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Kim Hyun-soo

b. 1988

South Korean baseball player

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About Kim Hyun-soo

Born 1988. Kim Hyun-soo is a South Korean baseball player.

Hyun-soo Kim (; ; born January 12, 1988) is a South Korean professional baseball outfielder for the KT Wiz of the KBO League. He has previously played in the KBO League for the LG Twins and Doosan Bears, and in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies.

Amateur career Kim attended Shinil High School in Seoul, South Korea. In September 2005, he competed for the South Korea national junior team, that was runner-up at the 6th Asian Junior Baseball Championship in Seoul, South Korea. At the championship, he went 1-for-4 as a backup outfielder in the South Korean roster.

In November 2005, Kim won the Lee Yeong-min Award, given annually to the most outstanding high school hitter in South Korea.

Professional career Doosan Bears Upon graduation from high school, Kim made himself eligible for the 2006 KBO First-Year Player Draft, but went undrafted. Instead, he was signed by the Doosan Bears as an undrafted free agent. He spent the whole 2006 season playing for the reserve team of the Bears.

In the 2007 season, Kim took over the starting job after starting outfielder Yoo Jae-woong was sidelined with a sprained ankle in the beginning of the season. Kim hit .273 with 5 home runs and 32 runs batted in in 99 games, and finished runner-up for Rookie of the Year.

In the 2008 KBO season, Kim won the batting title with an average of .357 and was first in hits with 168. He finished runner-up in MVP voting and won the Golden Glove Award as an outfielder.

In the 2009 KBO season, Kim exploded offensively, batting .357 and smacking 23 home runs. He defended his hit title with 172, and was runner-up in RBI (104) and triples (6), third in batting average, runs (97), doubles (31), on-base percentage (.448) and slugging percentage (.589), and eleventh in home runs.

On December 11, 2009, he won the KBO Golden Glove Award for outfielder for two consecutive years.

Baltimore Orioles On December 23, 2015, Kim signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles.

After struggling in spring training, Kim ultimately made the team after refusing a minor league assignment which led to him being booed on Opening Day. On April 10, 2016, Kim played his first career MLB game versus the Tampa Bay Rays. In that game he had two hits and scored a run. Kim finished his first month of Major League baseball having played in only six games, but making an impact, going 9-for-15 (.600), driving in one run, scoring two runs, and having an on-base percentage of .647. He hit his First Major League Career home run on May 29, against the Cleveland Indians that broke a 4–4 tie in the 7th inning.

On June 30, Kim hit the Orioles' 56th home run in the month of June, setting a new Major League record for the month. Kim made 40 appearances for Philadelphia, batting .230/.309/.299 with four RBI.

LG Twins On December 19, 2017, Kim signed a four-year, $10.7 million contract with the LG Twins.

In 2025, Kim played in 140 games for the Twins, slashing .298/.384/.422 with 12 home runs and 90 RBI. With the team, Kim won the 2025 Korean Series, and was named the Series MVP.

KT Wiz On November 25, 2025, Kim signed with the KT Wiz of the KBO League.

International career Kim in the outfield during the 2009 World Baseball Classic for the South Korea national baseball team.

In August 2008, Kim competed for the South Korea national baseball team in the 2008 Olympic Games, where they won the gold medal in the baseball tournament. In the preliminary round game against Japan, Kim hit a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the ninth off closer Iwase Hitoki to break a 2–2 tie as a pinch hitter, leading South Korea to a 5–3 win over Japan.

Awards and honors KBO 2008 KBO Golden Glove Award (Outfielder) 2009 KBO Golden Glove Award (Outfielder) 2010 KBO Golden Glove Award (Outfielder) 2015 KBO Golden Glove Award (Outfielder)

Achievements KBO 2008 Batting Title 2008 On-base Percentage Title 2008 Hit Title 2009 Hit Title

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Shinil High School
Also known as
Hyun-soo Kim, Hyun Soo Kim, Kim Hyun Soo

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Kim Hyun-soo's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Kim Hyun-soo?

South Korean baseball player (1988-)

When was Kim Hyun-soo born?

Kim Hyun-soo was born on 12 January 1988 in Seoul.

What is Kim Hyun-soo's occupation?

Kim Hyun-soo is a baseball player.

What nationality is Kim Hyun-soo?

Kim Hyun-soo is South Korean.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Kim Hyun-soo

· Wikidata: Q77840

· DBpedia: Hyun-soo Kim

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Kim Hyun-soo. https://biography.guide/kim-hyun-soo/

MLA: "Kim Hyun-soo." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/kim-hyun-soo/.

Chicago: "Kim Hyun-soo." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/kim-hyun-soo/.

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