Lim Chang-yong

Lim Chang-yong

Pitcher

Born: June 4, 1976 (age 47)
Gwangju, South Korea

Batted: Right

Threw: Right

Professional debut

KBO: June 18, 1995, for the Haitai Tigers

NPB: March 28, 2008, for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows

MLB: September 7, 2013, for the Chicago Cubs

Last appearance

KBO: October 16, 2018, for the Kia Tigers

NPB: June 22, 2012, for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows

MLB: September 27, 2013, for the Chicago Cubs

KBO statistics
(through 2018)

130–86

258

3.45

1,474

NPB statistics

Win–loss record

11–13

Saves

128

Earned run average

2.09

Strikeouts

231

MLB statistics

Win–loss record

0–0

Earned run average

5.40

Strikeouts

Teams

Career highlights and awards

2x Korean Series champion (2014, 2017)

Medals

Men's baseball

Representing South Korea
Olympic Games
	2000 Sydney	Team
World Baseball Classic
	2009 Los Angeles	Team
Asian Games
	2014 Incheon	Team
	2002 Busan	Team
	1998 Bangkok	Team

Lim Chang-yong
Hangul	임창용
Hanja	林昌勇
Revised Romanization	Im Chang-yong
McCune–Reischauer	Rim Ch'ang-yong

Lim Chang-yong (Korean: 임창용; Hanja: 林昌勇; Korean pronunciation: [im.tɕʰaŋ.joŋ]; born June 4, 1976) is a former South Korean professional baseball right-handed pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball, Nippon Professional Baseball, and KBO League baseball. In the KBO, Lim ranks among the top ten pitchers in terms of career wins, strikeouts, and saves.

YouTube Encyclopedic

1/5
Views:
2 776
887
16 117
11 642
27 298

Transcription

Career

Lim is a 5 ft 11 in, 175 lb right-handed sidearm pitcher. He could throw a 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph) four-seam fastball, though the pitch usually sat at 93–95 mph (150–153 km/h).^[1] His signature pitch was his two-seam fastball which, due to its unique tailing movement earned the nickname "Serpent fastball (Korean: 뱀직구)". His other pitches included a high 70s slider with a sharp horizontal break, a mid 80s forkball, and a rarely used 60 mph (97 km/h) slow-curveball. He was one of the few pitchers who could pitch in multiple pitching forms. Lim pitched primarily sidearm and underhand, but could pitch from the three-quarters motion at will.

KBO (1995–2007)

Haitai Tigers

Lim made his pro debut in 1995 with the Haitai Tigers in Korea Baseball Organization, and was regularly picked for the South Korean baseball team as a relief pitcher since the 1998 Asian Games, and won the bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics and two Asian Game gold medals in 1998 and 2002.

Samsung Lions

Though predominantly known as a closer, Lim was converted to a starting pitcher in 2001, and spent three years as the Samsung Lions' starter before returning to the bullpen in 2004. There was interest from Major League squads,^{[citation needed]} but Lim decided to stay in South Korea.

NPB (2008–2012)

Tokyo Yakult Swallows

In late 2007, Lim was signed by Japan's Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the hopes of bolstering their weak bullpen. In the 2008 NPB season, he recorded 33 saves (5th in the NPB league) with a 3.00 ERA in 51 innings pitched.

In the 2009 NPB season, he recorded a 0.00 ERA for a few months, earning his nickname "Mr.Zero", and was also featured in the 2009 NPB All-star Game as a closer for the Central League team. He was sent down to the reserve squad after his ERA rose to 1.84 in a short stint, but he was brought back to strengthen Yakult's weak bullpen, which was responsible for its recent losses.

Lim had his second Tommy John surgery in July 2012.

MLB (2013)

Chicago Cubs

After the 2012 season, Lim agreed to a contract with the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball.^[2] The Cubs promoted Lim to the major leagues on September 4, 2013.^[3] After the season, Lim was non-tendered by Chicago, becoming a free agent.^[4] The Cubs re-signed him to a minor league contract. He was released on March 24, 2014.

KBO (2014–2018)

Second stint with Lions

After being released by the Cubs, Lim signed up with Samsung Lions of KBO League (South Korea). In 2014 season, he recorded 31 saves with 5.84 ERA. However, in 2015 season he showed better performance of 33 saves, 2.83 ERA.

Lim was released after 2015 season for illegal gambling.^{[citation needed]}