'Is Kelly becoming more like her...' I'm going to lose GG to the new home run king. Team love of filial foreigners "GGG is not my goal... The goal is to win the KS for the second consecutive time with team members"

Jul 23, 2024

LG Austin and NC Davidson. Sports Chosun DB

The Doosan-LG match at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 20th. Austin is cheering with his teammates after hitting a two-run shot with one out in the bottom of the first inning. Jamsil = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.7.20/

A game between Doosan and LG at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 21st, and LG first baseman Austin is catching himself as Doosan's Cho Soo-haeng's bunt hit comes to mind in the top of the third inning. Jamsil= Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2024.07.21/

The performance is better than last year, but it may be difficult to lose two consecutive Golden Gloves.

This is the reality that LG Twins Austin Dean faces. As of the 22nd, Austin has a batting average of .32 (105 hits in 348 at-bats) with 20 homers and 77 RBIs.

Last year, when he won the first baseman's Golden Glove by leading LG to the championship, he had a batting average of 313 (163 hits in 520 at-bats) with 23 home runs and 95 RBIs. The batting average is only slightly lower than last year, but home runs and RBIs are currently at a better pace. He has 29 homers and 113 RBIs. If he is in better condition, he could aim for 30 homers and 120 RBIs.

Austin, who is currently ranked fourth in RBIs, eighth in homers, and seventh in slugging percentage, has a strong contender for his second consecutive Golden Glove challenge. That's Matt Davidson of the NC Dinos.

At the beginning of the season, David McKinnon of the Samsung Lions was likely to compete with Austin, but a replacement.Surprisingly, Davison, who had been quiet in the early stages, shot a home run and came up as the No. 1 home run.

He is currently the No. 1 home run leader with 28 home runs. It is a clear No. 1 ranking that differs from the second-place group, including SSG Landers Choi Jung, KIA Tigers Kim Do-young (24), KT Wiz Kang Baek-ho and Mel Rojas Jr. (23).

Davison's batting average is 281 (89 hits in 317) which is not high, but he is impressive with his destructive slugging power. He is also tied for seventh with 72 RBIs.

The plus factor of the title in the Golden Glove competition is large. In particular, titles in major batting indicators such as batting king, home run king, and RBI king have great power.

If Davison maintains his current pace and wins the home run king, he will be a strong candidate for the Golden Glove.

However, Austin does not seem willing to win his second consecutive Golden Glove title. Austin said there was "no Golden Glove in my goal this year, honestly"The main goal is to win the Korean Series with the team members like last year." "I know well that he is a very strong player because he played baseball with Davidson from the United States. You can't beat the player with a home run," he said with a smile.

indyk@sportschosun.com