Kim Tae-Kyun
Encyclopedia
Kim Tae-Kyun (born May 29, 1982) is a South Korea
n first baseman
who plays for the Chiba Lotte Marines
in the Nippon Pro Baseball league. He bats and throws right-handed.
, Chungcheongnam-do
, South Korea
. In 2000, he was selected for the South Korean Junior National Team. The team won the 2000 World Junior Baseball Championship
in Edmonton
, Canada
, and Kim led the attack alongside Lee Dae-Ho
, Choo Shin-Soo
(the eventual MVP of this event) and Jeong Keun-Woo
, batting .433 with 3 home runs.
in 2001 following a successful youth career. He made his KBO debut on April 17, 2001 as a starting first baseman against the Hyundai Unicorns. As a rookie in 2001, he hit 20 home runs and drove in 54 runs with a .335 batting average. After the 2001 season, Kim was honored with the Rookie of the Year Award. He became the first Eagles player to win the award.
In 2002, Kim experienced a sophomore slump
, batting .255 with 7 home runs, but came back strong in 2003 to bat .319 with 31 home runs and 95 RBIs.
From 2003 through 2005, he notched three consecutive seasons batting .300+.
His stats dipped slightly in 2006 and 2007, but he broke out again in 2008, batting .324 with 31 home runs and 92 RBIs. He was first in home runs and slugging percentage, 4th in RBI, and 5th in batting average.
Best stats in the league.
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 first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
who plays for the Chiba Lotte Marines
Chiba Lotte Marines
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by the Lotte conglomerate.-History:...
in the Nippon Pro Baseball league. He bats and throws right-handed.
Amateur career
Kim attended Bugil High School in CheonanCheonan
Cheonan is a city located in the northeast corner of South Chungcheong, a province of South Korea, and is 83.6 km south of the capital, Seoul...
, Chungcheongnam-do
Chungcheongnam-do
Chungcheongnam-do or Chungnam is a province in the west of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the south-western half of the former Chungcheong Province and remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, thereafter becoming part of South Korea...
, 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 2000, he was selected for the South Korean Junior National Team. The team won the 2000 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 Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and Kim led the attack alongside Lee Dae-Ho
Lee Dae-Ho
Lee Dae-Ho is primarily a first baseman who plays for the Lotte Giants in Korea Baseball Organization. He bats and throws right-handed...
, Choo Shin-Soo
Shin-Soo Choo
Shin-Soo Choo is a South Korean professional baseball outfielder with the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball in the United States.Choo was selected as the Most Valuable Player and Best Pitcher of the 2000 World Junior Baseball Championship as South Korea won the event...
(the eventual MVP of this event) and Jeong Keun-Woo
Jeong Keun-Woo
Jeong Keun-Woo is a second baseman and shortstop who currently plays for the SK Wyverns in the Korea Baseball Organization. He bats and throws right-handed.-Amateur career:...
, batting .433 with 3 home runs.
Notable international careers
| Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 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... |
 |
.433 BA (13-for-30), 3 HR, 11 RBI |
Professional career
Kim was a first round pick of the Hanhwa EaglesHanhwa Eagles
The Hanwha Eagles , incorporated as the Hanwha Eagles Professional Baseball Club , are a South Korean professional baseball club based in Daejeon. As a member club of Korean Baseball Organization, the Eagles compete in the Korea Professional Baseball League. The Eagles' home ballpark is Daejeon...
in 2001 following a successful youth career. He made his KBO debut on April 17, 2001 as a starting first baseman against the Hyundai Unicorns. As a rookie in 2001, he hit 20 home runs and drove in 54 runs with a .335 batting average. After the 2001 season, Kim was honored with the Rookie of the Year Award. He became the first Eagles player to win the award.
In 2002, Kim experienced a sophomore slump
Sophomore slump
A sophomore slump or sophomore jinx refers to an instance in which a second, or sophomore, effort fails to live up to the standards of the first effort...
, batting .255 with 7 home runs, but came back strong in 2003 to bat .319 with 31 home runs and 95 RBIs.
