'There was a reason to invest KRW 4 billion in KT' Heo Kyung-min recognizes his best defensive skills for the second consecutive year. KIA Park Chan-ho also won the award for the second consecutive year

Nov 25, 2024

Huh Kyung-min posed after signing a contract with KT. Photo courtesy of KT Wiz

There was a reason for KT Wiz's investment.

KBO announced the winners of the 2024 KBO Defensive Award for catcher and infielder.

In the third baseman category, Huh Kyung-min (KT) was selected as the winner of the defensive award for the second consecutive time following last year's award. With a total of 90 points, including 75 points for voting and 15 points for defensive records, he was selected as the winner, beating 2nd place Choi Jeong (SSG), who scored 77.5 points, and 3rd place Song Sung-moon (Kium), who scored 72.5 points.

Huh Kyung-min signed an FA contract with KT for a total of 4 billion won for four years after the end of this season. Hwang Jae-gyun was at the third base, but he succeeded in recruiting Heo Kyung-min, who had a batting average of 300 and excellent defense.

In the other infield categories, first baseman Austin (LG), second baseman Kim Hye-sung (Kium), and shortstop Park Chan-ho (KIA) were selected.

Austin scored 75 votes. In the defensive record score, which reflects UZR and official records, he was selected as the winner in the first baseman category, beating Yang Seok-hwan (Doosan), who ranked second with 75 points, and Davison (NC), who scored 66.07 points.

Kim Hye-sung (Kium) scored a total of 91.07 points with 75 voting points and 16.07 defensive record points, winning the second baseman category for the second consecutive KBO defensive award since last year. Shin Min-jae (LG) came in second with 83.93 points, and Park Min-woo (NC) came in third with 58.93 points.

Game 5 of the Korean Series between Samsung and KIA at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 28th. Park Chan-ho, with one out, cheers after hitting an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning. Gwangju = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.10.28/

In the shortstop category, there were also two consecutive winners. Park Chan-ho (KIA) scored 67.5 points in voting and 22.5 points in defense, topping Oh Ji-hwan (LG) with 82.5 points and Park Sung-han (SSG) with 78.75 points.

In the catcher category, Park Dong-won (LG) was selected as the winner. Park Dong-won scored 75 points on the ballot, and ranked first in the catcher's defense record score, including stolen base blocking, blocking, and official records, with a total score of 90.63. Lee Ji-young (SSG), who received 81.7 points, and Kim Hyung-joon (NC), who received 79.91 points, followed Park Dong-won in second and third places, respectively.

The KBO defensive award, which is given to players in each position who have shown the best defensive ability in the regular season, was first established in the 2023 season, and this is the second award, and the winner was decided by adding 75% of the voting score and 25% of the defensive record score, which are determined by a total of 110 votes, including 9 coaches and 11 heads of each club.

Winners will be awarded a prize of 2 million won along with a trophy at the KBO awards ceremony at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul at 2 p.m. on November 26 (Tue).

bellstop@sportschosun.com