Kim Sang-hyun (baseball)

1.1. Childhood and Educational Background

Kim Sang-hyeon was born on November 12, 1980, in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, South Korea. He attended Gunsan Elementary School, Gunsan Middle School, and Gunsan Commercial High School. In 2000, he was drafted by the Haitai Tigers, the local team, in the 2nd round as the 6th overall pick. During his initial years with the Haitai Tigers, he primarily played in the farm team and struggled to establish himself as a starter, often being overshadowed by fellow third baseman Jung Sung-hoon.

2.1. Haitai Tigers and First Kia Tigers Period

Kim Sang-hyeon began his professional journey with the Haitai Tigers in 2000. He debuted in the KBO League in 2001 but spent most of his early career developing in the farm team. In July 2001, the Haitai Tigers organization was acquired by Kia Motors and subsequently rebranded as the Kia Tigers. On July 30, 2002, during a game against the LG Twins, Kim, appearing as a pinch-hitter, hit a home run off LG's left-handed closer Lee Sang-hoon, leaving a notable impression on the opposing team's manager, Kim Sung-keun. This performance led to his trade to the LG Twins the following day, on July 31, 2002, in exchange for pitcher Bang Dong-min.

2.2. LG Twins Period and Military Service

Upon joining the LG Twins, Kim Sang-hyeon began to establish himself, playing in 100 games during the 2004 season and gradually solidifying his position at third base. In 2004, he enlisted for mandatory military service and joined the Sangmu Phoenix baseball team. While playing for Sangmu, he earned the nickname "Barry Bonds of the KBO Futures League" due to his exceptional power hitting, leading the Northern League in both home runs and RBIs.

After completing his military service, Kim was discharged in 2007 and returned to the LG Twins with high expectations for his performance in the first team. Despite his raw power potential, he exhibited weaknesses in his batting eye and defense. Furthermore, his primary position as a third baseman created a dilemma as it overlapped with Jung Sung-hoon, who joined the LG Twins as a free agent in 2009. Jung Sung-hoon's presence consistently limited Kim's opportunities. Kim continued to primarily play in the farm team despite his return to LG. On April 19, 2009, early in the season, he was traded back to his former team, the Kia Tigers, along with infielder Park Ki-nam, in a deal that sent pitcher Kang Chul-min to the LG Twins.

2.3. Return to Kia Tigers and MVP Season

His return to the Kia Tigers in 2009 marked a dramatic turning point in Kim Sang-hyeon's career. The Kia Tigers' infield was relatively weak at the time, which allowed Kim to immediately secure a starting spot at third base. He swiftly capitalized on this opportunity, consistently delivering crucial home runs and timely hits. On April 26, 2009, in a game against the Samsung Lions in Daegu, he hit his first career grand slam off Ahn Ji-man. His knack for hitting grand slams became a notable characteristic of his 2009 season, as he tied the KBO record for most grand slams in a single season by July 3, 2009, with four.

This trade proved to be a highly successful move for the Kia Tigers, directly contributing to their championship season. Conversely, it was seen as a poor decision for the LG Twins, as Kang Chul-min was eventually released in 2011. Prior to his return to Kia, Kim had not been a standout player, but in 2009, his consistently impactful hitting propelled the Kia Tigers to the regular season title. He formed a formidable hitting partnership with first baseman Choi Hee-seop, which was quickly dubbed the "CK Cannon" (combining their surnames, Choi and Kim), drawing comparisons to the legendary "KKKpo" power trio of the former Haitai Tigers. Together, Kim and Choi accounted for 69 home runs that season.

In August 2009, Kim's performance reached new heights, as he recorded 15 home runs and 38 RBIs, tying the KBO monthly records for both categories. When the Kia Tigers clinched the regular season championship on September 24, the game coincidentally took place in his hometown of Gunsan. He delivered a stellar performance, driving in 3 RBIs, which included his 36th home run of the season. He concluded the 2009 season with an impressive batting average of .315, a slugging percentage of .632, 36 home runs, and 127 RBIs, securing his first individual batting titles in home runs, RBIs, and slugging percentage. His 2009 output was particularly astonishing given that he had accumulated only 33 home runs over his entire nine-year career prior to that season. For his exceptional contributions, Kim Sang-hyeon was overwhelmingly voted the 2009 KBO League MVP, becoming a central figure in Korean professional baseball. He was notably the first player in KBO history to win the MVP award after being traded during the same season. In the 2009 Korean Series, he hit a crucial three-run homer in Game 3, and despite a slight dip in performance compared to the regular season, he celebrated his first career championship with the Kia Tigers. On December 11, 2009, he received his first KBO League Golden Glove Award as a third baseman.

Following his MVP season, Kim's contract for 2010 was significantly increased by 188.00 M KRW to 240.00 M KRW, a nearly five-fold raise. However, in 2010, he faced intense scrutiny and was hampered by injuries, leading to a long absence in the summer. He played only 79 games, hitting 21 home runs and 53 RBIs, a considerable drop from his MVP year. Despite this, his 21 home runs in 79 games set a record for the fewest games played to reach 20 home runs. After the 2010 season, the Kia Tigers acquired Lee Bum-ho from the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, which led to Kim's position overlapping with Lee's. As a result, Kim began to also play as an outfielder starting in 2011. On July 10, 2011, he hit his 100th career home run in the KBO League, becoming the 55th player to reach this milestone. His performance continued to decline in 2011 and 2012 due to recurring injuries and reduced playing time, appearing in only 100 games in 2011 and 32 games in 2012.

