View source for Seung-hwan Oh

{{short description|South Korean baseball player (born 1982)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{western name order|Oh Seung-hwan}}
{{family name hatnote|Oh|lang=Korean}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
 | name              = Seung-hwan Oh
 | image             = Seung-hwan Oh (40937625433) (cropped).jpg
 | image_size        = 250px
 | caption           = Oh with the [[Colorado Rockies]] in 2019
 | team              = Samsung Lions
 | number            = 21
 | position          = [[Relief pitcher]]
 | birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1982|7|15}}
 | birth_place       = [[Jeongeup]], [[South Korea]]
 | bats              = Right
 | throws            = Right
 | debutleague       = KBO
 | debutdate         = April 3
 | debutyear         = 2005
 | debutteam         = Samsung Lions
 | debut2league      = NPB
 | debut2date        = March 29
 | debut2year        = 2014
 | debut2team        = Hanshin Tigers
 | debut3league      = MLB
 | debut3date        = April 3
 | debut3year        = 2016
 | debut3team        = St. Louis Cardinals
| statleague  = KBO
 | statyear          = 2024 season
| stat1label  = [[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
| stat1value  = 44-33
| stat2label  = [[Earned run average]]
| stat2value  = 2.25
| stat3label  = [[Strikeout]]s
| stat3value  = 858
| stat4label  = [[Save (baseball)|Saves]]
| stat4value  = 427
| stat2league = NPB
 | stat2year         = 2015 season
| stat21label = Win–loss record
| stat21value = 4–7
| stat22label = Earned run average
| stat22value = 2.25
| stat23label = Strikeouts
| stat23value = 147
| stat24label = Saves
| stat24value = 80
| stat3league = MLB
| stat3year   = 2019 season
| stat31label = Win–loss record
| stat31value = 16–13
| stat32label = Earned run average
| stat32value = 3.31
| stat33label = Strikeouts
| stat33value = 252
| stat34label = Saves
| stat34value = 42
 | teams             = 
* [[Samsung Lions]] ({{baseball year|2005}}–{{baseball year|2013}})
* [[Hanshin Tigers]] ({{npby|2014}}–{{npby|2015}})
* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{mlby|2016}}–{{mlby|2017}})
* [[Toronto Blue Jays]] ({{mlby|2018}})
* [[Colorado Rockies]] ({{mlby|2018}}–{{mlby|2019}})
* [[Samsung Lions]] ({{kboy|2020}}–present)
 | awards            = 
;KBO
*[[KBO League Rookie of the Year Award|KBO Rookie of the Year]] (2005)
*8× [[KBO League|KBO]] All-Star (2005–2008, 2011–2013, 2022)
*6× KBO saves leader (2006–2008, 2011–2012, 2021)
*[[List of KBO career saves leaders|KBO career saves leader]]
*5× [[Korean Series]] champion (2005–2006, 2011–2013)
*2× Korean Series MVP (2005, 2011)
*[[Asia Series]] champion (2011)
;NPB
* [[Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Game|NPB All-Star]] (2015)
* 2× [[Central League|CL]] saves leader (2014–2015)
* [[Climax Series|CLCS]] MVP (2014)
 | medaltemplates    = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[baseball]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{KOR}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[World Baseball Classic]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[2009 World Baseball Classic|2009 Los Angeles]] | [[South Korea national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Olympic Games|Summer Olympics]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing]] | [[South Korea national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Asian Games]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[2006 Asian Games|2006 Doha]] | [[South Korea national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[World University Baseball Championship]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[2004 World University Baseball Championship|2004 Tainan]] | [[South Korea national baseball team|Team]]}}
}}
{{Infobox Korean name
| hangul  = 오승환
| hanja   = {{linktext|吳|昇|桓}}
| rr      = O Seung-hwan
| mr      = O Sŭng-hwan
}}

'''Seung-hwan''' '''Oh''' ([[Hangul]]: ; {{korean|hangul=오승환|hanja=吳昇桓}}; {{IPA|ko|o.sɯŋ.ɦwan}}; born July 15, 1982) is a South Korean professional [[baseball]] [[relief pitcher]] for the [[Samsung Lions]] of the [[KBO League]]. He has previously played in [[Nippon Professional Baseball]] (NPB) for the [[Hanshin Tigers]], and in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[St. Louis Cardinals]], [[Toronto Blue Jays]], and [[Colorado Rockies]].

