Kim Do-young (21, KIA Tigers), who was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of this year’s professional baseball regular season, was also recognized by the players as the best player of the year.
Kim do-young was named the winner of the grand prize, ‘Player of the Year’, at the ‘2024 Com2uS professional Baseball Real Glove Awards’ held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 1st.
The Real Glove Award ’Player of the Year’ is an award given to the player who showed the best performance this season, and was selected through an online vote conducted among approximately 820 domestic professional baseball players from the 11th to the 13th of last month.
Among the top five players in winning contribution (WAR) compared to replacement players were nominated, Kim Do-young was selected as Player of the Year, beating out Koo Ja-wook, Won Tae-in (Samsung Lions), Kim Hye-seong, and Song Seong-moon (Kiwoom Heroes), who were also nominated.
Fan’s Choice, chosen by Com2uS Professional Baseball users, also went to Kim Do-young.
Kim Do-young, who attracted great expectations from the time he joined the team in 2022, has fully blossomed into his potential this year, his third year as a professional.
He played in 141 games this year and performed well with a batting average of 0.347, 38 home runs, 109 RBIs, 143 runs, 40 stolen bases, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 1.067.
In April alone, he hit 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases, becoming the first in the KBO League to hit 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases per month. He also achieved 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the first half of the year for the fifth time in 24 years since Park Jae-hong (then of the Hyundai Unicorns) in 2000.
Kim Do-young also showed a cycling hit, hitting a single, double, triple, and home run in the game against NC Dinos on July 23. He completed a cycling hit in 4 at-bats, matching the record for the fewest at-bats, and for the first time ever, he hit a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in that order.
Kim Do-young, who hit without hesitation, hit 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the game against Kiwoom Heroes on August 15, becoming the youngest ever (20 years, 10 months, 13 days) and in the fewest games ever (111 games).
Unfortunately,he was unable to become the first Korean player to reach 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases due to a lack of two home runs,but he set a new record for the most runs scored in a single season.
This year’s KBO regular season Most Valuable Player (MVP) also went to Kim Do-young.
Kim Do-young said, “I am honored to receive this award in a year when baseball’s popularity has improved. “It is indeed even more meaningful that the players were selected by seniors and juniors,” he said.“I will show that I will not be satisfied with my performance this year and will improve further.” “I will behave well both as a person and as an athlete,” he said.
The Players’ Association held the award ceremony under the name of the ‘Players’ Choice Awards’ in the sense that the winners were decided by player votes, but changed the name to the ‘Real Glove Awards’ as it decided to select winners based on defensive ability starting in 2021.
The top 5 defensive innings were nominated for starting pitchers,catchers,and infielders,the top 9 outfielders were nominated,and the 3 relief pitchers with the most innings each were nominated in the holds and saves categories.
In addition, the players’ association selects and awards the keystone combination and battery that show the best chemistry.
Park Chan-ho and Kim Sun-bin, who showed fantastic chemistry as shortstop and second baseman for KIA, which won the combined championship this year, won the Best Keystone Combination. The two who received this award in 2022 enjoyed the joy of winning again after two years.
The two showed a ceremony where they drew a heart with thier arms.
Park Chan-ho said, “When I was a rookie, I was shocked while (Kim) sun-bin was practicing defense with his older brother. “I thought I wouldn’t be left behind in defense when I became a pro, but when I saw Sunbin playing, I thought, ‘I’m in big trouble,’” he said. “It’s an honor to play consistently with such a senior and receive an award.”
kim Sun-bin said, “I think I received the award as (Park) Chan-ho made up for what I was lacking. “Thank you Chanho,” he responded.
Chan-ho Park and Sun-bin Kim also received Real Glove awards in the shortstop and second base categories, respectively. They collected two trophies in recognition of the best defense in each position.
The best battery went to LG Twins starting pitcher Lim Chan-gyu and catcher Park Dong-won. Lim Chan-gyu worked with Park Dong-won this year and achieved a record of 10 wins,6 losses,and an average ERA of 3.83.
Lim Chan-gyu, who celebrated by hugging Park Dong-won, said, “I’m worried because I talk a lot every time I play, but (Park) Dong-won listens a lot. “He throws a lot of breaking balls, so I’m thankful that he blocks well,” he said.
park Dong-won also smiled and said, “I think Chan-gyu threw so well that he received this award as a bonus.”
LG home manager Park dong-won also won the real glove award in the catcher category. This is the second consecutive year of receiving the award.
The winner in the starting pitcher category was KIA left-handed ace Yang Hyun-jong, who had 11 wins, 5 losses, and an ERA of 4.10 this year.
Kim Taek-yeon (Doosan Bears), who was crowned KBO Rookie of the Year this year, won the Real Glove Award in the bullpen pitcher category.
Na Seung-yeop (Lotte Giants) won the real glove award in the first baseman category.
Third baseman real glove went to KT Wiz veteran infielder Hwang Jae-gyun. Jae-gyun Hwang said, “It’s a bit strange to receive this award, but I’m just grateful that the players chose me.” He added, “I think this year will be my last time as a third baseman. “We will make sure to receive it from a different position next year,” he said.
