Jin-sung Kim

Jin-sung Kim (김진성)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 202 lb.

• High School Seongnamseo High School

• Born March 7, 1985 in Seoul South Korea

BR register page

Biographical Information

Jin-sung Kim collected more than 100 holds in the KBO.

Kim was drafted by the SK Wyverns in the 6th round of the 2005 KBO draft, but he stayed in the minors until SK released him after the 2006 season. The Nexen Heroes then signed him in 2010 after he spent two years in the military, but Kim suffered from an elbow injury, so he still couldn't get a chance with the big club. The Heroes released him after the 2011 season, and the newly-founded NC Dinos gave him another chance. Kim was named NC's closer in 2012, and he set the KBO minor league record with 20 saves in that season. In NC's first season in the top league, Kim pitched 33 games with a 4.76 ERA in 2013; he was 1-2 with two saves, no one holding down the closer spot all year as no one had more than ten saves.

The Dinos named Kim their new closer in 2014, and he notched 25 saves with a 4.10 ERA in 58 appearances. He was 4th in saves, between Jung Bong and Seung-hoe Kim. Kim was also selected into the 2014 KBO All-Star Game, and he pitched a shutout inning with 2 strikeouts. He then collected 5 saves and 12 holds with a 4.50 ERA in 59 games in 2015, and he was 10th in holds (tied with Ji-woong Yoon). Kim was still a reliable reliever in 2016, and he went 6-8 with 14 holds and a 4.48 ERA in 69 appearances. He ranked 8th in holds (tied with Kwang-soo Kim) and 4th in appearances (between Jung-hyun Baek and Byung-yong Chae).

As a reliever, Kim had a 10-6 record with a 3.61 ERA and 15 holds in 2017, and he was 5th in appearances (tied with Seung-hoe Kim) and 7th in holds (tied with Chang-sik Song). However, the overuse ruined his elbow, and Kim slumped to a 7.15 ERA in 50 games in 2018. Kim bounced back soon, and he had a 4.29 ERA in 42 games in 2019. Kim improved to 6 holds with a 2.66 ERA in 48 games in 2020, and he shined in the 2020 Korean Series. He became the 5th player to appear in all games for a Series that went more than 5 games, and he didn't allow a single run in 6 2/3 innings. He also notched 3 holds, and he helped the Dinos beat the Doosan Bears in 6 games.

However, Kim struggled again in 2021, and his ERA was 7.17 in 42 games. The Dinos released him after that season, and Kim signed with the LG Twins. Kim bounced back in 2022, and he notched 12 holds with a 3.10 ERA in 67 relief outings. He improved to 21 holds with a 2.18 ERA in 80 games in 2023, and he set the KBO record for most appearances as a right-handed pitcher. He led the league in games, and he was 7th in holds (11 behind Yeong-hyun Park). Kim pitched a shutout inning combined in 2 games in 2023 Korean Series, and he got his second title as the Twins beat the Kt Wiz in 5 games. The 40-year-old veteran notched 27 holds with a 3.97 ERA in 2024, and he still pitched 71 games. He was 3rd in holds (11 behind Kyung-eun Noh) and 7th in appearances (tied with Min Kim and Do-gyu Kwak).

Kim's repertoire included a fastball (peak 93.2 mph), slider and forkball.

Sources

• Namu wiki bio