Jo Sang-woo
Overview
Jo Sang-woo (曺尙佑, born October 29, 1994) is a South Korean professional baseball player whose position is pitcher. He is currently a member of the KBO League's Kiwoom Heroes and wears uniform number 62. He was drafted by the Nexen Heroes (now Kiwoom Heroes) in the 2013 rookie draft as the 2nd overall pick in the 2nd round of the first round. He is a fireballer whose main weapons are a powerful fastball and slider, throwing fastballs in the mid-to-late 150 km/h range, and is evaluated as one of the representative closers in the KBO League.
Main Content
Player Career
Jo Sang-woo was drafted by the Nexen Heroes in the 2013 rookie draft and joined the team. In his early career, he played as a starting pitcher, but from 2015, he converted to a bullpen pitcher and established himself as a key member of the team's relief corps. In 2016, he appeared in 66 games, recording 4 wins, 3 losses, 19 saves, 12 holds, and an ERA of 2.75, rising to become a top-tier bullpen pitcher in the league. Notably, in 2017, he recorded 4 wins, 2 losses, 34 saves, 6 holds, and an ERA of 2.75 in 60 games, ranking first in the saves category and greatly contributing to the team's advancement to the Korean Series.
In 2018, he was sidelined early in the season due to a shoulder injury, but after returning, he continued to perform steadily. In 2019, he recorded 3 wins, 3 losses, 32 saves, 2 holds, and an ERA of 2.98 in 55 games, once again proving himself as one of the league's best closers. In the middle of the 2020 season, he underwent elbow ligament reconstruction surgery (Tommy John surgery), causing him to miss the entire 2021 season. After returning in 2022, he struggled with decreased velocity and control issues compared to his former self, but from the middle of the 2023 season, he gradually regained his previous form and is leading the team's bullpen.
Pitching Style
Jo Sang-woo's greatest strength is his powerful fastball in the mid-to-late 150 km/h range. His maximum velocity reaches 159 km/h, and his fastball has excellent spin and movement, making it difficult for hitters to attack. His main weapon is a slider, which breaks sharply at the same velocity as his fastball, inducing swings and misses. He also throws a changeup and a curveball, with his changeup against left-handed hitters being particularly refined. However, his control is somewhat unstable, leading to many walks, which is considered his biggest weakness.
Major Records
- KBO League saves leader (2017)
- Selected for the KBO All-Star Game (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
- Gold medal at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games (selected as a wildcard)
- Selected for the 2019 WBSC Premier12 national team
- Achieved 100 career saves (2023)
Personal Life
Jo Sang-woo received military service exemption benefits by winning a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games. He got married in 2020 and started a family, and has one daughter. Having gone through elbow surgery and rehabilitation, he is evaluated as a representative case of successfully returning through persistent effort despite many difficulties.
Latest Trends
In the 2024 season, Jo Sang-woo started the season as the primary closer for the Kiwoom Heroes. Early in the season, his velocity dropped somewhat due to the aftermath of his injury, but from May onward, he gradually regained his form and is throwing fastballs in the mid-150 km/h range. As of July 2024, he has appeared in 35 games, recording 2 wins, 2 losses, 18 saves, and an ERA of 3.20. Notably, in June 2024, he performed strongly with 1 win, 7 saves, and an ERA of 1.80 in 10 games, leading the team's upward trend. However, his walk rate remains high (4.5 per 9 innings), so improving control remains a task. Ahead of the 2025 season, he is expected to become eligible for free agency, drawing attention to his future. The Kiwoom Heroes hope for Jo Sang-woo to remain, but depending on market conditions, the possibility of a transfer cannot be ruled out.
Related Topics
- [[Kiwoom Heroes]]
- [[KBO League]]
- [[Closer (baseball)]]
- [[Tommy John surgery]]
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