Im Tae-Hoon
Encyclopedia
Im Tae-Hoon (born September 28, 1988 in Seoul
, South Korea
) is a South Korea
n relief pitcher
who plays for the Doosan Bears
in the Korea Baseball Organization
. He bats and throws right-handed.
, South Korea
. In 2006, he was selected for the South Korea national junior team that won the gold medal at the 2006 World Junior Baseball Championship
in Cuba
. Im pitched 5 shutout innings, struck out 9, and allowed only 2 hits to win over Panama
in the preliminary round. He started another preliminary match against Australia
, and allowed 2 runs over 4.1 innings.
. In his first KBO
season, he pitched 101.1 innings with 7-3, a save, 20 holds
(the league's runner-up), 93 strikeouts and a 2.40 ERA. Im eventually won the Rookie of the Year award.
In July 2008, Im was named as a member of the 2008 South Korea Olympic national baseball team together with the fellow 2006 World Junior Baseball
champion Kim Kwang-Hyun
. However, Im, who gave up six earned runs in six innings in his last five KBO games, also struggled during an exhibition game against the Netherlands Olympic team in Seoul on August 3, and on the next day he was finally replaced with Yoon Suk-Min
of the Kia Tigers
by Team Korea manager Kim Kyung-Moon
.
Im finished the 2008 KBO season
as a setup man with a 6-3 record and a 3.41 ERA with 6 saves, 14 holds (5th in the league) and 83 strikeouts (13th in the league) in 83 innings pitched.
In March 2009, Im earned a late slot on the South Korea national baseball team for the 2009 World Baseball Classic
, replacing Hwang Doo-Sung three days before the start of the WBC. Im, the youngest player on the Korean roster, appeared in 2 games against Japan
and Chinese Taipei, and pitched 3.1 innings, allowing one run and five hits.
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
) is a South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
who plays for the Doosan Bears
Doosan Bears
The Doosan Bears are a professional baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. They are a member of the Korean Baseball Organization....
in the Korea Baseball Organization
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...
. He bats and throws right-handed.
Amateur career
Im attended Seoul High School in SeoulSeoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. In 2006, he was selected for the South Korea national junior team that won the gold medal at the 2006 World Junior Baseball Championship
World Junior Baseball Championship
The IBAF AAA World Junior Championships is an under-18 international baseball competition sponsored by the International Baseball Federation , which was first held in 1981 in United States...
in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. Im pitched 5 shutout innings, struck out 9, and allowed only 2 hits to win over Panama
Panama national baseball team
The Panama national baseball team is the national team of Panama. They are currently the 16th ranked baseball team in the world.- Roster :PitchersManuel Acosta,Albenis Castillo,Bienvenido Cedeno,Bruce Chen,Manuel Corpas,Jorge Cortez,...
in the preliminary round. He started another preliminary match against Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and allowed 2 runs over 4.1 innings.
Notable international careers
| Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | World Junior Baseball Championship World Junior Baseball Championship The IBAF AAA World Junior Championships is an under-18 international baseball competition sponsored by the International Baseball Federation , which was first held in 1981 in United States... |
 |
Professional career
Im debuted with the 2007 Doosan BearsDoosan Bears
The Doosan Bears are a professional baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. They are a member of the Korean Baseball Organization....
. In his first KBO
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...
season, he pitched 101.1 innings with 7-3, a save, 20 holds
Hold (baseball)
A hold is awarded to a relief pitcher who meets the following three conditions:Unlike saves, wins, and losses, more than one pitcher per team can earn a hold for a game, though it is not possible for a pitcher to receive more than one hold in a given game...
(the league's runner-up), 93 strikeouts and a 2.40 ERA. Im eventually won the Rookie of the Year award.
In July 2008, Im was named as a member of the 2008 South Korea Olympic national baseball team together with the fellow 2006 World Junior Baseball
World Junior Baseball Championship
The IBAF AAA World Junior Championships is an under-18 international baseball competition sponsored by the International Baseball Federation , which was first held in 1981 in United States...
champion Kim Kwang-Hyun
Kim Kwang-Hyun
Kim Kwang-Hyun is a South Korean left-handed starting pitcher who plays for the SK Wyverns in the Korea Baseball Organization.-Amateur career:...
. However, Im, who gave up six earned runs in six innings in his last five KBO games, also struggled during an exhibition game against the Netherlands Olympic team in Seoul on August 3, and on the next day he was finally replaced with Yoon Suk-Min
Yoon Suk-Min
Yoon Suk-Min is a pitcher who plays for the Kia Tigers in the Korea Baseball Organization. He bats and throws right-handed.-Professional career:...
of the Kia Tigers
Kia Tigers
Kia Tigers Professional Baseball Club is a Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982. The Tigers are a member team of the Korean Baseball Organization and the most successful team in Korean baseball having won the national championship, the Korean Series, ten times, with a perfect 10-0...
by Team Korea manager Kim Kyung-Moon
Kim Kyung-Moon
Kim Kyung-Moon is the manager of the NC Dinos, and a former catcher in the Korea Baseball Organization.-Playing career:...
.
Im finished the 2008 KBO season
2008 Korea Baseball Organization season
The Korea Professional Baseball season is the 27th season in the history of the KBO. The season commenced on March 29-Season Format:*Regular Season: 126 games for each team*Semiplayoff: Regular Season 3rd place vs. Regular Season 4th place - Best of 5...
as a setup man with a 6-3 record and a 3.41 ERA with 6 saves, 14 holds (5th in the league) and 83 strikeouts (13th in the league) in 83 innings pitched.
In March 2009, Im earned a late slot on the South Korea national baseball team for the 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
, replacing Hwang Doo-Sung three days before the start of the WBC. Im, the youngest player on the Korean roster, appeared in 2 games against Japan
Japan national baseball team
The Japan national baseball team is the national baseball team representing Japan in international competitions. They are one of the more successful baseball teams in the world, having won the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009...
and Chinese Taipei, and pitched 3.1 innings, allowing one run and five hits.
Notable international careers
| Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Asian Baseball Championship Asian Baseball Championship The Asian Baseball Championship is the main championship tournament between national baseball teams in Asia, governed by the Baseball Federation of Asia . It is held every other year in odd-numbered years and since 1983 it also functions as the qualification games for the Baseball at the Summer... |
 |
||
| 2009 | World Baseball Classic 2009 World Baseball Classic The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the... |
|
0-0; 2.70 ERA (2 G, 3.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 K) | |
| 2010 | Guangzhou Asian Games | |
1-0; 0.00 ERA (1 G, 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 9 K) | |
External links
- Profile and stats on the KBO official site