2024-07-05 18:31:27
From Seung-hwan Oh (Samsung), whose oldest appearance is confirmed, to Hyun-jin Ryu (Hanwha), who returns to the All-Star Game after 12 years, to Jeong Choi (SSG), who has the most home runs in his career, there is much to see in the 2024 All-Star Game.
The 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO All-Star Game will be held at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 6th. It will be the first time in 16 years since 2008 that the All-Star Game will be held in Incheon.
◇ Oh Seung-hwan, who returned to the All-Star team after two years, becomes the oldest player to play
As of the All-Star Game day (the 6th), Seung-Hwan Oh is 41 years, 11 months, and 21 days old. If he appears, he will set a record for the oldest player to appear in an All-Star Game, including both pitchers and batters.
The oldest player to play in the All-Star Game, including pitchers and position players, was Yang Jun-hyeok (Samsung). He played in the All-Star Game in 2010 at the age of 41 years, 1 month, and 28 days. The oldest pitcher to play was previously Son Min-han (NC) at the age of 40 years, 6 months, and 16 days in the 2015 season.
If Oh Seung-hwan records a save in the All-Star Game, he will also set the record for the oldest save. He will surpass the previous record of Gye Hyeong-cheol (OB, 35 years, 2 months, 16 days) by more than 5 years.
◇ Ryu Hyun-jin returns to challenge for best pitcher award after 12 years
Hanwha’s Ryu Hyun-jin will return to the All-Star Game after 12 years. Ryu Hyun-jin, who was selected as one of the Nanum All-Star Best 12 starting pitchers, is about to make his 8th (5th) All-Star Game.
Ryu Hyun-jin won the Best Pitcher Award in the last All-Star Game in 2012 after pitching two perfect innings as a starting pitcher for the Western Conference. He will be challenging for the Best Pitcher Award in the All-Star Game, which returns after 12 years.
◇ Will Choi Jeong, the ‘career home run leader’, hit a home run on his home ground?
Choi Jeong, who is selected as an All-Star for the 12th time and will be playing in the All-Star Game for the second time in Incheon, his home stadium, since 2008, was the only candidate to receive over 20,000 votes in the Home Run Derby, the first game to be selected based on 100% fan voting this season.
Choi Jeong-eun, who achieved the KBO League record for most home runs this season, hit 257 of her 479 career home runs over the fence in Munhak alone. Choi Jeong-eun, who has yet to win the Home Run Derby, is aiming to win the Home Run Derby in the All-Star Game, which will be held on her home ground for the first time in 16 years.
◇ Kim Hyun-soo, tying the record for consecutive All-Star appearances for ’13 consecutive seasons’
Kim Hyun-soo (LG), a regular at the All-Star Game, has been selected as an All-Star for the first time in 2008 as a manager’s recommendation player, and has played in the All-Star Game every year since then, except for 2016-2017 when he entered the major league.
If Kim Hyun-soo plays again this year, he will tie the record held by Yang Jun-hyeok (Samsung) of 13 consecutive seasons (1995-2007).
◇ 2022 Jeong Eun-won, 2023 Chae Eun-seong… 2024 ‘Mr. All-Star’ also Hanwha?
Hanwha is attempting to produce an All-Star Game MVP for the third consecutive year, following Eun-won Jeong in 2022 and Eun-seong Chae in 2023.
In 2022, Jeong Eun-won led the team to victory by hitting a dramatic 3-run home run in the 10th inning of extra innings, and in 2023, Chae Eun-seong was selected as the ‘Star of the Stars’ by hitting the second-ever grand slam and driving in 5 RBIs.
This year, five Hanwha players, including Ryu Hyun-jin, Joo Hyun-sang, Jonathan Peraza, Choi Jae-hoon, and Noh Si-hwan, will be participating in the All-Star Game, raising expectations for the MVP for the third consecutive year. The only two times in history where the same team won the MVP award for three consecutive years were Haitai in 1986-88 and Lotte in 1989-91.
◇The harmony of ‘newbies’ and ‘veterans’ that will shine at the All-Star Game
This year, with veteran players making their first appearances and younger players being selected at the same time, we can look forward to the harmony between young blood and veterans that will unfold in the All-Star Game.
Among high school rookies, Kim Taek-yeon (Doosan), who is the fifth player to be invited to the All-Star Game, and third-year players Lee Jae-hyun (Samsung) and Yoon Dong-hee (Lotte) have proudly made it to the Best 12. Park Ji-hwan (SSG) is the only high school rookie among the players recommended by the coach, and third-year player Choi Ji-min (KIA) will be playing in the All-Star Game for the second time since last year.
The first All-Star selections of veteran players are also notable. Dream All-Star Jang Seong-woo (KT) was selected as an All-Star for the first time in 17 years since his debut, and Yang Seok-hwan (Doosan) was selected as an All-Star for the first time in 11 years since his debut.
(Seoul = News 1)
2024-07-05 18:31:27