Veteran catcher Kang Min-ho (Samsung Lions), who led his team to the Korean Series, won the Golden Glove Award for the first time in three years. It also means that many voters recognized Kang Min-ho's value, but on the other hand, he still could not find a new face in terms of the league.메이저놀이터
At the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO Golden Glove Awards held at the COEX Auditorium in Samseong-dong, Seoul on the 13th, Kang won the catcher's category by winning 191 votes (66.3%) out of 288 votes cast. After 2008, 2011-2013, 2017, and 2021, he wore his seventh career gold glove.
Before the award ceremony, Kang was cautious about winning the prize. "I came here with the intention of giving a round of applause even if Park Dong-won wins the prize," he said. "I think it's the most meaningful award given to me for my hard work over the past year." However, he received overwhelming support from voters, contrary to his belief.
Kang Min-ho met the team's expectations by hitting 122 at-bats for 403 in 136 games in the 2024 season with a batting average of 0.303, 19 homers, 77 RBIs, 48 runs and OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 0.861. In the playoff against the LG Twins, he only hit three at-bats for a batting average of 0.214 with one homer and one RBI, but he gave the team a victory by shooting the winning solo shot in the fourth playoff game.
Kang was sluggish in the Korean Series against the KIA Tigers with a batting average of 0.154 by posting two hits from 13 times at bat. His team also failed to win the title with one win and four losses overall in the series. However, Kang displayed great presence from the regular season to the postseason, which led to his win in the Golden Glove.
Kang Min-ho, who took the stage for the award, said, "I didn't expect to receive the award and came here with a light heart, so I feel really good to receive the award. My family couldn't come (to the award ceremony) because I was afraid I wouldn't receive the award," adding, "I'm honored to receive the award in front of my respected baseball seniors and juniors."
Kang also stressed his responsibility as a veteran, saying, "I am in a position where I have to compete with my juniors, not as a main player of course. I will compete with my juniors in a great way next year so that I can stand here again."
As Kang Min-ho received the Golden Glove this year, the "Yang and Kang (Yang Eui-ji and Kang Min-ho)" system continued. According to the list of Golden Glove winners in history, Yang Eui-ji (Doosan Bears) and Kang Min-ho were divided into the catcher category from 2011 to this year. Yang Eui-ji won eight awards, including 2014-2016, 2018-2020, and 2022-2023, while Kang Min-ho collected six golden gloves from 2011-2013, 2017, 2021 and 2024.
Up until 2010, the situation was different. Between 2007 and 2010, no player in the catcher's category won the gold medal. Park Kyung-wan (then SK Wyverns), Kang Min-ho (then Lotte Giants) in 2008, Kim Sang-hoon (then KIA) in 2009, and Cho In-sung (then LG) in 2010 were awarded the Golden Glove catcher's category.
However, Yang Eui-ji or Kang Min-ho have been the heroes of the golden gloves for more than 10 years since 2011. In the meantime, the KBO League has been agonizing over the catcher. Many teams put their utmost efforts into fostering catchers, but had difficulty finding new faces. The situation of the national team was not much different.
Just by looking at the candidates for this season's Golden Glove catcher, the concerns of each team and league are reflected. Except for Kim Hyung-joon (NC Dinos), who was born in 1999, the other six players are all in their 30s.
Nonetheless, it is encouraging that young catchers have recently stood out one by one. At the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games (hosted last year), the Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC), and the 2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier 12, Kim Hyung-joon has shown great potential for growth. Han Jun-su, who was born in 1999, who contributed significantly to Kia's overall win this year, is also attracting a lot of attention.
What do you think of Kang Min-ho? "I think a little bit of 'this year will be my last award'," said Kang Min-ho, who met reporters after the Golden Glove Awards. "I think the (Yang) will and the catcher's growth have been slow since then. In that sense, Park Dong-won seems to be coming up a lot, and I feel good as a catcher because I think Kim Hyung-joon and other good catchers are coming out little by little."
He did not forget to mention Lee Byung-hun, his junior. "I think Lee has gained a lot of experience and improved a lot this year. I hope he leads the home turf of the Samsung Lions well as he has solved the military issue," Kang said.