"Is there a joint award?" Despite Park Dong-won's challenge of "20 home runs", the "Yanggang system" did not collapse...Kang Minho's 7th award.

Dec 13, 2024

Kang Min-ho interviews at the awards ceremony. Samseong-dong = Sports Chosun Reporter Jung Hyun-seok hschung@sportschosun.com

The catcher's two-ripe system lasted for 14 years.

The winner of the catcher's Golden Glove was Kang Min-ho of the Samsung Lions.

Kang Min-ho became the winner of the catcher category at the 2024 KBO Golden Glove Awards held at the COEX Auditorium in Samseong-dong, Seoul on the 13th.

He won 191 votes (66.3%) and beat second-place LG Twins' Park Dong-won (89, 30.9%).

As a result, Doosan Bears Yang Eui-ji and Kang Min-ho's 「Yanggang System」, which have been winning the catcher category since 2011, will continue for 14 years.

Starting in 2008, Kang Min-ho got his seventh catcher Golden Glove in three years after 2011-2013, 2017, and 2021.

Kang Min-ho played in 136 games, the most among catchers, batting .303, 19 homers, 77 RBIs, and OPS 0.861, and rejuvenated with a seasoned pitcher lead and stable defense. In the playoffs, he won a home showdown with his biggest rival of the Golden Glove, LG Park Dong-won, leading his team Samsung to go straight to the playoffs. Personally, I was thrilled to play in the Korean Series for the first time ever.

Park Dong-won interviews before the awards ceremony. Samseong-dong = Sports Chosun Reporter Jung Hyun-seok hschung@sportschosun.com

The 2024 KBO Golden Glove Awards ceremony was held at the COEX Auditorium in Samseong-dong, Seoul on the afternoon of the 13th. Austin, who won the Golden Glove first baseman category, is receiving a bouquet of congratulatory flowers from Park Dong-won's daughter. Samseong-dong = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.12.13/

Kang Min-ho said before the award ceremony, `Since I and I have been together for a long time, even if Park Dong-won receives it, there will be a catcher who can lead the KBO, so I came to applaud him sincerely as a senior in that regard.' On his desire to win the prize, he said, `It would be nice to get it. I think it's the most meaningful award for your hard work over the past year. I hope you get it, but even if you don't get it, I will congratulate you and go down," he said firmly.

Park Dong-won, who challenged to break down the 'two-power system' unfortunately failed to win the prize.

In an interview before the awards ceremony, Park Dong-won said "It is an honor and appreciation that Min-ho is a really good player and that he was mentioned in the article with Min-ho." In response to his willingness to win the award at the Korea Federation of Athletes' Association event, he said, "'It wasn't me who said I wanted Minho to make a concession once.'"," he asked, drawing laughter from the audience. "I'm satisfied with just receiving two defensive awards, and even if Minho wins the Golden Glove, I'm grateful that I got another award," he said wittily.

Park Dong-won, who was the most likely candidate to end the "Yanggang World", held the Twins' home ground firmly with a batting average of 0.272 in 130 games this season, 20 homers, 80 RBIs, and OPS 0.810 with stable blocks and stolen bases. He was the winning catcher who led the team to an emotional integrated championship for the first time in 29 years last year, the first year of his transfer to LG, and led the league to the playoffs again this year and led the fall baseball for the second consecutive year. After the season, he wore the national flag to the Premier 12 held in Taiwan and played well in the airlift as the main catcher.

hschung@sportschosun.com