Lim Chang-yong
Lim Chang-yong | |
---|---|
File:YS-Lim-Chang-Yong.jpg Lim with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Gwangju, South Korea | June 4, 1976|
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) | |
Win–loss record | 130–86 |
Saves | 258 |
Earned run average | 3.45 |
Strikeouts | 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 | 5 |
Stats at Baseball Reference | |
Teams | |
Medals |
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; Template:IPA-ko; born June 4, 1976) is a former South Korean professional baseball right-handed pitcher.
Career
Lim is a 5 ft 11 in, 175 lb right-handed sidearm pitcher. Lim can throw a 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph) four-seam fastball, though the pitch usually sits at 93–95 mph (150–153 km/h).[1] His signature pitch is his two-seam fastball which, due to its unique tailing movement has earned its nickname "Serpent fastball (Korean: 뱀직구)". His other pitches include 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 is one of the few pitchers who can pitch in multiple pitching forms. Lim pitches primarily sidearm and underhand, but does pitch from the three-quarters motion at will.
Haitai Tigers
Lim made his pro debut in 1995 with the Haitai Tigers in Korea Baseball Organization, and has been 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, but Lim decided to stay in South Korea.
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 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 a whopping 1.84 in a short stint, but 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.
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.
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.
On March 11, 2019, he announced his retirement.[5]
References
- ^ "Chang Yong Lim Average Velocity by Pitch".
- ^ "S. Korean pitcher Lim Chang-yong agrees to terms with Chicago Cubs". Yonhap. December 13, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
- ^ "Cubs select the contract of RHP Lim, RHP Bowden designated for assignment". MLB.com. September 4, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs on Twitter".
- ^ "<野球>元ヤクルト「ミスターゼロ」林昌勇が引退発表". 中央日報 (in Japanese). March 11, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
External links
- Career statistics from MLB · ESPN · Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet
- Nippon Professional Baseball career statistics from JapaneseBaseball.com
- Career statistics and player information from Korea Baseball Organization
- Lim Chang-yong[permanent dead link] at Kia Tigers Baseball Club (in Korean)
- Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Im Chang-Yong". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2012-12-13. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
- Chang-Yong Lim at databaseOlympics
- Lim Chang-yong on Cyworld (in Korean)
- Lim Chang-yong Fancafe at Daum (in Korean)
- 1976 births
- Living people
- Asian Games gold medalists for South Korea
- Asian Games medalists in baseball
- Arizona League Cubs players
- Baseball players at the 1998 Asian Games
- Baseball players at the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Baseball players at the 2002 Asian Games
- Baseball players at the 2014 Asian Games
- Chicago Cubs players
- Daytona Cubs players
- Haitai Tigers players
- Iowa Cubs players
- KBO League pitchers
- Kia Tigers players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Major League Baseball players from South Korea
- Medalists at the 1998 Asian Games
- Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Medalists at the 2002 Asian Games
- Medalists at the 2014 Asian Games
- Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers
- Olympic baseball players of South Korea
- Olympic bronze medalists for South Korea
- Olympic medalists in baseball
- Samsung Lions players
- South Korean expatriate baseball players in Japan
- South Korean expatriate baseball players in the United States
- Sportspeople from Gwangju
- Tokyo Yakult Swallows players
- Tennessee Smokies players
- 2009 World Baseball Classic players
- 2017 World Baseball Classic players