1. Early Life and Education
Sim Woo-jun's early life and educational journey began in 1995, encompassing his formative years through various schools before his professional career.
1.1. Birth and Early Life
Sim Woo-jun was born on April 28, 1995.
1.2. Educational Background
Sim Woo-jun attended Songjeongdong Elementary School. For his middle school education, he initially enrolled at Mudeung Middle School before transferring to Unbuk Middle School. He completed his secondary education at Kyunggi High School.
2. Professional Baseball Career
Sim Woo-jun's professional baseball career spans from his debut with the KT Wiz to his current tenure with the Hanwha Eagles, including a period of military service with the Sangmu Baseball Team.
2.1. KT Wiz (2014-2022)
Sim Woo-jun joined the KT Wiz in 2014, marking the beginning of his professional career in the KBO League. During his time with the team, he achieved notable milestones, including a significant walk-off hit against Son Seung-rak of the Lotte Giants on July 29, 2016.
2.2. Sangmu Baseball Team (2023)
In 2023, Sim Woo-jun enlisted and joined the Sangmu Baseball Team, fulfilling his mandatory military service obligation.
2.3. Hanwha Eagles (2024-present)
On November 7, 2024, Sim Woo-jun transitioned to the Hanwha Eagles after signing a free agent (FA) contract. The agreement spans four years, with a total value of 5.00 B KRW. This total includes a signing bonus of 2.40 B KRW, an annual salary of 1.80 B KRW, and performance-based options amounting to 800.00 M KRW.
3. National Team Career
Sim Woo-jun has represented South Korea in international baseball competitions. He was a member of the national representative team that participated in the 26th World Youth Baseball Championships.
4. Career Statistics
The following table summarizes Sim Woo-jun's professional career statistics in the KBO League:
| Year | Team | Batting Average | Games Played | At Bats | Runs | Hits | Doubles | Triples | Home Runs | Total Bases | Runs Batted In (RBI) | Stolen Bases | Caught Stealing | Walks | Hit by Pitch | Strikeouts | Double Plays Grounded Into | Errors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | KT | 0.169 | 106 | 142 | 16 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 34 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 4 | 10 |
| 2016 | 0.242 | 122 | 236 | 36 | 57 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 77 | 17 | 17 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 40 | 5 | 13 | |
| 2017 | 0.287 | 103 | 286 | 38 | 82 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 113 | 26 | 18 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 58 | 4 | 19 | |
| 2018 | 0.259 | 135 | 367 | 49 | 95 | 23 | 3 | 4 | 136 | 29 | 11 | 11 | 20 | 4 | 58 | 4 | 13 | |
| 2019 | 0.279 | 138 | 391 | 54 | 109 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 133 | 28 | 24 | 3 | 23 | 6 | 68 | 7 | 11 | |
| 2020 | 0.235 | 144 | 476 | 58 | 112 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 143 | 51 | 35 | 11 | 37 | 2 | 98 | 7 | 21 | |
| 2021 | 0.268 | 139 | 407 | 61 | 109 | 20 | 2 | 6 | 151 | 48 | 16 | 6 | 32 | 4 | 65 | 2 | 19 | |
| 2022 | 0.240 | 132 | 388 | 69 | 93 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 117 | 34 | 23 | 2 | 43 | 2 | 75 | 11 | 16 | |
| 2024 | 0.266 | 53 | 169 | 222 | 45 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 58 | 28 | 7 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 29 | 3 | 8 | |
| Career Total | 9 Seasons | 0.254 | 1072 | 2892 | 403 | 726 | 115 | 14 | 31 | 962 | 275 | 156 | 42 | 190 | 23 | 526 | 47 | 130 |
5. Assessment and Impact
Sim Woo-jun has established himself as a consistent infielder in the KBO League, contributing to his teams through both offense and defense. His career has been marked by key plays, such as his walk-off hit, which highlighted his clutch performance abilities. The significant free agent contract he secured with the Hanwha Eagles underscores his perceived value and potential impact within the league. As a national representative, he has also played a role in showcasing South Korean baseball talent on the international stage.