Oh is known as '''"Dol-bucheo"''' ('''Stone Buddha''') for being unshaken and maintaining an emotionless face in every situation. His prowess as a relief pitcher also earned him the nickname '''"Kkeut-pan Wang"''' ('''Final Boss'''), in South Korea and among Cardinals fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/cardinals/status/773348575048769536|title=St. Louis Cardinals on Twitter|access-date=2016-09-07}}</ref>

==Amateur career==
Oh attended [[Kyunggi High School]] in [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]]. He had been a pitcher since he began baseball, then switched to the outfield after suffering serious arm injuries in 1999. He joined the 2001 [[Korea Baseball Organization|KBO]] draft at the end of his last high school season, but, despite intriguing some MLB scouts, went undrafted, and Oh elected to attend college instead.

Upon graduation from high school, Oh started his collegiate career at [[Dankook University]], but missed the entire 2001 and 2002 seasons after undergoing [[Tommy John surgery]] in 2001.

In 2003, he came back to the mound, pitching limited innings as a [[relief pitcher]].

In 2004, his senior year at [[Dankook University]], Oh won most of the Korean college pitching awards. In June, Oh made his first appearance for the [[South Korea national baseball team]] at the [[World University Baseball Championship|2004 World University Baseball Championship]] held in [[Tainan City|Tainan]], [[Taiwan]]. He led his team to the bronze medal, playing most of the games in [[closer (baseball)|closer]] duty.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}}

== Professional career==

===Samsung Lions (2005–2013)===
The [[Samsung Lions]] selected Oh in the second round (5th pick, 12th overall) of the 2005 KBO First Year Players draft. After signing with the club, he contributed a strong rookie season as a [[setup man]] and [[Closer (baseball)|closer]] in [[2005 Korea Professional Baseball season|2005]], going 10–1 with a 1.18 ERA, 16 saves (sixth in the league) and 115 strikeouts (fifth in the league) in 99 innings pitched over 61 games. In the [[Korean Series|2005 Korean Series]], he pitched seven scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts, appearing in three games as a closer to lead his team to the championship. He won the [[Korean Series Most Valuable Player Award]]. After the season, Oh was named the [[KBO League Rookie of the Year Award|KBO League Rookie of the Year]].<ref name=mlbpress011611>{{cite web |author=MLB Press Release |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/cardinals-sign-kbo-saves-leader-seung-hwan-oh-161615096 |title=Cardinals sign KBO saves leader Seung Hwan Oh: Korean right-hander has posted 357 career saves between Korea & Japan |website=[[MLB.com]] |date=January 11, 2016 |access-date=June 11, 2016}}</ref>

Prior to his second season, Oh was selected to the roster of the [[South Korea national baseball team]] for the [[2006 World Baseball Classic|inaugural World Baseball Classic]]. That year, he achieved the first of two consecutive seasons with 40-plus saves, [[2006 Korea Professional Baseball season|2006]] and [[2007 Korea Professional Baseball season|2007]]. His 47 saves in 2006 set a KBO League record for one season, a total he repeated in 2011.<ref name=gsi>{{cite web |url=http://globalsportingintegration.com/player-profile-rhp-seung-hwan-oh/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023075240/http://globalsportingintegration.com/player-profile-rhp-seung-hwan-oh/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 23, 2015 |title=Player Profile: RHP, Seung-Hwan Oh (Samsung Lions, KBO) |work=Global Sporting Integration |date=October 30, 2013 |access-date=June 11, 2016}}</ref>

Recording his 100th save in fewer games than anyone in KBO League history, Oh became the KBO League's all-time saves leader with 277.<ref name=mlbpress011611/> He collected his 200th save in his 333rd career appearance, making him the fastest player in all of the world's top professional leagues to achieve that total, surpassing the mark of 359 forged by [[Jonathan Papelbon]] of [[Major League Baseball]].<ref name=gsi/>