Park Hae-min, Hong Chang-ki (LG), and Su-bin su (Doosan) won the real glove award in the outfield category.
Last year, these three were selected as winners in the outfield category. Park Hae-min and Hong Chang-ki succeeded in winning the award for three consecutive years starting in 2022.
park Hae-min said, “This season’s performance was not good, but it is comforting to receive this award for three consecutive years.“I think I will be able to prepare for next season with more strength,” he said.
◇List of 2024 Com2uS Professional Baseball Real Glove Award winners
▲Player of the Year Award = Kim Do-young (KIA)
▲Starting pitcher = Hyeonjong Yang (KIA)
▲bullpen pitcher = Kim taek-yeon (Doosan)
▲Catcher = Park Dong-won (LG)
▲First baseman = Na Seung-yeop (Lotte)
▲Second baseman = Kim Seon-bin (KIA)
▲Third baseman = Hwang Jae-gyun (KT)
▲Shortstop = Chan-ho Park (KIA)
▲Outfielder = Park Hae-min, Hong Chang-ki (LG), Su-bin Jeong (Doosan)
▲Best Keystone Combi Award = Chan-ho Park and Sun-bin Kim (KIA)
▲Best Battery Award = Lim Chan-gyu and Park Dong-won (LG)
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how do young players like Kim Do-young influence the popularity of baseball in South Korea?
Interview between Time.news Editor and baseball Expert
Editor: Good afternoon! We’re excited too have you here today. LetS dive into the astonishing season of Kim Do-young,who was recently awarded the Player of the Year at the 2024 Com2uS Professional Baseball Real Glove Awards. What stood out to you the most about his performance this year?
Expert: Good afternoon! It’s great to be here.Kim Do-young’s performance this season was nothing short of phenomenal. At just 21 years old, he not only won the MVP but also showcased an extraordinary skill set. His batting average of .347, combined with 38 home runs and 109 RBIs, showcases his power and consistency. and let’s not forget the 40 stolen bases! his ability to affect the game both at the plate and on the bases is remarkable.
Editor: Absolutely! Kim’s achievement of becoming the youngest player in KBO history to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a single season is monumental. How significant is this milestone in the context of South Korean baseball?
Expert: It’s incredibly significant. Achieving a 30-30 season is a tough feat; it highlights not just power but also speed and agility. for Kim to accomplish this at such a young age—20 years and 10 months—underscores his immense potential. Only a handful of players have done it in KBO history, so he’s put himself in an elite category.
Editor: What about his early season performance? It was said that he hit 10 home runs and stole 10 bases in April alone. How rare is that?
Expert: That’s a historic achievement! Being the first in KBO League history to hit 10 home runs and steal 10 bases in a single month speaks volumes about his raw talent and skill.It shows that he’s not just one-dimensional; he can power the ball out of the park while also being a threat on the base paths.
Editor: kim also made headlines with his cycling hit this season. Can you explain the meaning of this achievement?
Expert: Of course! Hitting for the cycle—where a player records a single,double,triple,and home run in the same game—is an incredibly rare feat in baseball. What’s most impressive is that he did it in just four at-bats,tying the record for the fewest required. It shows his versatility as a hitter and his ability to perform under pressure.
Editor: He seems to be a player who thrives on challenges. Despite not reaching the 40-40 milestone this year, he still set a record for the most runs scored in a single season.How important is that accomplishment?
Expert: Setting the record for the most runs scored in a single season is a testament to Kim’s overall impact on the game. It reflects not just his ability to get on base but also the efficiency of his team in driving him home. It indicates that he’s not just a great individual player; he’s contributing to his team’s success, which is crucial in a team sport like baseball.
Editor: As the awards ceremony was decided through player votes, how does that affect Kim’s recognition among his peers?
Expert: Winning an award that his fellow players voted on adds an extra layer of respect to the recognition. It shows that he’s not just valued for his statistics, but also for his determination, sportsmanship, and work ethic. That kind of peer recognition speaks volumes about his standing within the league.
Editor: kim mentioned that he is honored to receive this award in a year when baseball’s popularity has improved. What role do you think young stars like him play in that increase in interest?
Expert: Young stars like Kim Do-young represent the future of baseball in South Korea. His exciting play and dynamic skills draw in younger fans and keep the sport relevant and thrilling. The more these players capture the spotlight,the more interest there is in the game,not only domestically but internationally as well.
Editor: Looking ahead, what challenges do you foresee for Kim as he continues his career?
Expert: The biggest challenge will be maintaining his performance and handling the pressure of expectations. As he continues to excel, the spotlight will be ever brighter. His journey will be about constantly improving and adapting to the game as it evolves. staying healthy and focused will be key to sustaining his success.
Editor: Fantastic insights! Thank you for sharing your expertise on Kim Do-young and his groundbreaking season. We look forward to seeing what he does next!
Expert: Thank you for having me! I’m excited to see what the future holds for this talented young player.