Tae-wan Kim (03)

From BR Bullpen

Tae-wan Kim (김태완)

  • Bats Right, Throws Right
  • Height 6' 3", Weight 216 lb.

BR register page

Biographical Information[edit]

Tae-wan Kim became a Korea Baseball Organization regular in 2008.

Out of high school, Kim was picked in the 8th round of the 2002 draft by the Hanwha Eagles but opted for college. He played for South Korea in the 2004 World University Championship. In 2006, he was drafted again by Hanwha. He spent his first season in the minors due to the presence of Tae-kyun Kim at first base for the Eagles. He went 2 for 4 in his three at-bats with Hanwha in the KBO that year.

Kim was a bench player in 2007, hitting .245/~.324/.426 in 94 at-bats spread out over 61 games. He became a starter in 2008, playing right field and DH as Tae-kyun Kim still held first base. Tae-wan batted .266/.362/.488 with 23 homers and 73 RBI. He was third in the KBO in homers behind Tae-kyun Kim and Karim Garcia.

With Tae-kyun Kim and Dae-ho Lee at first base for South Korea, Tae-wan Kim did not get put on Korea's roster for the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He began 2009 with a bang, hitting .343/.466/.657 with 9 homers and 25 RBI in the first 31 games to continue to establish himself as one of Korea's up-and-coming players.

Sources[edit]