Ex-big leaguer Hwang Jae-gyun vows to bring KT Wiz out of KBO cellar

SUWON, South Korea, Nov. 27 (Yonhap) -- Former San Francisco Giants infielder Hwang Jae-gyun on Monday vowed to bring his new South Korean club out of the league cellar in the new season.

Hwang was formally introduced as a new member of the KT Wiz in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) at a press conference at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul. He signed a four-year deal worth 8.8 billion won (US$8.1 million) with the Wiz on Nov. 13, following a season split between Major League Baseball (MLB) and the minors.

Hwang is joining a club that has finished dead last among 10 clubs in every season since its inception in 2015. The Wiz won 52, 53 and 50 games out of 144 games in each of those years, respectively.

The 30-year-old third baseman quickly laid out the goals he'd like to accomplish for the team and for himself.

"I'd like to bring the team out of last place, and if I can make a contribution to the club, I think we can stay out of the cellar," Hwang said. "Personally, I'd like to have another 20-20 season in home runs and steals."

The 30-year-old had two stints with the Giants in his first major league season. He homered in his very first big league game on June 28, but ended up batting just .167 in 13 games before getting demoted to Triple-A.

Hwang was called up six days later, but batted .125 in six games and was sent down again.

In 18 games with the Giants overall, Hwang had a .154 batting average with a home run and five RBIs. With Triple-A Sacramento, Hwang batted .285 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs in 98 games.

Hwang reflected on his one season in the United States and said it was "a great experience."

"Working out with American coaches, I picked up so much technically," he said. "While playing in the minors, I also had a chance to look back on myself. Even though it was just one year, I'll try to share with my new KT teammates what I felt and learned from the U.S."

Before leaving for MLB's Giants, Hwang had spent 10 years in the KBO, including the final seven with the Lotte Giants. He enjoyed his best offensive season in 2016, when he had a .335/.394/.570 line, 27 home runs and 113 RBIs -- all of them career highs. He also cut down on his strikeouts, from 122 in 2015 to 66 in 2016. Hwang stole 25 bases, the fourth time he's swiped at least 20 bags in a season.

He came home before the end of the major league postseason and indicated to the U.S. media that he'd be back in the KBO for the 2018 season. That immediately made him one of the most sought-after free agents this offseason, and he was even rumored in October to have signed with the Wiz for more than 10 billion won.

The Wiz still made Hwang the most expensive free agent in the club's young history, but Hwang said the big price tag doesn't put any added pressure on him.

"I think I'll just have to put up consistent numbers for the next four years," Hwang said.

He said the decision to sign with the Wiz "wasn't easy" but added the Wiz always made him feel wanted.

"Even though this club has finished last for the past three years, it's also a team with potential for growth," he said. "I wanted to be a part of KT and grow with the club."

Hwang made his KBO debut in Suwon in 2007, playing in 63 games with the now-defunct Hyundai Unicorns. The Wiz renovated an old park for the Unicorns, and Hwang said he's looking forward to playing again in his old stomping ground.

"Hopefully, I'll have fun playing with my new teammates and help the club move up in the standings," Hwang said.

The Wiz general manager Lim Jong-taek said Hwang is one of the KBO's best-hitting infielders who is entering his prime. He said he tried to sell Hwang on just how much the Wiz wanted to acquire him, and added, "He'll be a huge help to our development."

Manager Kim Jin-wook said he'd wanted to have Hwang last year when he first hit free agency, and now that he's finally aboard, "We'll try to have a better record next season."

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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