4 Dinos players take Golden gloves home
Recipients of the 2015 Korea Baseball Organization Golden Glove Awards pose for photos after the ceremony at The-K Hotel in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, Tuesday. Clockwise from top left are KT Wiz’s Yoo Han-joon, Doosan Bears’ Yang Eui-ji and Kim Hyun-soo, NC Dinos’ Park Min-woo who received the award on behalf of Eric Thames, the Bears’ Kim Jae-ho, Samsung Lions’ coach Kim Yong-gook who received the award on behalf of Yamaico Navarro, NC Dinos’ Park Sok-min and Samsung Lions’ Lee Seung-yuop. / Yonhap
By Nam Hyun-woo
Four NC Dinos players took golden gloves home at the 2015 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) Golden Glove Awards, Tuesday, celebrating their successful season.
During the ceremony at The-K Hotel, Yangjae-dong, Seoul, the Dinos’ formidable slugger Eric Thames added another honor to his collection after winning the MVP award last month, while Samsung Lions’ Lee Seung-yeop became the first player to win the 10th golden glove in his career.
Here are the recipients of this year’s awards.
1st baseman
The first baseman position has been the most highly contested category in this year’s award ceremonies, as NC Dinos’ Eric Thames and former Nexen Heroes’ Park Byung-ho both posted solid numbers in each category.
While Park saw the numbers sending him to Major League Baseball, Thames collected more awards, following the MVP award last month. Thames received 227 votes out of 358 to win a golden glove over Park who collected 116.
This season, the 29-year-old became the first KBO player to enjoy a 40-40 season ― 47 home runs and 40 stolen bases. He led the league in four categories with a .381 average, a .497 on-base percentage, a .790 slugging percentage and 130 scored runs.
Park outnumbered Thames with 146 RBIs (140 by Thames) and 53 home runs, while becoming the first KBO player to have back-to-back 50-homer seasons.
Pitcher
The pitcher category has been highly contested by KIA Tigers’ Yang Hyeon-jong and NC Dinos’ Eric Hacker, but Hacker was named as the recipient thanks to more solid numbers.
Hacker led the league with 19 wins and recorded a 3.13 earned run average (ERA) ― No. 2 in the league ― as well as striking out 164 to tie at No. 5. Yang overwhelmed other KBO pitchers with the lowest 2.44 ERA and bagged 15 wins to sit on No. 4, but fell short of Hacker, who contributed to the Dinos’ surge this season.
Catcher
There were three catchers nominated after sitting behind the home plate more than 96 games and hitting above .300 ― Doosan Bears’ Yang Eui-ji, Samsung Lions’ Lee Ji-young and Lotte Giants’ Kang Min-ho. Yang, who appeared at 132 games and went .326 with 20 home runs and 93 RBIs who won the honor. As well as leading his side’s Korean Series victory, he also contributed to the country’s winning of the Premier 12 international tournament. He got 270 votes to win the golden glove in the second consecutive season.
Outfielders
Doosan Bears’ Kim Hyun-soo, NC Dinos’ Na Sung-bum and KT Wiz’s Yoo Han-joon were named for three awards for outfielders.
Kim, who received the most 317 votes, led his side’s Korean Series win after going .326 with 28 homers and 121 RBIs this season. Kim won the annual award from 2008 to 2010 and took the glove again this year after collecting 317 votes.
Kim made it into the open market on Nov. 21 after completing the equivalent of nine full seasons and reportedly received offers from multiple Major League Baseball clubs. And during his speech, he dropped hints over his potential move to the big league.
“I want to appreciate Bears’ fans for rooting for me for the past ten years. Today, my agent called and told me to wait. I’m not sure where I will be (next season),” Kim said to fans who chanted, “Don’t leave.”
Yoo, who played for the Nexen Heroes until this season, claimed his first golden glove award after spending his career-high season. He hit .362 this season to follow hitting average leader Eric Thames of NC Dinos and clubbed the most 188 hits this season.
Na won his second consecutive golden glove after going .326 with 28 home runs and 136 RBIs for the Dinos. He sits on No. 2 in the hits tables with 184.
Shortstop
Doosan Bears’ Kim Jae-ho won the golden glove for shortstop after receiving 188 votes. Batting ninth, Kim went .307 with 50 RBIs this season, as well as contributing to the national team’s successful Premier 12 campaign. This is the first time that Kim wins the award.
2nd and 3rd basemen
Samsung Lions’ Yamaico Navarro was named the best second baseman, while his former teammate Park Sok-min of the NC Dinos won the honor in the third baseman category.
Navaro’s 48 homers this season followed league leader Park Byung-ho’s 53. The Dominican went out for 140 games to post 137 RBIs (No. 2), 126 runs (No.3) with .287 hitting average to become the first imported player to win the award for second baseman.
Park, who moved to the NC Dinos after a lucrative free-agent deal late last month, recorded .321 with 26 home runs and 116 RBIs (No.7). After winning his second consecutive golden glove, Park turned emotional and thanked the Lions fans who supported him since 2004 by pledging that he will continue his performance for his new club.
Designated hitter
Samsung Lions’ veteran Lee Seung-yuop won his 10th Golden Glove, becoming the first KBO player to accomplish such a feat. He is the league’s career home-run leader with 416, after surpassing the 400th mark this season. He batted .332 with 26 homers and 90 RBIs. The 39-year-old is the oldest player to win the award.