Yang Eui-ji in 23 years → Kang Min-ho in 24 years. Will the second-place 6.5 billion FA break the 14-year two-way system for the second consecutive year

Jan 04, 2025

The 2024 KBO Golden Glove Awards ceremony was held at the COEX Auditorium in Samseong-dong, Seoul on the afternoon of the 13th. Kang Min-ho won the Golden Glove in the catcher category. Kang Min-ho is being congratulated by Park Dong-won. Samseong-dong = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.12.13/

The Premier 12 baseball team played against Japan at Taipei Dome in Taiwan on the 15th. Park Dong-won hit a tiebreaking solo home run in the fourth inning. Taipei (Taiwan) = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.11.15/

The game between KT Wiz and LG Twins in Game 4 of the semi-playoff at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 9th. LG catcher Park Dong-won is catching his breath. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.10.09/

He's in second place for 2 consecutive years. Park Dong-won came forward to break the 14-year Golden Glove monopoly that only Kang Min-ho and Yang Eui-ji took, but it was not easy.

Since 2011, Kang Min-ho has had six Golden Gloves and Yang Eui-ji has had eight Golden Gloves. For as many as 14 years, catcher Golden Glove has been allowed only to these two catchers.

Recently, LG Twins' Park Dong-won challenged, but only ranked second for the second consecutive year.

It lost to Yang Eui-ji in 2023, which led LG to the championship, and to Kang Min-ho last year.

Park Dong-won, who signed a total of 6.5 billion won for four years as a FA in 2023 and transferred to LG, contributed to LG's first integrated victory in 29 years with a batting average of 249 and 102 hits, 20 home runs and 75 RBIs that year. In particular, he made a big impression with a come-from-behind home run in Game 2 of the Korean Series.

However, the wall of Yang Eui-ji of the Doosan Bears was high. Yang Eui-ji hit .356 with 134 hits, 17 homers and 68 RBIs. Park Dong-won was better in home runs and RBIs, but Yang Eui-ji was ahead in batting average and hits.

Yang Eui-ji won the vote overwhelmingly with 213 votes and Park Dong-won 63 votes.

Last year, Park Dong-won showed a better performance. He hit .272 with 118 hits, 20 home runs and 80 RBIs. After the season, he was selected for the Premier 12 national team and shot a solo shot against Japan.

Although Yang Eui-ji had a good batting average of 314, 135 hits, 17 home runs and 94 RBIs, it became a de facto two-way match between Kang Min-ho and Park Dong-won of the Samsung Lions as he failed to come up as a catcher candidate due to the lack of innings.

The KBO Golden Glove Awards held at the COEX Auditorium in Samseong-dong, Seoul on the 11th. Yang Eui-ji of Doosan, who is winning the catcher category. Samseong-dong = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2023.12.11/

The 2024 KBO Golden Glove Awards ceremony was held at the COEX Auditorium in Samseong-dong, Seoul on the afternoon of the 13th. Kang Min-ho, who won the Golden Glove Award in the catcher category. Samseong-dong = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.12.13/

Kang Min-ho hit .330, 122 hits, 19 home runs and 77 RBIs. Kang Min-ho's batting performance was a little better, but Park Dong-won recorded the most defensive innings among 944 ⅔ of catchers. The result was Kang Min-ho's award with 191 votes and Park Dong-won 89 votes.

There are many questions about whether Yang Eui-ji and Kang Min-ho 'Yang Kang system' will continue this season. And Park Dong-won is mentioned as the most likely candidate to break this 'Yanggang system'. This is because he has good defensive skills and long hit power as a catcher.

Park Dong-won, who was born in 1990, is not as young as 35. He is achieving career growth by experiencing the international stage through the Premier 12 for the first time since his debut last year.

Will Golden Glove be in the hands of one of Yang Eui-ji's Kang Min-ho again this year or will a new person take over. Expectations are high for second place Park Dong-won for the second consecutive year. Park Dong-won will leave for Arizona, the U.S., a week earlier as an advance team, and start spring camp early.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.