1. Overview
Oh Sun-jin (오선진Korean) (呉先真O SonjinJapanese) is a South Korean infielder who currently plays for the Kiwoom Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). Born on July 7, 1989, in Seoul, he has had a career marked by multiple stints with the Hanwha Eagles, as well as playing for the Samsung Lions and Lotte Giants, showcasing his defensive prowess and contributing at various infield positions.
2. Early life and amateur career
Oh Sun-jin's baseball journey began in Seoul, where he developed his skills as an infielder before joining the professional ranks. His early career was significantly shaped by his time in high school and the guidance of influential figures.
2.1. Childhood and education
Oh Sun-jin was born on July 7, 1989, in Seoul, South Korea. He attended Seongnam High School (Seoul), where he was recognized as a promising young baseball talent. His development during his high school years was notably influenced by Lee Hee-soo, who later became a manager for the Hanwha Eagles and guided Oh at Seongnam High School until 2006.
2.2. Amateur baseball career
During his time at Seongnam High School, Oh Sun-jin distinguished himself as an infielder. Under the tutelage of Lee Hee-soo, he honed his defensive capabilities and became a key player in the school's baseball program. His performance in high school leagues positioned him as a notable prospect for the professional KBO League.
3. Professional career
Oh Sun-jin's professional career spans over a decade in the KBO League, with notable tenures across multiple teams and a period of military service.
3.1. Hanwha Eagles (2008-2013)
Oh Sun-jin was drafted by the Hanwha Eagles in the second round, fourth pick of the 2008 KBO League Rookie Draft. He made his professional debut in the 2008 season, appearing in 46 games, predominantly as a defensive replacement due to initial struggles with his batting.
In 2009, he started in the season's opening game against the SK Wyverns. On April 10, he hit his first professional home run against Song Seung-jun of the Lotte Giants. He followed this with his second career home run on April 22 against Kim Su-kyung of the Heroes. Despite these moments, he continued to be primarily utilized as a defensive specialist, though his batting average significantly improved from the previous year.
The 2012 season marked a turning point for Oh Sun-jin, as he became the team's de facto full-time third baseman due to Song Kwang-min's alternative military service and Lee Yeo-sang's performance struggles. On June 17, 2012, in a game against the SK Wyverns, he made a crucial diving catch on Jung Keun-woo's hit that led to a double play at third base. In the same game, he hit a solo home run against Mario Santiago and a 2-RBI single, playing a decisive role in ending the team's five-game losing streak against the Wyverns that season, and their nine-game losing streak against them dating back to 2011. From mid-July, he was often used as a lead-off hitter, contributing to the team's improved performance in the latter half of the season. He played 110 games that season, recording a batting average in the .260s, over 100 hits, three home runs, 41 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases. Following the season, he was selected for the Asian Baseball Championship national team, playing alongside players such as Kim Yong-ui, Na Sung-bum, and Jeong Hyeong-sik.
In 2013, Oh Sun-jin experienced a decline in performance. His playing time decreased significantly, and he was relegated to a backup role after Song Kwang-min returned from military service and Lee Dae-soo took over at third base. Although he hit two consecutive home runs on June 22 and 23 against the Doosan Bears (off Garrett Olson and Noh Kyung-eun), these were his only two home runs of the entire season. He concluded this initial tenure with the Eagles by enlisting for mandatory military service at the end of the year.
3.2. Military service
After the 2013 KBO season, Oh Sun-jin enlisted in the Sangmu Baseball Team, the military baseball club for professional athletes. He served his mandatory military service while continuing to play baseball, a common path for South Korean professional players. He returned to the Hanwha Eagles in 2015.
3.3. Hanwha Eagles (2016-2020)
Oh Sun-jin rejoined the Hanwha Eagles for the 2016 season after completing his military service. In 2019, he saw an increase in playing opportunities, largely due to an injury sustained by Ha Ju-suk. This allowed him to play a career-high 122 games that season, demonstrating his versatility and utility to the team.
3.4. Samsung Lions (2021-2022)
On June 25, 2021, Oh Sun-jin was traded to the Samsung Lions in a one-for-one deal, with Lee Sung-gon moving to the Hanwha Eagles. He played with the Lions through the 2022 season. Despite being eligible for free agency after the 2021 season, he chose not to exercise his option and remained with the team for another year.
