List of Major League Baseball players from South Korea

Location of South Korea (green)

This is an alphabetical list of baseball players from South Korea who have played in Major League Baseball since 1994. There have been 27 players in total from South Korea.[1]

Current players

Player Debut Position Teams Ref
Ji-hwan Bae September 23, 2022
23 years, 59 days 		Infielder Pittsburgh Pirates (2022–present) [2]
Ji-man Choi April 5, 2016
24 years, 322 days 		Infielder Los Angeles Angels (2016)
New York Yankees (2017)
Milwaukee Brewers (2018)
Tampa Bay Rays (2018–2022)
Pittsburgh Pirates (2023)
San Diego Padres (2023) 		[3]
Ha-seong Kim April 1, 2021
25 years, 166 days 		Infielder San Diego Padres (2021–present) [4]
Jung-hoo Lee March 28, 2024
25 years, 221 days 		Outfielder San Francisco Giants (2024–present)
Hoy-jun Park July 16, 2021
25 years, 100 days 		Infielder New York Yankees (2021)
Pittsburgh Pirates (2021–2022) 		[5]
Rob Refsnyder July 11, 2015
24 years, 107 days 		Outfielder New York Yankees (2015–2017)
Toronto Blue Jays (2017)
Tampa Bay Rays (2018)
Texas Rangers (2020)
Minnesota Twins (2021)
Boston Red Sox (2022–present) 		[6]

Former players

Player Debut Final Game Games Position Teams Ref
Cha-seung Baek August 8, 2004
24 years, 71 days 		September 28, 2008 61 Pitcher Seattle Mariners (2004, 2006–2008)
San Diego Padres (2008) 		[7]
Jung-keun Bong April 23, 2002
21 years, 282 days 		June 20, 2004 49 Pitcher Atlanta Braves (2002–2003)
Cincinnati Reds (2004) 		[8]
Jin-ho Cho July 4, 1998
22 years, 323 days 		July 30, 1999 13 Pitcher Boston Red Sox (1998–1999) [9]
Hee-seop Choi September 3, 2002
23 years, 171 days 		October 2, 2005 363 Infielder Chicago Cubs (2002–2003)
Florida Marlins (2004)
Los Angeles Dodgers (2004–2005) 		[10]
Shin-soo Choo April 21, 2005
22 years, 282 days 		September 27, 2020 1,652 Outfielder Seattle Mariners (2005–2006)
Cleveland Indians (2006–2012)
Cincinnati Reds (2013)
Texas Rangers (2014–2020) 		[11]
Jae-gyun Hwang June 28, 2017
29 years, 335 days 		August 1, 2017 18 Infielder San Francisco Giants (2017) [12]
Jung-ho Kang April 8, 2015
28 years, 3 days 		July 29, 2019 297 Infielder Pittsburgh Pirates (2015–2016, 2018–2019) [13]
Byung-hyun Kim May 29, 1999
20 years, 128 days 		September 28, 2007 394 Pitcher Arizona Diamondbacks (1999–2003, 2007)
Boston Red Sox (2003–2004)
Colorado Rockies (2005–2007)
Florida Marlins (2007) 		[14]
Hyun-soo Kim April 10, 2016
28 years, 89 days 		September 30, 2017 191 Outfielder Baltimore Orioles (2016–2017)
Philadelphia Phillies (2017) 		[15]
Kwang-hyun Kim July 24, 2020
32 years, 2 days 		October 2, 2021 35 Pitcher St. Louis Cardinals (2020–2021) [16]
Sun-woo Kim June 15, 2001
23 years, 284 days 		September 17, 2006 118 Pitcher Boston Red Sox (2001–2002)
Montreal Expos (2002–2004)
Washington Nationals (2005)
Colorado Rockies (2005–2006)
Cincinnati Reds (2006) 		[17]
Dae-sung Koo April 4, 2005
35 years, 245 days 		August 20, 2005 33 Pitcher New York Mets (2005) [18]
Dae-ho Lee April 4, 2016
33 years, 288 days 		October 2, 2016 104 Infielder Seattle Mariners (2016) [19]
Sang-hoon Lee June 29, 2000
29 years, 110 days 		October 1, 2000 9 Pitcher Boston Red Sox (2000) [20]
Chang-yong Lim September 7, 2013
37 years, 95 days 		September 27, 2013 6 Pitcher Chicago Cubs (2013) [21]
Seung-hwan Oh April 3, 2016
33 years, 263 days 		May 30, 2019 232 Pitcher St. Louis Cardinals (2016–2017)
Toronto Blue Jays (2018)
Colorado Rockies (2018–2019) 		[22]
Byung-ho Park April 4, 2016
29 years, 269 days 		June 28, 2016 62 Infielder Minnesota Twins (2016) [23]
Chan-ho Park April 8, 1994
20 years, 282 days 		October 1, 2010 479 Pitcher Los Angeles Dodgers (1994–2001, 2008)
Texas Rangers (2002–2005)
San Diego Padres (2005–2006)
New York Mets (2007)
Philadelphia Phillies (2009)
New York Yankees (2010)
Pittsburgh Pirates (2010) 		[24]
Jae-kuk Ryu May 14, 2006
22 years, 349 days 		April 9, 2008 28 Pitcher Chicago Cubs (2006)
Tampa Bay Rays (2007–2008) 		[25]
Jae-weong Seo July 21, 2002
25 years, 58 days 		May 29, 2007 123 Pitcher New York Mets (2002–2005)
Los Angeles Dodgers (2006)
Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2006–2007) 		[26]
Hyeon-jong Yang April 26, 2021
33 years, 56 days 		September 13, 2021 12 Pitcher Texas Rangers (2021) [27]
Hyun-jin Ryu April 2, 2013
26 years, 8 days 		September 30, 2023 186 Pitcher

