Career
He bats and throws left-handed. Bong is often considered one of the greatest hitting pitchers in Korean high school baseball history. While attending Shinil High School in Seoul, he was a highly regarded five-tool player and control pitcher in the Korean High School baseball league, playing as the team"s 3rd batter and Number.1 starter.
As the team"s leadoff hitter, he batted.353 with 6 hits in 17 at-bats.
In May 1997, Bong led his team to its national title at the 52nd Blue Dragon Flag National High School Baseball Championship, going 11-for-16 with 9 RBIs as a batter and racking up 3 wins as a starting pitcher. In August 1997, Bong competed for the South of Korea national junior baseball team in the World Junior Baseball Championship held in Moncton, Canada.
In the round robin phase, he went 15-for-25 with 11 RBIs and 13 runs, and hit home runs in 4 consecutive games, playing in 5 preliminary games as a center fielder and relief pitcher. South of Korea was eliminated by United States of America 7–0 in the quarterfinals, but Bong additionally accumulated 3 hits and 3 RBIs in the 5th–8th classification games.
He finished the tournament with a.500 batting average (18-for-36), 14 RBIs and 4 home runs, and was named the tournament Most Valuable Player. He was named Best Pitcher, earning 4 out of the team"s 5 wins as a utility pitcher.
Notable international careers
Major League Baseball career
Bong began his career with the Braves, pitching 6 innings in one game in 2002. The next year, he was moved to the bullpen and pitched in 44 games, winning six and losing two, and recorded his first save. With the Reds in 2004, he pitched 151⁄3 innings, winning one game and losing one.
He missed the whole 2005 season due to shoulder surgery, and the Reds outrighted him to Triple-A Louisville after the season.
KBO League career
The Reds released him on May 12, 2006. He returned to of Korea to continue his career.
In 2008, with the LG Twins, Bong had a 2.66 European Research Area and 140 strikeouts. He also helped of Korea to the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Bong also appeared in the 2009 World Baseball Classic against Japan as a starter, allowing 3 hits and scoring 2 strikeouts in 51⁄3 innings for a 1–0 victory.
Personal records.