Mo Chang-Min
Encyclopedia
Mo Chang-Min (born May 8, 1985 in Gwangju
) is an infielder
who plays for the SK Wyverns
in the South Korean professional baseball league. He bats and throws right-handed.
Amateur Draft. Instead, he entered Sungkyunkwan University
to play college baseball. While in college, Mo was regarded as the best collegiate five-tool player
, winning numerous home run and stolen base titles. In July 2006, as a junior at Sungkyunkwan University, Mo got his first call-up to the South Korea national baseball team and competed in the team's three friendly baseball matches against the USA national baseball team in Durham, North Carolina
, as a cleanup hitter
. He hit a two-RBI single off future Orioles
starting pitcher
Jake Arrieta
in Game 3 but struggled at the plate during the series, going 1-for-10.
with the 10th overall pick of the KBO Draft. After the Draft, Wyverns manager
Kim Sung-Keun indicated an expectation that Mo would resume his role as the team's top base-stealing slugger entering the 2008 season. The team gave Mo consistent chances during the season when he appeared in 91 games. However, Mo finished his rookie season with a disappointing .223 batting average
, 1 home run, 20 RBI and 10 stolen base
s.
In Mo posted slightly better offensive stats, batting .237 and smacking 4 home runs in 92 games. In , however, Mo was demoted to the Wyverns' second-tier team, spending half of the 2010 season in the Futures League
. He hit only .183 with 2 RBI through the 2010 season.
After the season, Mo left the Wyverns to serve a two-year mandatory military commitment. In October , Mo competed for the South Korean national team in the 2011 Baseball World Cup
where he batted .302 and smacked 2 home runs with 6 RBI, appearing in all 12 games as a starting third baseman. He made the tourney All-Star team at third base, beating out Michel Enríquez
and Javier Castillo
.
Gwangju
Gwangju is the sixth largest city in South Korea. It is a designated metropolitan city under the direct control of the central government's Home Minister...
) is an infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
who plays for the SK Wyverns
SK Wyverns
SK Wyverns Baseball Club is a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 2000. Based in Incheon, they play their home games at Munhak Baseball Stadium.Their current manager is Man Soo Lee .-History:...
in the South Korean professional baseball league. He bats and throws right-handed.
Amateur career
After graduating from Gwangju Jaeil High School, Mo went undrafted in the 2005 KBOKorea 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...
Amateur Draft. Instead, he entered Sungkyunkwan University
Sungkyunkwan University
Sungkyunkwan University is a private university in Seoul and Suwon, South Korea. The university has two campuses: the Humanities and Social Sciences campus in Myeongnyun Dong, Jongno-gu in central Seoul, and the Natural Sciences Campus in Cheoncheon Dong, Jangan Gu, Suwon...
to play college baseball. While in college, Mo was regarded as the best collegiate five-tool player
Five-tool player
In baseball, a five-tool player is one who excels at hitting for average, hitting for power, baserunning skills and speed, throwing ability, and fielding abilities....
, winning numerous home run and stolen base titles. In July 2006, as a junior at Sungkyunkwan University, Mo got his first call-up to the South Korea national baseball team and competed in the team's three friendly baseball matches against the USA national baseball team in Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
, as a cleanup hitter
Cleanup hitter
In baseball, the cleanup hitter is the hitter who bats fourth in the lineup. Although the third man up is generally the hitter with the highest batting average, cleanup hitters often have the most power on the team and are typically the team's best power hitter; their job is to "clean up the...
. He hit a two-RBI single off future Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
Jake Arrieta
Jake Arrieta
Jacob Joseph Arrieta is a right-handed starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles.-Early life:...
in Game 3 but struggled at the plate during the series, going 1-for-10.
Notable international careers
| Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korea vs USA Baseball Championship | 1W-2L | .100 BA (1-for-10), 2 RBI |
Professional career
Mo was selected by the SK WyvernsSK Wyverns
SK Wyverns Baseball Club is a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 2000. Based in Incheon, they play their home games at Munhak Baseball Stadium.Their current manager is Man Soo Lee .-History:...
with the 10th overall pick of the KBO Draft. After the Draft, Wyverns manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Kim Sung-Keun indicated an expectation that Mo would resume his role as the team's top base-stealing slugger entering the 2008 season. The team gave Mo consistent chances during the season when he appeared in 91 games. However, Mo finished his rookie season with a disappointing .223 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, 1 home run, 20 RBI and 10 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s.
In Mo posted slightly better offensive stats, batting .237 and smacking 4 home runs in 92 games. In , however, Mo was demoted to the Wyverns' second-tier team, spending half of the 2010 season in the Futures League
Korea Baseball Futures League
Futures League is the 2nd highest level below that of Korea Professional Baseball in South Korea. It has a role as a farm league, whose the purpose is to develop players available to play in Korea Professional Baseball league on demand. Futures League consists of two small leagues that are...
. He hit only .183 with 2 RBI through the 2010 season.
After the season, Mo left the Wyverns to serve a two-year mandatory military commitment. In October , Mo competed for the South Korean national team in the 2011 Baseball World Cup
2011 Baseball World Cup
The 2011 Baseball World Cup was an international baseball tournament held from October 1 to October 15, 2011. It was the 39th Baseball World Cup. The International Baseball Federation selected Panama to host the tournament, turning down bids from Chinese Taipei and Venezuela...
where he batted .302 and smacked 2 home runs with 6 RBI, appearing in all 12 games as a starting third baseman. He made the tourney All-Star team at third base, beating out Michel Enríquez
Michel Enríquez
Michel Enríquez Tamayo is a Cuban baseball third baseman....
and Javier Castillo
Javier Castillo
Javier Castillo is a minor league baseball player who is most notable for being on Panama's roster for the 2006 World Baseball Classic and 2009 World Baseball Classic...
.
Notable international careers
| Year | Venue | Competition | Team | Individual Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseball World Cup 2011 Baseball World Cup The 2011 Baseball World Cup was an international baseball tournament held from October 1 to October 15, 2011. It was the 39th Baseball World Cup. The International Baseball Federation selected Panama to host the tournament, turning down bids from Chinese Taipei and Venezuela... |
6th | .302 BA (13-for-43), 6 RBI, 2 HR, 5 R All-Star (3B Third baseman A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run... ) |
||
External links
- Profile and stats on the KBO official site