KT Wiz explained

KT Wiz
Native Name:KT 위즈
Native Name Lang:ko
Location:Suwon
Cap Logo:KT Wiz insignia.svg
League:KBO League (2015–present)
Colors:Black, red and white
Ballpark:Suwon Baseball Stadium (2015–present)
League Champs:2021
Series:Korean Series
Series Champs:2021
Owner:KT
Manager:Lee Kang-chul

The KT Wiz (Korean: KT 위즈; stylized as kt wiz) are a South Korean professional baseball team based in Suwon. They are a member of the KBO League. Their home stadium is Suwon Baseball Stadium in Suwon.

History

On 11 January 2013, the Korea Baseball Organization officially approved KT Baseball Club's admission to KBO League, beginning with the 2015 season. The Suwon KT Wiz played the 2013 season as part of the KBO Futures League's Freedom Division,[1] and the 2014 season as part of the Futures League's Blue League division.[2] In 2015, the team was elevated to the KBO League.

As a new KBO League team in 2015, the Wiz were allowed four foreign players on their roster each season (as opposed to the usual three).[3] Foreign players signed by the Wiz for the 2015 season were pitchers Phil Irwin, Andrew Sisco and Chris Oxspring, and hitter Andy Marte (Sisco and Irwin were both released mid-season and replaced by Dan Black and Justin Germano, respectively). Beginning in the 2017 season, the Wiz's allowed allotment of foreign players reverted to three to match the rest of the league.

After five straight seasons without a playoff appearance, Wiz finally broke through in 2020, finishing second with a 81–62–1 record.[4] They were eliminated by the Doosan Bears in the semifinals after four games.[4] The following year, for the first time in franchise history, KT Wiz became regular season champions after defeating the Samsung Lions in an additional tiebreaker and advanced directly to the Korean Series.[5] In the final, they won their first Korean Series title, sweeping the Doosan Bears in four games.[6]

Season-by-season records

YearRankRegular SeasonPostseasonAwards
StandingsGamesWinsLossesDrawsWin%BAHRERA
10/10 10/10 144 52 91 1 .364 .273 129 5.56 Did not qualify
10/10 10/10 144 53 89 2 .373 .276 116 5.92 Did not qualify
10/10 10/10 144 50 94 0 .347 .275 119 5.75 Did not qualify
9/10 9/10 144 59 82 3 .418 .275 206 5.34 Did not qualify Kang Baek-ho
6/10 6/10 144 71 71 2 .500 .277 103 4.29 Did not qualify
3/10 2/10 144 81 62 1 .566 .284 163 4.54 Lost playoff vs. Doosan Bears (1–3) Mel Rojas Jr.
So Hyung-jun (ROTY)
1/10 1/10 144 76 59 9 .563 .265 106 3.67 Won Korean Series vs. Doosan Bears (4–0)
4/10 4/10 144 80 62 2 .563 .254 119 3.51 Won wild card vs. Kia Tigers (1–0)
Lost semi-playoff vs. Kiwoom Heroes (2–3)
2/10 2/10 144 79 62 3 .560 .265 89 3.94 Won playoff vs. NC Dinos (3–2)
Lost Korean Series vs. LG Twins (1–4)

Managers

References

General
Notes

Notes and References

  1. Fast, Alex. "So You Want To Get Into The KBO: The Pitcher List staff brings you the definitive guide to the KBO," Pitcher List (May 2020).
  2. https://baseballinkorea.wordpress.com/2014/01/19/participating-franchises-in-the-kbo-futures-league/ "PARTICIPATING FRANCHISES IN THE KBO FUTURES LEAGUE,"
  3. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20131216003151315 "KBO clubs snatch up new foreign players following rule change,"
  4. Web site: 2020 Korean Baseball Organization . Baseball-Reference.com . 4 May 2022 . en.
  5. Web site: KT Wiz win KBO tiebreaker game to reach 1st Korean Series . The Korea Herald . 4 May 2022 . en . 31 October 2021.
  6. Web site: (LEAD) How sweep it is: KT Wiz defeat Doosan Bears in 4 straight for 1st Korean Series title . Yonhap News Agency . 4 May 2022 . en . 18 November 2021.