The strongest man on second base left. Kim Sun-bin, Park Min-woo, Shin Min-jae, the late Seung-min, Kang Seung-ho, An Chi-hong, Golden Glove Competition begins

Jan 04, 2025

The 2022 KBO Golden Glove Awards were held at the COEX Auditorium in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 9th. Kiwoom Kim Hye-sung, who won the Golden Glove in the second baseman category, is giving his acceptance speech. Samseong-dong = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2022.12.09/

A game between the Kiwoom Heroes and the NC Dinos at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 26th. Kiwoom second baseman Kim Hye-sung tags runner Park Min-woo, who was caught in a rundown when NC Son Ah-seop hit an infield grounder with no outs in the top of the first inning. Gocheok = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.06.26/

Game 2 of the Korean Series between Samsung and KIA at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 23rd. Kim Sun-bin is delighted after hitting an RBI double with one out and runners on the first and third bases in the bottom of the first inning. Gwangju = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.10.23/

The strongest second base left for the Major League. From now on, the infinite challenge will begin even if the KBO League's best second baseman is placed.

Kim Hye-sung succeeded in entering the Major League by signing a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on the morning of the 4th, the final day of the posting. The KBO League's best second baseman will go on a journey to his dream in the Major League.

Kim Hye-sung's departure is good news for second basemen. It's because I can challenge myself to the Golden Glove.

Recently, the second baseman's Golden Glove was nothing short of Kim Hye-sung's. Kim Hye-sung, who joined in 2017, started playing as a main player in 2018. Kim Hye-sung, who played second base, began to increase his batting little by little, took the shortstop position in 2021, when Kim Ha-sung left for the Major League, and won the Golden Glove in the shortstop category as he reached his first batting average of 30% that year. And he returned to second base from 2022 and took the Golden Glove for three consecutive years until last year.

For three years, other second basemen have achieved batting performances that cannot be overcome.

In 2022, he had a batting average of 318, 164 hits, four home runs, 48 RBIs, 81 points and 34 steals, and in 2023, he had a batting average of 335, 186 hits, seven home runs, 57 RBIs, 104 points and 25 steals. Last year, he hit .326 with 166 hits, 11 homers, 75 RBIs, 90 runs and 30 steals. It played a central role in Kiwoom, which had weak power due to accurate hitting and fast feet.

Second basemen are almost determined for each team. Therefore, fierce competition is expected for the Golden Glove.

A semi-playoff game between the LG Twins and the KT Wiz at Jamsil Stadium on the 6th. LG Shin Min-jae is cheering after hitting a timely hit in the bottom of the third inning with one out and runners on third base. Jamsil = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.10.06/

Lotte and LG held at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 18th. Ko Seung-min hit a timely RBI single in the third inning. Busan = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.09.18/

A game between Samsung and Doosan at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 12th, Kang Seung-ho of Doosan is hitting at the bottom of the sixth inning with no outs. Jamsil= Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2024.07.12/

NC Dinos Park Min-woo will dream of his third golden glove. Park won the Golden Glove for two consecutive years in 2019 and 2020. Park Min-woo had a good performance this season with a batting average of 328, 150 hits, eight homers, 50 RBIs, 75 runs and 32 steals, but he could not beat Kim Hye-sung.

Kim Sun-bin is also challenging himself. Kim Sun-bin, who switched from shortstop to second baseman, had a batting average of 329 hits, nine home runs, 57 RBIs and 48 runs last year. Kim Sun-bin received the Golden Glove in the shortstop category in 2017.

It is also a good opportunity for Shin Min-jae, who became LG's main second baseman. He hit 297 with 115 hits, 40 RBIs, 78 runs and 32 steals as his first full-time starter last year.

Lotte's rookie Ko Seung-min showed power last year by batting .380, 148 hits, 14 homers, 87 RBIs, and 79 runs. If Lotte lowers the fence this year and Ko Seung-min shows better slugging power, he may be able to embrace golden gloves.

Kang Seung-ho of the Doosan Bears is also one of the strong candidates. Last year, he had a batting average of 288 home runs, 81 RBIs, and 81 runs.

Attention is also being paid to whether Hanwha An Chi-hong will return to second base. An Chi-hong, who was in charge of second baseman when head coach Kim Kyung-moon took office last year, could also be one of the leading candidates this season.

Second base without Kim Hye-sung. Who will be the hero of the first golden glove.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.