By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has a total of 110 players with nine-digit salaries.
According to the baseball governing body Monday, a total of 474 players are registered to the league and 110, or 23 percent, will make more than 100 million won ($85,000) for the 2010 season. Sixty-two rookies and 16 foreign players were left off the list.
The number is nine more than last year, when the league churned out just over 100 nine-digit salary earners, and in 2010, 31 players will make 100 million won ― now regarded as the threshold for being considered a highly paid player - for the first time.
Doosan Bears' slugging third baseman Kim Dong-joo has stayed atop the salary list for the second straight year with 700 million won, followed by Lotte Giants pitcher Son Min-han and Samsung Lions shortstop Park Jin-man, who each will earn 600 million.
LG Twins outfielder Lee Jin-young placed fourth at 540 million won and four players - Park Kyung-oan, Lee Ho-jun and Kim Jae-hyun of the SK Wyverns and Twins hurler Park Myung-hwan - are tied for fifth at 500 million won.
The average player salary in the KBO for 2010, excluding rookies and non-Koreans, is 87 million won - about a three-percent raise from 84 million won in 2009.
Kia Tigers third baseman Kim Sang-hyun, named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) after leading the league in homers, RBIs and slugging percentage last season, posted the highest increase in salary by percentage, 361.5, going from 52 million won to 240 million. Kim's teammate Choi Hee-seop had the highest increase in won, going from 200 million won to 400 million.
Hanwha Eagles southpaw Ryu Hyun-jin has cracked 270 million won, which is the highest payroll for a fifth-year pro.
The Wyverns pay their players an average of 114 million won, the highest in the league, while the Lions, which had topped the list for the last five years dropped to third at 102 million won, second being the Twins at 103 million won.
ksw@koreatimes.co.kr
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