A shoulder injury began interfering with Oh's performance in 2009 and continued into 2010. He had his second elbow surgery to remove [[Osteophyte|bone spurs]] in 2010 and returned to the playoffs in the same year.<ref name=gsi/>

While Oh was still playing for the Lions, they became KBO League [[KBO Korean Series|champions]] four more times. The Lions defeated the [[Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks]], the [[2011 Nippon Professional Baseball season|Nippon Professional Baseball]] champions, to earn the [[Asia Series]] championship in [[2011 Asia Series|2011]], and become the first non-Japanese team to win. Oh earned his second Korean Series MVP Award in [[2011 Korean Series|2011]].<ref name=mlbpress011611/>

He also posted a stellar 1.69 ERA in 444 games over the nine seasons that he played for Samsung Lions.<ref name="Tigers">{{cite web |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/12/05/2013120501134.html |title=Oh Seung-hwan sworn in as Hanshin Tigers player |newspaper=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |date=December 5, 2013 |access-date=September 16, 2014}}</ref> Every season with the Lions, Oh turned in an ERA under 2.00, except 2009–10, which were shortened by injuries.

===Hanshin Tigers (2014–2015)===
[[File:2014T22.jpg|thumb|Oh with the Hanshin Tigers in 2014]]
On November 22, 2013, Oh signed a two-year, 990 million yen contract with the [[Hanshin Tigers]], the biggest contract for a Korean baseball player in Japan.<ref name="Tigers"/> Tigers' manager [[Yutaka Wada|Wada Yutaka]] suggested offering some Korean-language classes for his players to better communicate with their new teammate, especially the catchers and pitching coaches.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/12/02/2013120201182.html |title=Hanshin players told to learn Korean to help Oh Seung-hwan assimilate |newspaper=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |date= December 2, 2013 |access-date=September 16, 2014}}</ref>

All throughout the [[2014 Nippon Professional Baseball season|2014]] season, he played the role as the Tiger's top closer. He became the second Korean player to break the 300-save mark after [[Lim Chang-yong]] in a 3–0 defeat of [[Yomiuri Giants]] on July 22, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/07/22/2014072200708.html |title=Oh Seung-hwan makes 300th save |work=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |date= July 22, 2014 |access-date=September 16, 2014}}</ref> On the September 24 match with the [[Yokohama DeNA BayStars|BayStars]], he picked up his 36th save of the season and broke the NPB record for saves by a foreign pitcher in his first year in the NPB.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/20140925/tig14092505030005-n1.html |title=September 24 baseball news |publisher=[[Sankei Sports]] |date=September 24, 2014 |access-date=September 25, 2014}}</ref> [[Eddie Gaillard]] (2000) and [[Dennis Sarfate]] (2011) each saved thirty-five games in a season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2014/09/15/kiji/K20140915008935550.html |title=阪神 終盤に勝ち越す！８回一挙４得点！岩崎５勝目！|publisher=Sponichi |date=September 15, 2014|access-date=September 16, 2014}}</ref> He also now holds the record for the most saves by a Korean pitcher in their first year in Japan, beating the previous record set by Lim, who had 33 saves in [[2008 Nippon Professional Baseball season|2008]] when he started playing for the [[Tokyo Yakult Swallows|Swallows]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/09/05/2014090501142.html |title=Oh Seung-hwan sets rookie save record for Korean Pitcher in Japan |newspaper=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |date= September 5, 2014 |access-date=September 16, 2014}}</ref> Oh notched a total of 39 saves for the season, breaking the NPB record for saves by a Korean pitcher in a single season set by [[Sun Dong-yeol]] (38 saves) with Chunichi in 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/20140928/tig14092805020007-n1.html |title=September 28 baseball news |newspaper=[[Sankei Sports]] (Sanspo.com) |date= September 28, 2014 |access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref>

