Yang Hyeon-jong of the Kia Tigers was named player of the month for July, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced Tuesday.
The 28-year-old southpaw hurler won the honor for the second time in his career after receiving 14 votes from a total of 28 KBO press corps members. Yang was followed by his teammates Na Ji-wan who earned nine votes and Hanwha Eagles infielder Kim Tae-kyun with three.
Though Yang only had three wins in 16 game appearances before July, the starter grabbed three wins in five games last month, becoming the only one who recorded a sub-2.00 ERA (1.87) and had struck out the most (26).
Especially, Yang led his team to fourth place in the 10-team league on Saturday as he threw a shutout, only allowing one run in his start against the SK Wyverns in Incheon.
Yang will receive a cash prize of 2 million won ($1,800) before his team’s game against the Eagles at Gwangju Kia Champions Field on Wednesday.