From 2003 through 2005, he notched three consecutive seasons batting .300+.
His stats dipped slightly in 2006 and 2007, but he broke out again in 2008, batting .324 with 31 home runs and 92 RBIs. He was first in home runs and slugging percentage, 4th in RBI, and 5th in batting average.
Awards and honors
- 2001 Rookie of the Year, Golden Glove Award (1B), Triple Crown Award, MVP of the Year
- 2005 Golden Glove Award (1B), Triple Crown Award, MVP of the Year
- 2008 Golden Glove Award (1B), Triple Crown Award, MVP of the Year
Career Stats
| Year | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | SF | BB | HBP | SO | GIDP | E | AVG | SLG | OBP |
| 2001 | Hanwha | 88 | 245 | 51 | 82 | 13 | 2 | 20 | 54 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 4 | 72 | 4 | 3 | .335 | .649 | .436 |
| 2002 | 105 | 298 | 25 | 76 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 34 | 2 | 3 | 41 | 2 | 103 | 13 | 11 | .255 | .362 | .347 | |
| 2003 | 133 | 479 | 67 | 153 | 24 | 2 | 31 | 95 | 3 | 6 | 79 | 9 | 106 | 13 | 6 | .319 | .572 | .424 | |
| 2004 | 129 | 473 | 76 | 153 | 26 | 1 | 23 | 106 | 2 | 7 | 70 | 6 | 99 | 11 | 7 | .323 | .529 | .412 | |
| 2005 | 124 | 461 | 73 | 146 | 33 | 2 | 23 | 100 | 3 | 2 | 60 | 6 | 73 | 20 | 5 | .317 | .547 | .401 | |
| 2006 | 124 | 423 | 66 | 123 | 27 | 0 | 13 | 73 | 2 | 0 | 82 | 2 | 89 | 18 | 3 | .291 | .447 | .405 | |
| 2007 | 118 | 393 | 62 | 114 | 13 | 0 | 21 | 85 | 2 | 0 | 90 | 2 | 70 | 13 | 4 | .290 | .483 | .420 | |
| 2008 | 115 | 410 | 81 | 133 | 27 | 1 | 31 | 92 | 2 | 5 | 64 | 5 | 67 | 8 | 3 | .324 | .622 | .417 | |
| 2009 | 95 | 336 | 63 | 111 | 15 | 0 | 19 | 62 | 2 | 2 | 51 | 4 | 71 | 12 | 1 | .330 | .545 | .416 | |
| All-Time | 936 | 3182 | 501 | 1091 | 174 | 8 | 188 | 701 | 18 | 33 | 526 | 36 | 679 | 112 | 42 | .308 | .527 | .409 |
Best stats in the league.
Notable international tournaments
| Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Baseball World Cup 2001 Baseball World Cup The XXXIV Baseball World Cup took place in Taiwan from 6 to 18 November 2001. Participating countries were split in two groups, with the first four of each group qualifying for the finals.-First round:Results for Group A:# # # # # # # #... |
6th | .286 BA (2-for-7), 2 BB | |
| 2003 | Baseball World Cup 2003 Baseball World Cup The XXXV Baseball World Cup was in Cuba from 12 to 25 October 2003. Participating countries were split in two groups, with the first four of each group qualifying for the finals.-First round:Results for Group A:# # # # # # #... |
8th | .382 BA (13-for-34), 3 HR, 9 RBI, 10 R, 6 BB | |
| 2006 | World Baseball Classic 2006 World Baseball Classic ---------Pool B:-------------Pool C:-------------Pool D:-------------Pool 1:-----------------Pool 2:-------------Finals:-Semifinals:-Final:-Final standings:... |
 |
.000 BA (0-for-1), 2 BB | |
| 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... |
 |
.345 BA (10-for-29), 3 HR, 11 RBI, 9 R, 8 BB All-Star (1B), HR / RBI / R title |
|
| Guangzhou Asian Games | |
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External links
- Career statistics and player information from the KBO official site