1. Early Life and Amateur Career
Hur Kyoung-min was born on August 26, 1990, in Gwangju, South Korea. He attended Songjeong-dong Elementary School, Gwangju Chungjang Middle School, and Gwangju Jaeil High School. During his high school baseball career at Gwangju Jaeil High School, Hur was recognized as one of the "Big 4" shortstops in the Korean high school league, alongside future KBO stars An Chi-Hong, Kim Sang-Su, and Oh Ji-Hwan.
In 2008, Hur was selected to the South Korea national junior baseball team to compete in the 2008 World Junior Baseball Championship. He played in all eight games as a starting shortstop, contributing to South Korea's fifth tournament title. In the championship, he batted .200 (6-for-30) with 2 RBIs and 5 runs.
2. Professional Career
Hur Kyoung-min embarked on his professional baseball journey after being drafted into the KBO League. He spent the majority of his career with the Doosan Bears, establishing himself as a prominent infielder before moving to the KT Wiz.
2.1. Draft and Military Service
Hur was selected by the Doosan Bears as the 15th overall pick in the 2009 KBO Draft. However, he spent his entire 2009 season playing for the Bears' second-tier team, gaining experience before making his first-team debut.
Following the 2009 season, Hur temporarily left the Doosan Bears to fulfill his mandatory two-year military service. During this period, from 2010 to 2011, he played for the Korean Police Baseball Team. While serving his military duty, Hur also participated in several international competitions as part of the national team. In the 2009 Baseball World Cup, he batted .000 (0-for-9) with 2 runs, with South Korea finishing 9th. He later participated in the 2010 Intercontinental Cup, where he batted .267 (4-for-15) with 2 RBIs and 3 runs, and the team finished 6th. In the 2011 Baseball World Cup, he recorded a .256 batting average (10-for-39) with 2 RBIs and 3 runs, with South Korea again finishing 6th. He was discharged from military service in the autumn of 2011.
2.2. Doosan Bears
After completing his military service, Hur Kyoung-min returned to the Doosan Bears in 2012 and remained with the team for over a decade, becoming a cornerstone of their infield.
2.2.1. Debut and Early Years
Hur made his first-team debut in the KBO League on April 8, 2012, against the Nexen Heroes. In his initial seasons, he primarily played as a shortstop. However, as the 2012 season progressed, he experienced a batting slump, which led to Kim Jae-ho taking over the starting shortstop position. Despite this, Hur was utilized as a substitute runner in the playoffs, scoring two runs in the third and fourth games.
From 2013 onwards, Hur began to be primarily deployed as a third baseman, often platooning with players like Lee Won-seok. On September 22, 2013, in a game against the Kia Tigers at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, he hit his first professional home run, a solo shot to center field off Henry Sosa. In the 2013 postseason, he recorded a .333 batting average and a .429 on-base percentage, with 4 hits, 1 walk, 1 hit-by-pitch, 1 stolen base, and 1 run in 12 at-bats. Following the 2013 season, he changed his jersey number from 6, which he had worn since his debut, to 13. In 2014, on May 25, against the Hanwha Eagles, Hur had a notable performance, going 4-for-5 with 1 RBI and 1 run, hitting a triple, a double, and a single, narrowly missing a cycle after flying out to left field in his sixth at-bat.
2.2.2. Notable Seasons and Achievements
The 2015 season marked a turning point for Hur. Although he began as a reserve infielder, he seized opportunities due to the release of foreign player Zach Lutz and the slump of Choi Ju-hwan, eventually solidifying his position as the team's leadoff hitter. On August 6, he hit his first home run of the season against the Nexen Heroes. On September 18, while playing shortstop, he recorded a triple play in the first inning against Yamaico Navarro.
In 2018, Hur primarily played as the leadoff hitter and earned his first Golden Glove Award as a third baseman, a testament to his consistent performance. The 2019 regular season culminated in a dramatic fashion for the Doosan Bears. On October 1, in the final regular season game against the NC Dinos, with the team trailing by three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning with two outs and runners on second and third, Hur delivered a crucial two-run timely hit. He then scored the tying run on Kim In-tae's timely triple, helping the Bears rally to a walk-off victory in the ninth inning and secure their second consecutive regular season championship.
On July 1, 2020, Hur began a remarkable 25-game hitting streak against the Kiwoom Heroes, leading to his first career monthly MVP award. In 2021, Hur continued to achieve significant milestones; on April 17, in a game against the LG Twins, he recorded his 1,000th career hit, becoming the 105th player in KBO history to reach this milestone. He maintained stable performance as the team's leadoff hitter throughout the season. Following the 2020 season, Hur became a free agent and re-signed with the Doosan Bears on a 4+3 year contract worth a maximum of 8.50 B KRW, with a player option from the fifth year onwards.
2.2.3. Postseason Performance
Hur Kyoung-min has consistently delivered impactful performances in the KBO postseason. In the 2015 KBO Postseason, he played in all games from October 10 to October 31. He recorded hits in all games except for Game 3 of the playoffs and Game 5 of the Korean Series, accumulating a total of 23 hits, which set a new team record for most hits in a single postseason. His exceptional contributions were instrumental in the Doosan Bears winning their first Korean Series championship in 14 years since 2001.
In the 2016 KBO Postseason, Hur continued his clutch hitting. In Game 1 of the 2016 Korean Series, he contributed with three hits and excellent base running, scoring the winning run on Oh Jae-won's walk-off sacrifice fly. In Game 3, he recorded three RBIs, and in Game 4, he hit a crucial go-ahead two-run double, further solidifying his reputation as a reliable postseason performer.
2.3. KT Wiz
After the 2024 season, Hur Kyoung-min exercised his second FA option and signed a contract with the KT Wiz. His contract with the KT Wiz was for four years, valued at 4.00 B KRW.