Oh played an instrumental role in Hanshin's advance to the [[2014 Japan Series|Japan Series]] in October. After pitching four innings in two games against Hiroshima during the [[2014 Central League Climax Series|Climax Series]] (first stage), he took the mound in all four games against the Yomiuri Giants and successfully secured consecutive victories for his team. Including the last five regular-season games, he pitched in 11 consecutive games and recorded the save in all of them. When the Tigers finally won the series in October 18, Oh received the Climax Series MVP award, becoming the first Korean pitcher to do so in his first year in NPB. His fast and heavy balls, together with his calm and unwavering expression even in crisis situations, earned him a new nickname "Stone Guardian" from Japanese baseball fans.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2014102183708 |title=Korean relief pitcher heats up Japanese pro baseball |work=[[The Dong-A Ilbo]] |date=October 21, 2014 |access-date=October 26, 2014}}</ref>

With Hanshin in [[2015 Nippon Professional Baseball season|2015]], Oh appeared in 54 games, logging {{frac|69|1|3}} innings and striking out 66, walking 16 and allowing a 2.75 ERA.<ref name=hummel061116>{{cite news |last=Hummel |first=Rick |author-link=Rick Hummel |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals-notes-oh-s-numbers-even-better-in-big-leagues/article_9f07ec1c-2424-5a4d-9038-b3f242ab8888.html |title=Oh's numbers even better in big leagues |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |date=June 11, 2016 |access-date=June 11, 2016}}</ref> He saved another 41 games that year, breaking his own NPB single-season record for most saves by a Korean pitcher.<ref name=mlbpress011611/> In two seasons while playing in Japan, he had a 2.25 ERA with 80 saves. Through eleven total professional seasons in South Korea and Japan, he recorded 357 saves, a 1.81 ERA, and 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings in {{frac|646|1|3}} IP.<ref name=stlsignoh>{{cite web |last=Goold |first=Derrick |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/birdland/cardinals-acquire-korean-reliever-oh/article_a2da1063-db8b-589d-82ac-b1ad4678db44.html |title=Cardinals acquire Korean reliever Oh |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |date=January 11, 2016 |access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref>

===St. Louis Cardinals (2016–2017)===
On January 11, 2016, Oh signed a one-year contract with the [[2016 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis Cardinals]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB),<ref>{{cite news |title=Cardinals sign Korean pitcher Seung-Hwan Oh to bolster bullpen |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/14548921/st-louis-cardinals-sign-korean-pitcher-seung-hwan-oh-bolster-bullpen |agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=[[ESPN.com]] |date=January 11, 2016 |access-date=January 12, 2016}}</ref> with a club option for a second season. The Cardinals had scouted him for seven years while he pitched in Asia. During contract negotiations with St. Louis, Oh indicated that his goal was to become the first player to appear in the [[Korean Series]], the [[Japan Series]], and the [[World Series]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Goold |first=Derrick |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/goold-one-throw-in-korea-started-oh-on-long-journey/article_d0196907-2be8-5997-864b-b6df82ea6aaa.html |title=One throw in Korea started Oh on long journey to Cardinals |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=July 25, 2016 |access-date=July 30, 2016}}</ref> He was initially assigned to help [[Setup man|set up]] for incumbent closer [[Trevor Rosenthal]].<ref name=stlsignoh/> Oh made his Major League debut on [[Opening Day]] 2016 against the [[2016 Pittsburgh Pirates season|Pittsburgh Pirates]]. He pitched one inning, walking two batters and striking out two batters, while throwing 27 pitches. He earned his first major league win against the [[2016 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] on April 10, pitching a scoreless inning in a 12–6 outcome.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hummel |first=Rick |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/young-guns-spark-cards-sweep/article_6bd4913a-c2e1-5907-8665-24602e5f3259.html |title=Young guns spark Cardinals' sweep |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=April 10, 2016 |access-date=April 10, 2016}}</ref>

