The Heroes traded Hwang to the Lotte Giants from 2010, and he continued to play for the Giants through the 2016 season.[1] Hwang attracted international attention for a bat flip in July 2015, after he hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning against the NC Dinos.[2][3]
In October 2015, Hwang announced that he had asked the Giants to post him for transfer to Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States.[4] His teammate, Ah-seop Son, also asked to be posted.[5] No MLB team placed a bid for Hwang.[6]
San Francisco Giants
After becoming a free agent after the 2016 season, Hwang sought a contract with an MLB franchise. On January 23, 2017, the San Francisco Giants announced they had signed Hwang to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training for a chance to make the major league roster. Hwang began the season with the Sacramento River Cats of the Class AAAPacific Coast League on April 8, 2017.[7][8] In late June, Hwang told the Giants that he would use the opt-out clause in his contract and become a free agent if he was not called up to the major leagues by July 1.[9] He had batted .287 with seven home runs and 44 RBIs, splitting his time between third and first base,[10] before the Giants promoted Hwang to the major leagues. Hwang debuted for the Giants at third base on June 28. He picked up his first hit, a solo home run, on the same day.[11] On August 31, 2017, Hwang was designated for assignment by the Giants and was outrighted to the Sacramento River Cats, the Giants AAA affiliate.[12] He elected free agency on November 6, 2017.
KT Wiz
On November 12, 2017, Hwang signed a four-year, $7.9 million contract with the KT Wiz.[13] Cho Moo-geun was named as his reward player.[14] On December 27, 2021, Hwang re-signed with the Wiz on a four-year, $5.1 million contract.[15]
Personal life
On February 10, 2022, Hwang announced in a handwritten letter via personal SNS that he and singer-actress Park Ji-yeon, will get married in the winter of this year.[16] They married in a private ceremony on December 10 at Shilla Hotel.[17] The ceremony was attended by the couple's closest family and friends, and IU sang the congratulatory song.[18]
^Kim Ga-young (February 10, 2022). "티아라 지연♥야구선수 황재균, 올 겨울 결혼 [공식]" [T-ara Jiyeon♥ Baseball player Hwang Jae-gyun to get married this winter [Official]] (in Korean). E-Daily. Retrieved February 10, 2022 – via Naver.
^Shin, Young-eun (November 2, 2022). "티아라 지연♥황재균, 12월 10일 결혼" [T-ara Jiyeon♥ Hwang Jae-gyun to get married on December 10th] (in Korean). Meil Star Today business. Retrieved November 2, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kang Min-kyung (December 10, 2022). "'오늘 결혼' 티아라 지연♥황재균, 웨딩 화보 공개…그림 같은 힙한 매력" ['Today's Marriage' T-ara Jiyeon ♥ Hwang Jae-gyun, wedding pictorial release... Picturesque hip charm]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Retrieved December 10, 2022.