| Song Jin-woo | |
| Position: | Pitcher / Coach |
| Team: | Hanwha Eagles |
| Number: | 21 |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Left |
| Birth Date: | 16 February 1966 |
| Birth Place: | Jeungpyeong, North Chungcheong, South Korea |
| Debutleague: | KBO |
| Debutyear: | 1989 |
| Debutdate: | April 12 |
| Debutteam: | Binggrae Eagles |
| Finalyear: | 2009 |
| Finaldate: | September 23 |
| Finalteam: | Hanwha Eagles |
| Finalleague: | KBO |
| Statleague: | KBO |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss |
| Stat1value: | 210–153 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 3.51 |
| Stat3label: | Saves |
| Stat3value: | 103 |
| Stat4label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat4value: | 2,048 |
| Teams: | As player
|
| Highlights: |
|
| Show-Medals: | yes |
| Hangul: | 송진우 |
| Hanja: | 宋津宇 |
| Rr: | Song Jinu |
| Mr: | Song Chinu |
Song Jin-woo (; born February 16, 1966) is a South Korean retired left-handed pitcher. Song played in the KBO League for 21 seasons between and with the Hanwha Eagles. He currently holds several pitching records for the KBO, including his 210 wins and 3,003 innings pitched.[1] [2] He is one of two pitchers in KBO League history to win 200 games, and strike out 2,000 or more batters. Because of his central role in establishing the Korean baseball players' association (essentially a players' union), he has the nickname of "Mr. President."
Song attended Dongguk University. He competed for South Korea in the 1988 Summer Olympics, and at the 2000 Summer Olympics, on the team that won the bronze medal.
On May 18, 2000, Song no-hit the Haitai Tigers (winning the game 6-0), becoming only the tenth KBO pitcher to accomplish that feat.[3]
Song won the 2002 KBO League Golden Glove Award with a record of 18-7, a 2.99 ERA, 165 strikeouts, and 8 complete games.
Song was the first pitcher in the KBO to strike out over 2,000 batters. He accomplished this feat on June 6, 2008, at his home field of Daejeon Baseball Stadium against the Woori Heroes. He recorded the strikeout in the bottom of the 8th inning with two outs, ringing up Song Ji-man.
Song's number 21 jersey was retired by the Eagles on September 23, 2009.
Song's record of 2,048 strikeouts lasted 15 years until it was broken by Yang Hyeon-jong of the Kia Tigers on August 21, 2024.[4] [5] [6]
Song became the Eagles' pitching coach in 2018, vowing to change the team's approach. Song said, "Changing the entry is the most sensitive issue between coaches and players." Song's "personalized' prescription" played a big role. Foreign pitcher Keyvius Sampson had difficulty in the early stages of the season, but he improved his position as well as his arrest while correcting his position. [Song] told Jason Wheeler to fix the changeup. Song coach also emphasized "communication."[7]