1. Overview
Kim Seong-hyun (김성현Gim Seong-hyeonKorean; born March 9, 1987) is a South Korean professional baseball infielder who plays for the SSG Landers of the KBO League. He began his professional career after being selected by the SK Wyverns in the 2007 KBO Draft, establishing himself as a versatile infielder known for his defensive capabilities and consistent batting throughout his career.
2. Early life and education
Kim Seong-hyun attended Songjeongdong Elementary School, Chungjang Middle School, and Gwangju Jeil High School before embarking on his professional baseball career.
3. Professional career
Kim Seong-hyun's professional baseball career began with the SK Wyverns and continued through their re-branding as the SSG Landers, marked by periods of military service, significant position changes, and notable individual and team achievements.
3.1. SK Wyverns and Military Service (2006-2010)
Kim Seong-hyun was selected by the SK Wyverns as an infielder in the 2007 KBO League Draft, which was held in 2006. He made his debut with the team in 2006. In 2009, he enlisted for military service and played for the Sangmu Baseball Team, completing his service in 2010.
3.2. Return to SK Wyverns (2011-2020)
Upon returning from military service in 2011, Kim Seong-hyun rejoined the SK Wyverns. During this decade, he solidified his role as a key player for the team, adapting to various defensive positions and improving his offensive contributions.
3.2.1. Performance and position changes
In 2014, Kim Seong-hyun became a regular player at shortstop, batting .284 with 113 hits, 5 home runs, and 43 RBIs. In 2015, he recorded a batting average of .297 with 118 hits, 5 home runs, and 48 RBIs. However, he also committed 23 errors, which led to his preparation for a transition to Second baseman for the 2016 season.
The 2016 season marked a period of strong performance for Kim, often referred to as his "golden days" as he converted to second baseman. He achieved a batting average of .319 with 153 hits, 8 home runs, and 65 RBIs. Despite his strong performance, a slump in August prevented him from winning a Golden Glove. In 2017, he continued to showcase his defensive prowess at second base, committing only 6 errors in 980 innings, establishing himself as one of the best defenders at the position. His batting average for the year was .271 with 103 hits, 4 home runs, and 29 RBIs. He finished the 2018 season with a batting average of .277, accumulating 115 hits, 4 home runs, and 55 RBIs. In 2019, he converted back to shortstop and appeared in every game, batting .246. In his final season with the SK Wyverns in 2020, he batted .271 with 93 hits, 2 home runs, and 25 RBIs in 133 games.
3.2.2. Notable games and moments
On May 8, 2013, in a game against the Doosan Bears, Kim Seong-hyun hit his debut walk-off hit against pitcher Oh Hyun-taek, securing a victory for the Wyverns. In a significant moment during the 2015 Wild Card elimination game against the Kiwoom Heroes on October 7, he made a critical infield pop-up error in extra innings, which led to a walk-off loss and the Wyverns' elimination from the postseason.
During the 2018 postseason, Kim Seong-hyun made a crucial impact, hitting a 3-run home run in Game 1 of the playoffs. His performance in the playoffs was strong, batting .385 with a .769 slugging percentage and one home run. He was also named the daily MVP in Game 5 of the 2018 Korean Series, contributing significantly to the SK Wyverns' victory over the Doosan Bears in the series.
3.2.3. FA contract
Following the 2020 season, Kim Seong-hyun became a free agent (FA). He re-signed with the SK Wyverns (which would later be rebranded as the SSG Landers) on a 2+1 year contract valued at a total of 1.10 B KRW. This marked the first FA contract signed in the KBO League for the 2021 season.
3.3. SSG Landers (2021-present)
Kim Seong-hyun continued his professional career with the SSG Landers after the team's re-branding in 2021. In 2021, he played in 110 games, batting .283 with 6 home runs and 37 RBIs. In 2022, he participated in 130 games, batting .219 with 2 home runs and 37 RBIs. He played 112 games in 2023, batting .268 with 1 home run and 27 RBIs. As of 2024, he continued to be an active player for the SSG Landers.
4. Career statistics
| Year | Team | Batting average | Games | At bats | Runs | Hits | Doubles | Triples | Home runs | Total bases | RBIs | Stolen bases | Caught stealing | Walks | Hit by pitch | Strikeouts | Double plays | Errors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | SK Wyverns | 1.000 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | - | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 0.200 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 0.000 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 0.239 | 88 | 163 | 28 | 39 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 59 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 26 | 2 | 6 | |
| 2013 | 0.216 | 97 | 162 | 27 | 35 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 47 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 1 | 28 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 0.284 | 122 | 398 | 73 | 113 | 20 | 1 | 5 | 150 | 43 | 6 | 3 | 55 | 7 | 51 | 7 | 18 | |
| 2015 | 0.297 | 129 | 397 | 49 | 118 | 20 | 0 | 8 | 162 | 48 | 1 | 4 | 31 | 7 | 42 | 14 | 23 | |
| 2016 | 0.319 | 138 | 479 | 66 | 153 | 28 | 0 | 8 | 205 | 65 | 3 | 3 | 33 | 6 | 37 | 13 | 16 | |
| 2017 | 0.271 | 130 | 380 | 45 | 103 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 129 | 29 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 4 | 28 | 8 | 6 | |
| 2018 | 0.277 | 135 | 415 | 51 | 115 | 19 | 1 | 4 | 148 | 55 | 6 | 2 | 29 | 9 | 42 | 19 | 17 | |
| 2019 | 0.246 | 144 | 426 | 45 | 105 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 128 | 34 | 6 | 2 | 33 | 2 | 43 | 15 | 26 | |
| 2020 | 0.271 | 133 | 343 | 34 | 93 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 110 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 5 | 27 | 10 | 10 | |
| 2021 | SSG Landers | 0.283 | 110 | 237 | 27 | 67 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 100 | 37 | 5 | 2 | 29 | 0 | 29 | 8 | 8 |
| 2022 | 0.219 | 130 | 302 | 38 | 66 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 83 | 37 | 3 | 3 | 31 | 3 | 36 | 13 | 12 | |
| 2023 | 0.268 | 112 | 310 | 35 | 83 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 100 | 27 | 4 | 1 | 29 | 0 | 36 | 6 | 14 | |
| 2024 | 0.227 | 71 | 141 | 21 | 32 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 4 | 28 | 7 | 6 | |
| Career total | 16 Seasons | 0.270 | 1563 | 4168 | 544 | 1124 | 182 | 11 | 45 | 1463 | 445 | 48 | 31 | 378 | 53 | 459 | 128 | 164 |