Former Korean-league superstar third baseman Jae-Gyun Hwang made his major league debut with the Giants on Wednesday, and it isn’t one we’ll soon forget. After earning his first RBI with a ground out in the 4th inning, Hwang crushed his first ever major league hit over the left field wall in the 6th, giving the Giants a 4-3 lead.
Hwang was known for his stylish bat flips while playing in Korea. He held back on Wednesday but still showed some flair while dropping his lumber.
Jae-gyun Hwang with the homer and the stylish bat drop. pic.twitter.com/1EuBm2M0VK
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) June 28, 2017
Hwang is the first ever Korean-born player to play for the Giants.
“I’ve given up a lot back home, whether that’s money, being away from family, my career, just to be here,” Hwang told reporters before the game. “The only reason I did that like I said before was because I wanted to realize my childhood dream of playing a game in the big leagues, and this opportunity came almost unexpectedly and so suddenly. But I’m really hoping to carry over this excitement to the field and capitalize on this opportunity.
“I’m very proud to be the first Korean player for the Giants. I always watched the Giants when I was in Korea. This is a team that has a lot of history and tradition of success so I’m just proud and excited to be the first Korean player to play for the Giants.”