Awards and honors

All-Star selections

Player Age Season League Team Position Note Ref
Chan-ho Park 28 2001 NL Los Angeles Dodgers P L; 9.00 ERA (1 IP, 1 ER), 1 K [28]
Byung-hyun Kim 23 2002 NL Arizona Diamondbacks P BS; 54.00 ERA (0.1 IP, 2 ER) [29]
Shin-soo Choo 36 2018 AL Texas Rangers DH .500 BA (2 AB, 1 H), 1 R [30]
Hyun-jin Ryu 32 2019 NL Los Angeles Dodgers P (SP) 0.00 ERA (1 IP) [31]

Gold Glove Award

Source: Baseball-Reference.com

Player of the Month

Source: Baseball-Reference.com

Pitcher of the Month

  • Chan-ho Park: July 1998 NL (Los Angeles Dodgers)
  • Hyun-jin Ryu: May 2019 NL (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Source: Baseball-Reference.com

Rookie of the Month

Source: Baseball-Reference.com

Player of the Week

  • Chan-ho Park: September 18–24, 2000 NL (Los Angeles Dodgers)
  • Byung-hyun Kim: July 8–14, 2002 NL (Arizona Diamondbacks)
  • Shin-soo Choo: April 12–18, 2010 AL (Cleveland Indians)
  • Shin-soo Choo (2): September 13–19, 2010 AL (Cleveland Indians)
  • Jung-ho Kang: September 5–11, 2016 NL (Pittsburgh Pirates)
  • Hyun-jin Ryu: May 6–12, 2019 NL (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Source: Baseball-Reference.com

Postseason appearances

Player Seasons Positions WC DS CS World Series Refs
Series
won 		Games
played 		Series
won 		Games
played 		Series
won 		Games
played 		Series
won 		Games
played
Hee-seop Choi 2004 Los Angeles Dodgers PH L 1 [32]
Ji-man Choi 2019 Tampa Bay Rays
2020 Tampa Bay Rays
2021 Tampa Bay Rays
2022 Tampa Bay Rays 		1B W
W
 
L		 1
2
 
2 		L
W
L
 		 5
5
3
  		 
W
 
 		  
5
 
  		 
L
 
 		  
6
 
  		[33][34]
[35][36][37][38]
[39]
[40]
Shin-soo Choo 2013 Cincinnati Reds
2015 Texas Rangers
2016 Texas Rangers 		CF
RF
RF 		L
 
 		 1
 
  		 
L
L		  
5
1 		[41]
[42]
[43]
Byung-hyun Kim 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks
2002 Arizona Diamondbacks
2003 Boston Red Sox 		P W
L
W		 1
1
1 		W
 
