1. Overview
Yang Chang-seop (양창섭Yang Chang-seopKorean) is a South Korean baseball pitcher who plays for the Samsung Lions in the KBO League. Born on September 22, 1999, in Seoul, Yang began his baseball journey in little league and quickly rose through the amateur ranks, distinguishing himself as a dominant high school ace. His potential led to him being drafted by the Samsung Lions as the second overall pick in the 2018 KBO League Rookie Draft. He made an impactful professional debut, becoming the youngest KBO player to achieve a win in his first start. His promising early career was interrupted by a significant elbow injury in 2019, requiring Tommy John surgery, followed by mandatory military service.
2. Early Life
Yang Chang-seop's early life saw him develop into a talented baseball player from a young age, showcasing his skills in various youth leagues and schools.
2.1. Birth and Childhood
Yang Chang-seop was born on September 22, 1999, in Seoul, South Korea. During his childhood, he was a member of the Nowon-gu Little League team. His early talent was recognized when he was selected for the national youth team, where he performed as a starting pitcher in games, including against Japan.
2.2. Education
Yang Chang-seop attended Seoul Nokcheon Elementary School, followed by Cheongnyang Middle School in Seoul. For his high school education, he went to Deoksu High School.
3. Amateur Career
Before turning professional, Yang Chang-seop built a strong reputation as a top-tier amateur pitcher, particularly excelling during his high school years and on the national youth teams.
3.1. High School Baseball
At Deoksu High School, Yang Chang-seop had a limited number of appearances in his first year. However, he emerged as the team's ace and a nationally recognized top pitcher from his second year. During his second year, he led the team to championships in both the Hwanggeumsajagi National High School Baseball Tournament and the Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship. In his third year, he once again played a pivotal role as the team's ace, securing another victory in the Hwanggeumsajagi tournament. Following this achievement, his appearances were managed to preserve his physical condition.
3.2. National Youth Team
Yang Chang-seop's impressive performance in high school led to his selection for the national youth baseball team during his second year. He represented South Korea in the 2016 Asian Youth Baseball Championship and the 28th World Youth Baseball Championship in 2017. In both tournaments, he was a key player, serving as an ace for the youth national team. His strong showing in these international competitions further solidified his standing as a highly anticipated prospect.
4. Professional Career
Yang Chang-seop embarked on his professional baseball career with the Samsung Lions in the KBO League, experiencing both early success and significant challenges.
4.1. KBO Draft and Signing
Yang Chang-seop was highly regarded in the 2018 KBO League Rookie Draft, where he was selected by the Samsung Lions in the 2nd round, as the second overall pick. Following his draft, he signed a contract with the team, which included an annual salary of 27.00 M KRW and a signing bonus of 260.00 M KRW.
4.2. 2018 Season Debut and Performance
Yang Chang-seop participated in the spring training camp alongside other notable rookies such as Choi Chae-heung and Kim Tae-woo. Initially, as a high school graduate, he was expected to begin his professional career in the bullpen, while Choi Chae-heung was considered for the 5th starter role. However, during the spring camp, Choi Chae-heung struggled, allowing 14 runs in 6 innings, whereas Yang Chang-seop performed exceptionally well, pitching 7 innings with only 1 earned run and a 0.00 ERA. This strong performance led to him being considered a candidate for the 5th starter position.
He made his exhibition game debut on March 13, 2018, starting against the KT Wiz. In that game, he recorded 4 innings pitched, 4 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Notably, he displayed a strong performance in a highly anticipated matchup against Kang Baek-ho, a prominent rookie rival from his high school days. Following the exhibition games, he was officially designated as the team's 4th starter for the regular season.
Yang Chang-seop made his professional regular season debut on March 28, 2018, starting in a game against the Kia Tigers. He delivered a stellar performance, pitching 6 scoreless innings and achieving a quality start. This outing earned him his first professional win. His debut win was historically significant, marking him as the sixth high school graduate rookie in KBO League history to win their debut start. Furthermore, at 18 years, 6 months, and 6 days old, he became the youngest player ever to secure a win in his KBO debut start. His impressive showing against the Kia Tigers earned him the nickname 'Ginaseng'. In the latter part of the 2018 season, he transitioned to pitching out of the bullpen.
4.3. Injury and Rehabilitation
During the 2019 spring training camp, Yang Chang-seop reported experiencing pain in his elbow. On March 12, 2019, he underwent Tommy John surgery and had bone chips removed from his elbow. This injury was severe enough to sideline him for the entire 2019 season, requiring an extensive rehabilitation period.
4.4. Military Service
Yang Chang-seop fulfilled his mandatory military service by enlisting as a full-time reservist on August 1, 2023. His enlistment marked another period of absence from professional play, with expectations for his return to the KBO League anticipated around 2025.
4.5. Subsequent Season Activities
After his injury and subsequent rehabilitation, Yang Chang-seop gradually returned to the field, navigating through several seasons with the Samsung Lions. In 2020, he made 7 appearances, recording a 2.70 ERA over 6.2 innings. The 2021 season saw him pitch in 6 games, securing 1 win and 1 loss with a 6.60 ERA across 15 innings, also tallying 1 hold. In 2022, he participated in 2 games, posting a 9.82 ERA with a record of 2 wins and 3 losses over 20.1 innings. His most recent season in 2023, before his military enlistment, included 15 appearances where he recorded 0 wins and 3 losses with a 9.10 ERA over 28.2 innings, contributing 2 holds.
5. Career Statistics
The following table summarizes Yang Chang-seop's year-by-year and overall regular season statistics in the KBO League.
| Year | Team | ERA | G | CG | SHO | W | L | SV | HLD | PCT | BF | IP | H | HR | BB | HBP | SO | R | ER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Samsung | 5.05 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.538 | 400 | 87⅓ | 100 | 12 | 34 | 10 | 49 | 52 | 49 |
| 2020 | 2.70 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 29 | 6⅔ | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2021 | 6.60 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.400 | 73 | 15 | 21 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 13 | 11 | 11 | |
| 2022 | 9.82 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | 96 | 20⅓ | 24 | 3 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 19 | 19 | |
| 2023 | 9.10 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 141 | 28⅔ | 45 | 7 | 16 | 1 | 12 | 29 | 29 | |
| Total | 5 seasons | 6.27 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0.476 | 739 | 158 | 196 | 26 | 85 | 12 | 88 | 113 | 110 |
6. Playing Style and Assessment
Yang Chang-seop was recognized early in his career for his strong pitching mechanics and composure, particularly for a high school graduate. His debut performance, where he recorded a quality start and became the youngest pitcher to win his first KBO League start, showcased his significant potential. The nickname 'Ginaseng', which emerged after his dominant outing against the Kia Tigers, reflected the high expectations placed upon him by fans and experts. However, his career trajectory was significantly impacted by the elbow injury and subsequent Tommy John surgery in 2019, which required extensive rehabilitation and led to multiple seasons with limited appearances or struggles with consistency. Despite these setbacks, his initial promise and determination to return from injury have remained notable aspects of his career.
7. Awards and Honors
Yang Chang-seop has received several awards and honors throughout his amateur and professional baseball career, recognizing his achievements and talent.
- 2014: National Junior High School Baseball Championship Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award
- 2016: Hwanggeumsajagi National High School Baseball Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award
- 2016: Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship Excellent Pitcher Award
- 2017: Hwanggeumsajagi National High School Baseball Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award (becoming the second player in Hwanggeumsajagi history to win the MVP award in two consecutive years)