/Read/201910291555377503 |title=Hankook Ilbo |publisher=[[Hankook Ilbo]] |date=October 30, 2019 |access-date=December 18, 2019}}</ref> (tops out at 96&nbsp;mph<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.news.naver.com/news.nhn?oid=144&aid=0000212226 |title=[미스터칸]155km 강속구 팍!팍! '김광현'이 돌아왔다 |publisher=Sports.news.naver.com |access-date=December 18, 2019}}</ref>) as a starter. His slider is considered above-average<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2009-world-baseball-classic-top-20-prospects/ | title=2009 World Baseball Classic Top 20 Prospects }}</ref> and usually sits around 85&nbsp;mph. He also has a curveball and a forkball.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20191107011951315 | title=(LEAD) (Premier12) with major league scouts watching, ace left-hander delivers excellent start | date=November 7, 2019 }}</ref> When Kim was young, he struggled with his control and command. However, in 2018, he had improved his control and also his command.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kim---002gwa |title=Gwang-hyun Kim Korean Leagues Statistics & History |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=December 18, 2019}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of KBO career win leaders]]
* [[List of KBO career strikeout leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://eng.koreabaseball.com/Teams/PlayerInfoPitcher/Summary.aspx?pcode=77829 Career statistics and player information] from [[Korea Baseball Organization]]
{{baseballstats |mlb=547942 |espn=42384 |br=k/kimkw01 |fangraphs=27458 |brm=kim---002gwa |retro= }}

{{SSG Landers roster navbox}}
{{Choi Dong-won Award}}
{{KBO League MVP}}
{{South Korea baseball roster 2008 Summer Olympics}}
{{South Korea roster 2009 World Baseball Classic}}
{{South Korea roster 2015 WBSC Premier 12}}
{{South Korea roster 2023 World Baseball Classic}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kim, Kwang-hyun}}
[[Category:1988 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists for South Korea]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists in baseball]]
[[Category:Asian Games baseball players for South Korea]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 2014 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Seoul]]
[[Category:Choi Dong-won Award winners]]
[[Category:KBO League Most Valuable Player Award winners]]
[[Category:KBO League pitchers]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players from South Korea]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2014 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Memphis Redbirds players]]
[[Category:Olympic baseball players for South Korea]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for South Korea]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in baseball]]
[[Category:South Korean expatriate baseball players in the United States]]
[[Category:SSG Landers players]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals players]]
[[Category:World Baseball Classic players of South Korea]]
[[Category:2009 World Baseball Classic players]]
[[Category:2015 WBSC Premier12 players]]
[[Category:2019 WBSC Premier12 players]]
[[Category:2023 World Baseball Classic players]]