Hwang Jae-gyun of the KT Wiz celebrates after hitting an RBI single in opposition to the Kiwoom Heroes throughout the golf equipment’ Korea Baseball Group regular-season recreation at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, Could 25. Yonhap
Hwang Jae-gyun, an All-Star infielder within the Korean baseball league who additionally had a cup of espresso within the majors, introduced his retirement Friday at age 38.
The KT Wiz, the final crew within the Korea Baseball Group (KBO) for Hwang, mentioned the veteran determined to name it a profession after 18 seasons at dwelling and one temporary stint with the San Francisco Giants in 2017.
Hwang made his KBO debut with the now-defunct Hyundai Unicorns in 2007. He then spent the subsequent two seasons with the Woori (presently Kiwoom) Heroes, a brand new franchise that joined the KBO after the Unicorns folded.
Hwang was traded to the Lotte Giants in July 2010 and remained with the Busan-based membership till 2016. He gained the 2012 All-Star Recreation MVP award whereas with the Giants.
He appeared in solely 18 video games for the San Francisco Giants in 2017 and returned to the KBO by signing with the Wiz in November 2017.
He spent the remainder of his KBO profession there, serving to them win their first Korean Sequence title in 2021 as crew captain. The yr earlier than that, Hwang earned his first and solely Golden Glove award at third base as one of the best general participant at his place, after batting .312 with 21 homers, 97 RBIs and 11 steals and taking part in his usually robust protection on the scorching nook.
Internationally, Hwang gained gold medals on the 2014 and the 2018 Asian Video games.
In 2025, Hwang batted .275 with seven homers and 48 RBIs in 112 video games. By recording 108 hits, Hwang grew to become the seventh participant in KBO historical past to place up not less than 100 hits in 14 consecutive seasons.
Hwang grew to become a free agent this offseason. He revealed that the Wiz had given him “a very good supply” however he nonetheless determined it was time to hold up his cleats.
He completed with 2,200 video games performed, together with a .287 batting common, 227 dwelling runs, 1,121 RBIs, 235 steals and a couple of,266 hits. He ranks seventh all time in video games and hits, and is one among solely three KBO gamers ever with not less than 200 dwelling runs and 200 steals.
“Throughout my profession, I loved the best thrill ever by successful the Korean Sequence title, and I additionally had the consideration of representing the nation on the Olympics and the Asian Video games,” Hwang mentioned. “I have been blissful as a baseball participant. I need to be remembered as somebody who stayed on the sphere and performed constantly. I would prefer to thank my household, my coaches and my teammates for serving to me alongside over time.”
The Wiz mentioned they are going to maintain a retirement ceremony for Hwang early subsequent season.