3. National Team Career
Hur Kyoung-min has proudly represented South Korea at various levels of international baseball, contributing to the nation's success on the global stage.
3.1. Junior National Team
Hur's international career began early, as he was selected for the South Korea national junior baseball team in 2008. He participated in the 2008 World Junior Baseball Championship, where he played a crucial role as the starting shortstop in all eight games, helping South Korea secure the gold medal. During the tournament, he posted a batting average of .200 (6-for-30) with 2 RBIs and 5 runs.
3.2. Senior National Team
Hur's strong professional performances led to his selection for the senior national team. In 2015, he was called up to the South Korean national team for the inaugural 2015 WBSC Premier12 as a replacement for the injured Park Sok-min. He contributed to the team's historic gold medal victory in the tournament.
Following his successful 2016 season, Hur was selected for the 2017 World Baseball Classic roster. He was also part of the South Korean national team that competed in the 2019 WBSC Premier12, where the team earned a silver medal. In 2021, Hur was selected to represent South Korea at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, alongside Park Kun-woo. In 2023, he was included in the preliminary entry for the 2023 World Baseball Classic but unfortunately had to withdraw due to an injury.
4. Career Statistics and Awards
Hur Kyoung-min has accumulated impressive statistics and numerous accolades throughout his professional career, highlighting his consistency and impact as an infielder.
4.1. Yearly Batting Statistics
| Year | Team | BA | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | TB | RBI | SB | CS | BB | HBP | SO | DP | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Doosan | 0.266 | 92 | 154 | 28 | 41 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 17 | 7 | 5 |
| 2013 | 0.298 | 75 | 228 | 35 | 68 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 82 | 25 | 14 | 4 | 27 | 9 | 14 | 7 | 7 | |
| 2014 | 0.247 | 105 | 198 | 33 | 49 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 59 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 21 | 6 | 21 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2015 | 0.317 | 117 | 404 | 64 | 128 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 155 | 41 | 8 | 3 | 31 | 7 | 42 | 11 | 13 | |
| 2016 | 0.286 | 144 | 538 | 96 | 154 | 24 | 4 | 7 | 207 | 81 | 6 | 6 | 49 | 14 | 58 | 14 | 8 | |
| 2017 | 0.257 | 130 | 369 | 50 | 95 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 128 | 40 | 8 | 4 | 29 | 10 | 48 | 15 | 5 | |
| 2018 | 0.324 | 133 | 516 | 85 | 167 | 30 | 5 | 10 | 237 | 79 | 20 | 4 | 32 | 16 | 52 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 0.288 | 133 | 475 | 71 | 137 | 25 | 1 | 4 | 176 | 60 | 11 | 5 | 34 | 17 | 36 | 16 | 8 | |
| 2020 | 0.332 | 117 | 437 | 70 | 145 | 25 | 1 | 7 | 193 | 58 | 14 | 6 | 35 | 5 | 28 | 10 | 9 | |
| 2021 | 0.278 | 136 | 468 | 61 | 130 | 24 | 1 | 5 | 171 | 59 | 5 | 7 | 36 | 8 | 35 | 21 | 8 | |
| 2022 | 0.289 | 121 | 432 | 59 | 125 | 23 | 0 | 8 | 172 | 60 | 10 | 3 | 36 | 16 | 40 | 12 | 9 | |
| 2023 | 0.268 | 130 | 429 | 44 | 115 | 23 | 1 | 7 | 161 | 48 | 9 | 3 | 35 | 6 | 26 | 6 | 5 | |
| 2024 | 0.309 | 115 | 417 | 69 | 129 | 28 | 0 | 7 | 178 | 61 | 5 | 1 | 36 | 18 | 25 | 8 | 5 | |
| Career Totals | 13 Seasons | 0.293 | 1548 | 5065 | 765 | 1483 | 269 | 18 | 60 | 1968 | 636 | 125 | 58 | 408 | 137 | 442 | 149 | 92 |
4.2. Career Totals and Records
As of the end of the 2024 season, Hur Kyoung-min has played 1,548 games over 13 seasons, accumulating a career batting average of .293. He has recorded 1,483 hits, including 269 doubles, 18 triples, and 60 home runs, along with 636 RBIs. He also has 125 stolen bases.
Notable career milestones include:
- First hit: April 14, 2012, against the Nexen Heroes at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, a left-field double off Kim Young-min in the 8th inning.
- First home run: September 22, 2013, against the Kia Tigers at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, a solo home run to center field off Henry Sosa in the 2nd inning.
- 1,000th career hit: Achieved on April 17, 2021, against the LG Twins, becoming the 105th player in KBO history to reach this milestone.
- Single-postseason hits record: Set a new team record for the Doosan Bears with 23 hits in the 2015 KBO Postseason.
4.3. Major Awards and Honors
Hur Kyoung-min has received several individual and team accolades throughout his career:
- Individual Awards:**
- KBO Golden Glove Award (Third Baseman): 2018
- KBO Monthly MVP (July): 2020
- Team Achievements (with Doosan Bears):**
- Korean Series Champion: 2015, 2016
- KBO Regular Season Champion: 2019
- International Medals (with South Korea National Team):**
- Gold Medal, World Junior Baseball Championship: 2008
- Gold Medal, WBSC Premier12: 2015
- Silver Medal, WBSC Premier12: 2019
5. Jersey Numbers
Hur Kyoung-min has worn the following jersey numbers during his professional career:
- 40 (2009)
- 6 (2012-2013)
- 13 (2014-present)
6. Educational Background
- Songjeong-dong Elementary School
- Gwangju Chungjang Middle School
- Gwangju Jaeil High School