In May, Oh began to receive attention as a top candidate for the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year Award]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2016/05/23/2016052300994.html |title=Oh Seung-hwan, Park Byung-ho cited as Rookie of the Year contenders |newspaper=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |date=May 23, 2016 |access-date=June 5, 2016}}</ref> In his first 31 games and {{frac|32|2|3}} innings, he had struck out 46 batters — tied for first among NL relievers — while walking eight batters and permitting an ERA of 1.65.<ref name=hummel061116/> On June 25, the Cardinals removed a struggling Rosenthal from the role as closer, and determined that Oh, lefty [[Kevin Siegrist]], and righty [[Jonathan Broxton]] would instead serve in the role by committee.<ref>{{cite web |author=ESPN.com News Services |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/16520422/st-louis-cardinals-remove-trevor-rosenthal-closer-role |title=Cardinals' Mike Matheny pulls Trevor Rosenthal from closer's role |work=ESPN.com |date=June 27, 2016 |access-date=July 3, 2016}}</ref> Oh recorded his first MLB save on July 2 by pitching a perfect ninth with two strikeouts against the [[2016 Milwaukee Brewers season|Milwaukee Brewers]].<ref>{{cite web |author=RotoWire Staff |url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cardinals-seung-hwan-oh-records-first-save-versus-brewers-saturday/ |title=Cardinals' Seung Hwan Oh: Records first save versus Brewers Saturday |work=CBSSports.com |date=July 2, 2016 |access-date=July 2, 2016}}</ref> By saving both games of a [[Doubleheader (baseball)|doubleheader]] against the [[2016 San Diego Padres season|San Diego Padres]] on July 20, Oh was the first Cardinals pitcher to do so since [[Jason Isringhausen]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cassavell |first1=A. J. |last2=Krueger |first2=Nick |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jedd-gyorko-2-hrs-lead-cardinals-past-padres-c190791298 |title=Gyorko Show: Ex-Padre carries Cardinals |work=MLB.com |date=July 20, 2016 |access-date=July 20, 2016}}</ref> When Oh finished his 30th game on September 9, he triggered the 2017 option, worth $2.75 million.<ref>{{cite news |last=Byrne |first=Connor |url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/09/seung-hwan-ohs-2017-option-vests.html |title=Seung-hwan Oh's 2017 option vests |work=MLB Trade Rumors |date=September 10, 2016 |access-date=September 13, 2016}}</ref>

In 2017, he was 1–6 with a 4.10 ERA, and led the major leagues in [[intentional walk]]s, with nine.<ref>[https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=10&type=0&season=2017&month=0&season1=2017&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=20,d Major League Leaderboards » 2017 » Pitchers » Standard Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

===Toronto Blue Jays (2018)===
On February 26, 2018, Oh signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] that included a vesting option for the 2019 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-agree-to-deal-with-seung-hwan-oh/c-267261134|title=Blue Jays reach deal with reliever Oh|last=Roberts|first=Quinn|work=MLB.com|date=February 26, 2018|access-date=February 26, 2018}}</ref>

===Colorado Rockies (2018–2019)===
On July 26, 2018, the Blue Jays traded Oh to the [[Colorado Rockies]] for [[Forrest Wall]], Chad Spanberger, and a [[player to be named later]] or cash considerations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-reach-deal-to-trade-seunghwan-oh/c-287377664|title=Blue Jays get 2 prospects from Rockies for Oh|last=Chisholm|first=Gregor|work=MLB.com|date=July 26, 2018|access-date=July 26, 2018}}</ref> On July 16, 2019, it was announced that Oh would undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the 2019 season, and he was subsequently designated for assignment on July 23. He was released on July 26, 2019. In 2019, his cutter was on average the slowest in major league baseball, at 82.2&nbsp;mph.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/pitch-arsenals |title=Statcast Pitch Arsenals Leaderboard &#124; baseballsavant.com |publisher=Baseballsavant.mlb.com |access-date=2019-10-09}}</ref>

===Second stint with Samsung Lions (2019–present)===
On August 5, 2019, Oh returned to Korea and signed with the [[Samsung Lions]] of the [[KBO League]], the team he began his professional career with.