3.5. Hanwha Eagles (2023)
Following the 2022 season, Oh Sun-jin became a free agent once again. He re-signed with his original team, the Hanwha Eagles, on November 29, 2022. The contract was for a 1+1 year term, including a signing bonus of 150.00 M KRW, an annual salary of 100.00 M KRW, and incentives totaling 25.00 M KRW, with a maximum total value of 400.00 M KRW. During the 2023 season, he stepped up to play shortstop for the team, filling in for Ha Ju-suk who was suspended due to off-field issues.
3.6. Lotte Giants (2024)
After the 2023 season, Oh Sun-jin transferred to the Lotte Giants through the resurrected KBO League secondary draft. He played for the Lotte Giants during the 2024 season. Following the conclusion of the 2024 season, he became a free agent.
3.7. Kiwoom Heroes (2025-present)
For the 2025 season, Oh Sun-jin signed a contract to join the Kiwoom Heroes, marking another new chapter in his extensive professional career.
4. Controversies and incidents
Oh Sun-jin has faced one notable controversy during his professional career that drew public attention.
On April 22, 2017, it was reported that Oh Sun-jin, along with teammate Yang Sung-woo, was seen at a nightclub in the early hours of April 22, after a game on April 21. This behavior, occurring late at night with a game scheduled for the same day, drew significant criticism from fans. As a consequence, both Oh Sun-jin and Yang Sung-woo were removed from the first-team roster.
5. Career statistics
Oh Sun-jin's professional career statistics reflect his consistent presence as an infielder in the KBO League.
5.1. Batting statistics
| Year | Team | Batting Average | Games Played | At-Bats | Runs | Hits | 2B | 3B | Home Runs | Total Bases | RBIs | Stolen Bases | Caught Stealing | Walks | Hit By Pitch | Strikeouts | Double Plays | Errors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Hanwha | 0.133 | 46 | 30 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0.263 | 79 | 175 | 20 | 46 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 63 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 43 | 7 | 10 | |
| 2010 | 0.199 | 108 | 221 | 24 | 44 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 57 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2011 | 0.206 | 68 | 107 | 15 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 3 | 5 | |
| 2012 | 0.263 | 110 | 399 | 33 | 105 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 138 | 41 | 14 | 9 | 25 | 7 | 65 | 7 | 6 | |
| 2013 | 0.230 | 92 | 256 | 31 | 59 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 77 | 26 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 10 | 49 | 12 | 4 | |
| 2016 | 0.163 | 57 | 43 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 0.310 | 65 | 184 | 23 | 57 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 74 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 4 | 22 | 5 | 4 | |
| 2018 | 0.226 | 56 | 133 | 14 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 37 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 33 | 2 | 5 | |
| 2019 | 0.224 | 122 | 392 | 37 | 88 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 113 | 36 | 7 | 2 | 38 | 10 | 72 | 8 | 12 | |
| 2020 | 0.234 | 93 | 197 | 17 | 46 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 56 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 3 | 39 | 10 | 4 | |
| 2021 | Samsung | 0.214 | 23 | 42 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| 2022 | 0.276 | 100 | 268 | 30 | 74 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 91 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 3 | 51 | 5 | 10 | |
| 2023 | Hanwha | 0.230 | 90 | 165 | 17 | 38 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 5 | 34 | 7 | 4 |
| 2024 | Lotte | 0.200 | 26 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Career Totals | 15 Seasons | 0.241 | 1135 | 2632 | 275 | 633 | 94 | 6 | 18 | 793 | 229 | 49 | 28 | 202 | 59 | 517 | 75 | 69 |
5.2. Uniform numbers
Oh Sun-jin has worn several uniform numbers throughout his professional baseball career:
- 56 (2008-2010) with Hanwha Eagles
- 6 (2011-2013, 2018-early 2021, 2023-2024) with Hanwha Eagles and Lotte Giants
- 4 (2016-2017) with Hanwha Eagles
- 31 (mid-2021-end 2021) with Samsung Lions
- 3 (2022) with Samsung Lions
- 60 (2025-present) with Kiwoom Heroes