1. Early Life and Amateur Career
Oh Won-seok's early life was marked by his dedication to baseball, developing his skills through various school teams before gaining prominence at the high school level.
1.1. Birth and Education
Oh Won-seok was born on April 23, 2001, in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. His foundational education and baseball training took place at Sujin Elementary School, Maesong Middle School, and Yatap High School.
1.2. Amateur Baseball Activities
During his time at Yatap High School, Oh Won-seok emerged as a crucial player from his second year. In his third year, he garnered significant attention from baseball scouts for his performance in the 73rd Golden Lion National High School Baseball Tournament. In a game against Seongnam High School, he pitched as a starter for 6⅔ innings, allowing only 1 run while recording 7 strikeouts. Following his strong high school season, he participated in the U-18 Baseball World Cup, where he achieved favorable results. His impressive amateur career culminated in him being selected by the SK Wyverns in the first round of the 2020 KBO League draft.
2. Professional Career
Oh Won-seok embarked on his professional baseball journey with the SK Wyverns in 2020, transitioning through the team's rebranding to SSG Landers, and eventually moving to the KT Wiz. His career has seen him evolve from a bullpen pitcher to a consistent member of the starting rotation, contributing to significant team achievements.
2.1. SK Wyverns & SSG Landers (2020-2024)
Oh Won-seok spent the initial years of his professional career with the SK Wyverns, which later became the SSG Landers, establishing himself as a versatile pitcher.
2.1.1. 2020 Season
Oh Won-seok joined the SK Wyverns in 2020. He made his official KBO League debut on August 19, 2020, against the Hanwha Eagles. In his first outing, he pitched 1 inning, allowing 1 run which was unearned. He subsequently performed well as a bullpen pitcher throughout the season, leading to an opportunity to start a game on September 6, 2020, against the Doosan Bears.
2.1.2. 2021 Season
At the start of the 2021 season, Oh Won-seok primarily pitched from the bullpen, demonstrating solid performance. However, due to an injury sustained by teammate Artie Lewicki, he was integrated into the starting rotation. He delivered strong performances in the first half of the season, cementing his role as the team's second starter and the top homegrown starting pitcher. In the latter half of the season, however, he experienced a decline in performance, attributed to a loss of physical stamina. At the conclusion of the season, he ranked fifth overall in the Rookie of the Year voting.
2.1.3. 2022 Season
For the 2022 season, Oh Won-seok continued in the starting rotation, typically serving as the team's fourth starter. This year marked a significant milestone as he met the regulation innings threshold for the first time in his professional career. The SSG Landers, bolstered by a robust starting pitching staff, secured the regular season championship. Oh Won-seok played a pivotal role in the 2022 Korean Series, starting Game 3 where he pitched 5⅔ innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 base on balls, and 1 run, while recording 7 strikeouts. His strong outing contributed to the team's victory in Game 3. Based on his consistent performance, the team continued its momentum to clinch the Korean Series title, achieving the KBO League's first ever wire-to-wire victory, which also marked Oh Won-seok's first individual championship.
2.1.4. 2023 Season
In the 2023 KBO League season, Oh Won-seok appeared in 28 games for the SSG Landers. He recorded 8 wins against 10 losses, maintaining an earned run average (ERA) of 5.23. Over 144⅔ innings pitched, he allowed 158 hits, 11 home runs, and 69 bases on balls, while striking out 88 batters. He finished the season with 92 runs allowed, of which 84 were earned.
2.1.5. 2024 Season
During the 2024 KBO League season, Oh Won-seok played 29 games for the SSG Landers prior to his trade. He posted a 5.03 ERA with 6 wins and 9 losses, and 1 hold. In 121⅔ innings pitched, he allowed 122 hits, 17 home runs, 65 bases on balls, and 13 hit by pitches. He recorded 112 strikeouts, allowing 72 runs, with 68 of them earned.
2.2. KT Wiz (2024-present)
On October 31, 2024, Oh Won-seok was traded to the KT Wiz in a one-for-one deal for pitcher Kim Min. This trade marked the end of his tenure with the SSG Landers and his transition to a new team for the subsequent KBO League seasons.
3. Awards and Achievements
Throughout his amateur and professional career, Oh Won-seok has earned notable accolades and contributed to significant team successes.
- U-18 Baseball World Cup Bronze Medal (2019)
- Korean Series Championship (2022)
4. Career Statistics
Oh Won-seok's professional pitching statistics in the KBO League are detailed below:
| Year | Team | ERA | G | CG | SHO | W | L | SV | HLD | WPCT | BF | IP | H | HR | BB | HBP | SO | R | ER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | SK | 5.59 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 50 | 9⅔ | 12 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 6 |
| 2021 | SSG | 5.89 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0.538 | 530 | 110 | 125 | 11 | 73 | 10 | 95 | 84 | 72 |
| 2022 | 4.50 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0.429 | 633 | 144 | 158 | 16 | 58 | 3 | 112 | 79 | 72 | |
| 2023 | 5.23 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0.444 | 648 | 144⅔ | 158 | 11 | 69 | 9 | 88 | 92 | 84 | |
| 2024 | 5.03 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0.400 | 550 | 121⅔ | 122 | 17 | 65 | 13 | 112 | 72 | 68 | |
| Total | 5 seasons | 5.13 | 129 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0.443 | 2411 | 530 | 575 | 56 | 271 | 36 | 416 | 337 | 302 |
- Bold denotes the highest record for that specific statistical category in a season.
5. External links
- [https://statiz.sporki.com/player/?m=playerinfo&p_no=14581 Oh Won-seok - Statiz]