1. Overview
Oh Tae-gon (오태곤O Tae-gonKorean), born on November 18, 1991, and originally named Oh Seung-taek (오승택O Seung-taekKorean), is a professional baseball player in the KBO League. Primarily an infielder, he has also seen extensive play as an outfielder and designated hitter throughout his career. He began his professional journey with the Lotte Giants in 2010, followed by a stint with the Police Baseball Team for his mandatory military service. Upon returning to the Giants, he showcased significant offensive prowess, including his debut home run and multiple impressive hitting streaks. In 2017, he was traded to kt Wiz, where he continued to contribute, transitioning to an outfielder role. He later moved to SK Wyverns (which became SSG Landers) in 2020, where he remains a key player, notably signing a long-term free agent contract in 2022.
2. Early life and personal background
Oh Tae-gon's early life and personal history shaped his path before and during his professional baseball career.
2.1. Birth and family
Oh Tae-gon was born on November 18, 1991. His birth name was Oh Seung-taek (오승택O Seung-taekKorean, Hanja: 吳承澤O Seung-taekKorean), which he later changed to Oh Tae-gon (오태곤O Tae-gonKorean, Hanja: 吳太坤O Tae-gonKorean). He is the cousin of Oh Hyun-taek, a former pitcher for the Lotte Giants in the KBO League.
2.2. Education
Oh Tae-gon completed his elementary education at Seoul Ssangmun Elementary School. He then attended Seoul Shinwol Middle School before graduating from Seoul Cheongwon High School.
2.3. Personal life
Oh Tae-gon is married to Park Jae-heon. Their marriage began in 2011.
3. Professional career
Oh Tae-gon's professional baseball career spans multiple teams within the KBO League, marked by significant trades, position changes, and notable performances.
3.1. Lotte Giants (2010-2016)
Oh Tae-gon joined the Lotte Giants in 2010, beginning his professional career as an infielder.
3.1.1. Police Baseball Team (2011-2013)
Following the 2011 KBO League season, Oh Tae-gon joined the Police Baseball Team for his mandatory military service, playing for them through the 2013 season.
3.1.2. Return and key performances
After completing his military service, Oh Tae-gon returned to the Lotte Giants in 2014. In a game against the KIA Tigers that year, he hit his debut professional home run off Choi Young-pil. On May 23, 2015, in a game against the LG Twins, he achieved a remarkable feat by hitting three consecutive home runs, a rare accomplishment in the KBO League. He also recorded 16 total bases in that game, tying the record for the most total bases in a single game. His strong performances continued into the 2017 season; on April 8, 2017, he hit a walk-off home run against Jin Hae-soo of the LG Twins, further demonstrating his clutch hitting ability against the team.
3.2. kt Wiz (2017-2020)
On April 18, 2017, Oh Tae-gon was traded from the Lotte Giants to kt Wiz in a significant 2:2 player exchange. As part of this trade, Oh Tae-gon and Bae Je-seong moved to kt Wiz, while Jang Si-hwan and Kim Gun-kook were sent to the Lotte Giants. During his tenure with kt Wiz, Oh Tae-gon expanded his defensive capabilities, actively playing as an outfielder starting from the 2018 season in addition to his primary role as an infielder.
3.3. SK Wyverns and SSG Landers (2020-present)
On August 13, 2020, Oh Tae-gon was involved in another trade, moving from kt Wiz to SK Wyverns in a 1:1 deal for Lee Hong-gu. Following this trade, SK Wyverns was rebranded as SSG Landers. Oh Tae-gon continued to be a crucial part of the team's lineup. On November 24, 2022, he re-signed with SSG Landers as a free agent on a four-year contract totaling 1.80 B KRW. This contract included a signing bonus of 600.00 M KRW, an annual salary of 1.00 B KRW, and options worth 200.00 M KRW.
3.4. Major records and achievements
Oh Tae-gon has achieved several notable milestones throughout his professional career:
- On May 23, 2015, in a game against the LG Twins, he recorded the 39th instance of three consecutive home runs in KBO League history.
- In the same game on May 23, 2015, he tied the KBO League record for the most total bases in a single game with 16 total bases.
4. Career statistics
| Year | Team | Batting Average | Games | At Bats | Runs | Hits | 2B | 3B | HR | Total Bases | RBI | Stolen Bases | Caught Stealing | BB | HBP | Strikeouts | Grounded into Double Play | Errors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Lotte | 0.000 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0.244 | 57 | 45 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 3 | |
| 2015 | 0.275 | 122 | 327 | 57 | 90 | 18 | 1 | 8 | 134 | 43 | 15 | 4 | 17 | 4 | 100 | 9 | 16 | |
| 2016 | 0.260 | 42 | 123 | 17 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 47 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 37 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2017 | kt | 0.283 | 135 | 374 | 53 | 106 | 29 | 1 | 9 | 164 | 42 | 15 | 9 | 16 | 6 | 93 | 7 | 10 |
| 2018 | 0.254 | 128 | 342 | 55 | 87 | 17 | 2 | 12 | 144 | 39 | 13 | 8 | 24 | 4 | 92 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2019 | 0.250 | 123 | 352 | 63 | 88 | 16 | 1 | 6 | 124 | 35 | 19 | 2 | 31 | 4 | 78 | 8 | 9 | |
| 2020 | SK | 0.274 | 94 | 234 | 36 | 64 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 93 | 35 | 15 | 6 | 13 | 7 | 47 | 6 | 2 |
| 2021 | SSG | 0.268 | 122 | 235 | 47 | 63 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 100 | 35 | 9 | 4 | 14 | 2 | 52 | 4 | 3 |
| 2022 | 0.232 | 130 | 263 | 48 | 61 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 89 | 23 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 9 | 68 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 0.239 | 123 | 272 | 37 | 65 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 102 | 28 | 20 | 1 | 18 | 4 | 67 | 6 | 6 | |
| Career Total | 11 Seasons | 0.260 | 1077 | 2568 | 423 | 667 | 139 | 8 | 64 | 1014 | 292 | 125 | 41 | 165 | 40 | 652 | 55 | 54 |
5. External links
- [https://mykbostats.com/players/793-Oh-Tae-gon-KT-Wiz Oh Tae-gon on Mykbostats]
- [https://statiz.sporki.com/player/?m=playerinfo&p_no=10249 Oh Tae-gon on Statiz]