In the 2020 season, Oh was scheduled to wrap up his remaining 30 games of disciplinary action and took the mound in mid-June. As scheduled, he returned to the game against Kiwoom on June 9.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sports.chosun.com/news/ntype.htm?id=202004230100174540011020&servicedate=20200422|title=[SC줌인]'끝판왕' 오승환, 6월9일 대구 키움전 컴백 확정..구원왕 판도 바꿀까|date=2020-04-22|website=[[Sports Chosun]]|language=ko|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref>

===Notable international results===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Venue
!Competition
!Team
!Individual Note
|-
|2006
|{{Bb|USA}}
|[[2006 World Baseball Classic|World Baseball Classic]]
|style="text-align:center"| [[Image:Bronze medal icon.svg]]
|0–0, 1 SV, 0.00 ERA (4 G, 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 K)
|-
|2006
|{{fb|QAT}}
|[[Baseball at the 2006 Asian Games|Asian Games]]
|style="text-align:center"| [[Image:Bronze medal icon.svg]]
|0–1, 0 SV, 7.71 ERA (2 G, 2.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 K)
|-
|2007
|{{Bb|TPE}}
|[[2007 Asian Baseball Championship|Asian Baseball Championship]]
|style="text-align:center"| [[Image:Silver medal icon.svg]]
|
|-
|2008
|{{Bb|CHN}}
|[[baseball at the 2008 Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|style="text-align:center"| [[Image:Gold medal icon.svg]]
|0–0, 1 SV, 0.00 ERA (2 G, 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 K)
|-
|2009
|{{Bb|USA}}
|[[2009 World Baseball Classic|World Baseball Classic]]
|style="text-align:center"| [[Image:Silver medal icon.svg]]
|0–1, 0 SV, 18.00 ERA (2 G, 1.0 IP, 2 ER, 1 K)
|}

==Playing style==
[[File:Seung-hwan OhMotion2016.jpg|thumb|right|640px|A sample of Oh's pitching motion in 2016]]
A right-handed pitcher, Oh stands {{convert|5|ft|10|in|cm|abbr=on}} and weighs {{convert|205|lb}}. His primary pitches include a four-seam [[fastball]] — averaging {{convert|92|-|93|mph}} and topping out at {{convert|96|mph}} — and a mid-80s [[Slider (baseball)|slider]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfx.aspx?playerid=18719&position=P |title=FanGraphs PITCHf/x |work=[[Fangraphs]] |access-date=Jun 24, 2016}}</ref> with a darting motion resembling a [[Cutter (baseball)|cutter]].<ref name=stlsignoh/>

Oh's signature pitch is the four-seam fastball, which, due to its hard rising movement, earned the nickname "Dol-jikgu" (stone fastball) in Korea. By varying the speeds of each pitch, he alters the movement. He also alters the delivery of his pitches, creating another factor to change the batter's concentration.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bailey |first=J. J. |url=http://www.kmov.com/story/31309264/meet-the-boss-oh-impresses-in-his-full-squad-debut |title=Meet The Boss: Oh impresses in his full-squad debut |website=[[KMOV]].com |date=February 24, 2016 |access-date=June 11, 2016}}</ref>

==Personal life==
It was announced in April 2015 that Oh was in a relationship with [[Girls' Generation]]'s [[Kwon Yuri|Yuri]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Yuri confirmed dating baseball player |website=[[Kpop Herald]] |url=http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201504201619188596986_2 |access-date=April 20, 2015 |date=April 20, 2015}}</ref> The couple were confirmed to have broken up in October 2015 after six months of dating due to the long distance in their relationship.<ref>{{cite web|title=Girls' Generation's Yuri and Oh Seung hwan break up after six months of dating |website=[[Kpop Herald]] |url=http://news.newsway.co.kr/view.php?tp=1&ud=2015101507545398922&md=20151015080526_AO |access-date=October 15, 2015 |date=October 15, 2015}}</ref>