2.4. SK Wyverns and KT Wiz Period

On May 6, 2013, Kim Sang-hyeon was traded to the SK Wyverns as part of a two-for-two exchange. In this deal, pitchers Song Eun-bum and Shin Seung-hyun went to the Kia Tigers, while pitcher Jin Hae-soo joined Kim in moving to SK. With the SK Wyverns, Kim primarily served as a backup to the team's star third baseman, Choi Jeong.

On November 28, 2014, he was specially selected by the new expansion team, KT Wiz, during the KBO expansion draft, as he was not among the 20 players protected by the SK Wyverns. This move reunited him with manager Cho Bum-hyun after four years, which sparked anticipation among fans. However, after joining KT, he experienced a slump, particularly struggling in situations with runners in scoring position, frequently striking out or hitting into groundball double plays. Many of his hits and home runs were considered "nutritional" hits, often occurring when the game's outcome was already largely decided. His aggressive home run swings also led to a decline in his batting eye and contact ability, resulting in an increase in strikeouts.

Despite these struggles, on March 28, 2015, in the KT Wiz's inaugural KBO League game against the Lotte Giants, Kim made history by hitting the club's first-ever home run and recording its first RBI in the first inning. Following the 2015 season, he exercised his free agent rights for the first time in his career and re-signed with KT Wiz on a four-year contract valued at 1.70 B KRW. His career with KT Wiz, however, came to an abrupt end. On July 12, 2016, while he was playing in a game, news broke about his alleged involvement in a public indecency incident. He was substituted in the 3rd inning during the game and, the following day, July 13, 2016, KT Wiz issued an arbitrary retirement (suspension) for him.

3.1. Journeyman Baseball Club Period

In 2017, seeking an opportunity to return to professional baseball, Kim Sang-hyeon joined the Journeyman Baseball Club in the independent baseball league. This connection was facilitated by his former teammate and the club's owner, Choi Ik-seong. On July 17, 2017, his former club, KT Wiz, officially lifted his arbitrary retirement status and placed him on waivers, formally releasing him. In 2018, as the Journeyman Baseball Club became part of the Korea Dream League under the Korea Independent Baseball Federation, Kim transitioned into a player-manager role. However, he left the team within the same year.

4.1. Current Activities

After his retirement from professional baseball, Kim Sang-hyeon has established and is currently operating a baseball academy in Incheon, South Korea.

5.1. Major Titles and Honors

• KBO League Home Run Champion: 2009
• KBO League RBI Champion: 2009
• KBO League Slugging Percentage Leader: 2009
• KBO League MVP: 2009
• KBO League Golden Glove Award: 2009 (Third baseman)

6.1. Public Indecency Incident and Suspension

On June 16, 2016, while assigned to the KBO Futures League and residing in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, Kim Sang-hyeon was involved in a public indecency incident. He was booked without detention on allegations of masturbating in his car while observing a female university student, who subsequently reported the incident due to feelings of shame.

The incident gained public attention when it was reported by the media on July 12, 2016. Kim was playing in a game when the news broke and was substituted in the 3rd inning during a game against the Nexen Heroes by Kim Yeon-hoon. The following day, July 13, 2016, his club, KT Wiz, imposed an arbitrary retirement (suspension) on him. This disciplinary action was taken due to his conduct being deemed damaging to his dignity as a professional baseball player and detrimental to the club's image. Under this status, he was barred from returning to his club or transferring to another team without the club's explicit consent for a minimum period of one year.

On January 25, 2017, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) disciplinary committee fined him 5.00 M KRW in connection with the incident. His arbitrary retirement status was finally lifted by KT Wiz on July 14, 2017, after which he was placed on waivers and subsequently released.

7.1. Nicknames and Notable Episodes

Kim Sang-hyeon acquired several nicknames throughout his career, often reflecting significant events or personal characteristics:

• Kim Sang-sa (Korean: 김상사^Korean): This nickname, meaning "Sergeant Kim," referenced a popular song and character, "Sergeant Kim who returned from Vietnam," primarily due to Kim Sang-hyeon's tanned complexion. It also alluded to his return to the Kia Tigers after being traded, symbolizing a return from a long journey or "deployment."
• Kim Samsa (Korean: 김삼사^Korean): Meaning "Kim Three Companies," this nickname was given because he played for three KBO teams often associated with major South Korean telecommunications companies: LG Twins (LG U+), SK Wyverns (SK Telecom), and KT Wiz (KT Corporation).
• Ttal Sang-sa (Korean: 딸상사^Korean): This derogatory nickname, meaning "Masturbating Sergeant," unfortunately emerged after the public indecency incident.

A notable episode related to his career is the "Curse of Kim Sang-hyeon":
After his trade from the Kia Tigers in 2013, the team, which had been leading the league, experienced a sharp decline and finished the season near the bottom of the standings. They continued to struggle in 2014. Some Kia Tigers fans, who deeply valued his pivotal role in their 2009 championship, jokingly attributed the team's subsequent downfall to a "curse" similar to the Curse of the Bambino, implying that his departure brought misfortune. However, this "curse" was symbolically broken when the Kia Tigers won the integrated league championship in 2017.