 		 3
 
  		W
 
 		 2
 
  		[44][45][46]
[47]
[48]
Ha-seong Kim 2022 San Diego Padres SS W 3 W 4 L 5 [49][50][51]
Hyun-soo Kim 2016 Baltimore Orioles LF L 1 [52]
Kwang-hyun Kim 2020 St. Louis Cardinals P L 1 [53]
Seung-hwan Oh 2018 Colorado Rockies P W 1 L 2 [54][55]
Chan-ho Park 2006 San Diego Padres
2008 Los Angeles Dodgers
2009 Philadelphia Phillies 		P L
 
 		 1
 
  		 
L
W		  
4
4 		 
 
L		  
 
4 		[56]
[57]
[58][59]
Hyun-jin Ryu 2013 Los Angeles Dodgers
2014 Los Angeles Dodgers
2018 Los Angeles Dodgers
2019 Los Angeles Dodgers
2020 Toronto Blue Jays 		P  
 
 
 
L		  
 
 
 
1 		W
L
W
L
 		 1
1
1
1
  		L
 
W
 
 		 1
 
2
 
  		 
 
L
 
 		  
 
1
 
  		[60][61]
[62]
[63][64][65]
[66]
[35]

References

  1. ^ "MLB players by birthplace: South Korea". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  2. ^ "Ji-hwan Bae". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  3. ^ "Ji-Man Choi". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  4. ^ "Ha-Seong Kim". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  5. ^ "Hoy Park". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  6. ^ "Rob Refsnyder". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  7. ^ "Cha-Seung Baek". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  8. ^ "Jung Bong". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
  9. ^ "Jin Ho Cho". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
  10. ^ "Hee-Seop Choi". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
  11. ^ "Shin-Soo Choo". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2014-02-26.
  12. ^ "Jae-gyun Hwang". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2017-06-29.
  13. ^ "Jung Ho Kang". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  14. ^ "Byung-Hyun Kim". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
  15. ^ "Hyun Soo Kim". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  16. ^ "Kwang Hyun Kim". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  17. ^ "Sun-Woo Kim". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
  18. ^ "Dae-Sung Koo". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
  19. ^ "Dae-ho Lee". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  20. ^ "Sang-Hoon Lee". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
  21. ^ "Chang-Yong Lim". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
  22. ^ "Seung-hwan Oh". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  23. ^ "ByungHo Park". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  24. ^ "Chan Ho Park". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
  25. ^ "Jae Kuk Ryu". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
  26. ^ "Jae Weong Seo". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
  27. ^ "Hyeon-jong Yang". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  28. ^ "2001 All-Star Game". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
  29. ^ "2002 All-Star Game". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
  30. ^ "2018 All-Star Game". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
  31. ^ "2019 All-Star Game". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2019-07-09.
  32. ^ "2004 NL Division Series 1". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  33. ^ "2019 AL Wild Card Game". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  34. ^ "2019 AL Division Series 1". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  35. ^ a b "2020 AL Wild Card Series 1". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
  36. ^ "2020 AL Division Series 1". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  37. ^ "2020 AL Championship Series". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  38. ^ "2020 World Series". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  39. ^ "2021 AL Division Series 2". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  40. ^ "2022 AL Wild Card Series 1". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2022-10-09.
  41. ^ "2013 NL Wild Card Game". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  42. ^ "2015 AL Division Series 2". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  43. ^ "2016 AL Division Series 1". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017-03-28.
  44. ^ "2001 NL Division Series 2". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  45. ^ "2001 NL Championship Series". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  46. ^ "2001 World Series". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  47. ^ "2002 NL Division Series 2". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  48. ^ "2003 AL Division Series 2". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  49. ^ "2022 NL Wild Card Game 1". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  50. ^ "2022 NL Division Series 2". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  51. ^ "2022 NL Championship Series". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  52. ^ "2016 AL Wild Card Game". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017-03-28.
  53. ^ "2020 NL Wild Card Series 2". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
  54. ^ "2018 NL Wild Card Game". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  55. ^ "2018 NL Division Series 1". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  56. ^ "2006 NL Division Series 2". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  57. ^ "2008 NL Championship Series". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  58. ^ "2009 NL Championship Series". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  59. ^ "2009 World Series". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  60. ^ "2013 NL Division Series 2". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  61. ^ "2013 NL Championship Series". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  62. ^ "2014 NL Division Series 2". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  63. ^ "2018 NL Division Series 2". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  64. ^ "2018 NL Championship Series". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  65. ^ "2018 World Series". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-10-29.
  66. ^ "2019 NL Division Series 1". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2019-10-11.

See also