The subject of a Korean investigation related to [[gambling]], authorities interrogated Oh about his activities in [[Macau]] in November 2014 with fellow Korean baseball player [[Lim Chang-yong]]. Korean law is unusually strict in that it does not ban gambling per se, although it does ban going to casinos based outside the country,<ref name=brown011116>{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Dave |url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/new-cards-pitcher-seung-hwan-oh-brings-with-him-a-great-nickname/ |title=New Cards pitcher Seung-Hwan Oh brings with him a great nickname |website=[[CBSSports.com]] |date=January 11, 2016 |access-date=June 11, 2016}}</ref> even in places where gambling is legal.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2015/12/10/2015121001613.html |title=Oh Seung-hwan grilled over illegal gambling |newspaper=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |date=December 10, 2015 |access-date=June 5, 2016}}</ref> The [[Seoul]] Central District Prosecutors Office fined Oh and Lim in January 2016,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2016/01/15/2016011501692.html |title=Baseball players slapped with maximum fine for gambling |newspaper=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |date=January 15, 2016 |access-date=June 5, 2016}}</ref> and the KBO League suspended Oh for six months.<ref name=brown011116/> With Japanese law toward gambling among athletes similarly restrictive, the Hanshin Tigers terminated his contract amid reports he was linked to a Korean crime organization.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2015/12/11/2015121101841.html |title=Oh Seung-hwan could lose contract over gambling scandal |newspaper=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |date=December 11, 2015 |access-date=June 11, 2016}}</ref>

Due to references from fans and media as "The Final Boss" and "Stone Buddha", Oh's nickname has frequently drawn comparisons to other notable nicknames of MLB players.<ref>{{cite news |last=Feldman |first=Kate |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/final-boss-best-nicknames-baseball-article-1.2494067 |title=With The Final Boss making his way to St. Louis, a look at the best nicknames in baseball |work=[[New York Daily News]] |date=January 12, 2016 |access-date=June 11, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Park |first=Moo-jong |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/05/636_205106.html |title=Major League 'Ho Trio' |work=[[The Korea Times]] |date=May 19, 2016 |access-date=June 11, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Cwik |first=Chris |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/korean-reliever-seung-hwan-oh-has-the-best-nickname-for-a-closer-233428298.html |title=Korean reliever Seung-hwan Oh has the best nickname for a closer |website=[[Yahoo!]] Sports |date=November 11, 2015 |access-date=June 11, 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal bar|Baseball|South Korea|Biography}}
* [[List of Major League Baseball players from South Korea]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Oh Seung-hwan}}
{{baseballstats|mlb=493200|espn=34893|br=o/ohse01|fangraphs=18719|brm=oh----000seu}}
*[http://eng.koreabaseball.com/Teams/PlayerInfoPitcher/Summary.aspx?pcode=75421 Career statistics and player information] from the [[KBO League]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20141119005238/http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/players/51855139.html NPB stats]
*{{SR/Olympics profile|o/o-seung-hwan-1|O Seung-Hwan}}
*{{DatabaseOlympics|OhSeu03|Seung-Hwan Oh}}
*{{Instagram|seunghwanoh_26|오승환}}

{{Samsung Lions roster navbox}}
{{South Korea roster 2006 World Baseball Classic}}
{{South Korea baseball roster 2008 Summer Olympics}}
{{South Korea roster 2009 World Baseball Classic}}
{{South Korea roster 2013 World Baseball Classic}}
{{South Korea roster 2017 World Baseball Classic}}
{{South Korea baseball roster 2020 Summer Olympics}}
{{KBO League Rookie of the Year}}
{{Korean Series MVP}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oh, Seung-hwan}}
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Asian Games bronze medalists in baseball]]
[[Category:Asian Games baseball players for South Korea]]
[[Category:Asian Games bronze medalists for South Korea]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 2006 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 2020 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Colorado Rockies players]]
[[Category:Dankook University alumni]]
[[Category:Hanshin Tigers players]]
[[Category:KBO League pitchers]]
[[Category:KBO League Rookie of the Year Award winners]]
[[Category:Kyunggi High School alumni]]
[[Category:Korean Series MVPs]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players from South Korea]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2006 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:Olympic baseball players for South Korea]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for South Korea]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in baseball]]
[[Category:Samsung Lions players]]
[[Category:South Korean expatriate baseball players in Canada]]
[[Category:South Korean expatriate baseball players in Japan]]
[[Category:South Korean expatriate baseball players in the United States]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Toronto Blue Jays players]]
[[Category:2006 World Baseball Classic players]]
[[Category:2009 World Baseball Classic players]]
[[Category:2013 World Baseball Classic players]]
[[Category:2017 World Baseball Classic players]]
[[Category:World Baseball Classic players of South Korea]]