SOUTH KOREA – Most Valuable Player Kim Kwang-hyun headlined the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) 10 Golden Glove winners for 2008, and was one of six first-time selections. The KBO Golden Gloves are not for fielding, but an award for the best individual season at each position.

The Lotte Giants’ second baseman Cho Sung-hwan was honored for the first time in his seven-year career. He led all second basemen with a .327 average and 81 runs batted in. His sidekick in the infield, Shortstop Park Gi-hyuk, was also a first-time winner. Park denied Park Jin-man, the Samsung Lions’ veteran who has won five in his career, his third straight Golden Glove.

Another Giant, catcher Kang Min-ho, also won for the first time. He ranked top-10 in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage. He is the first Lotte catcher to win a Golden Glove.

Kim Hyun-soo and the Giants’ Karim Garcia were first-timers in the outfield, joined by Doosan’s Lee Jong-wook,a repeat winner.

Kim had a banner year, finishing second in the MVP voting after leading the KBO with a .357 batting average and 168 hits. Lee’s 98 runs scored topped the league. Garcia, in his first season in Korea, was first with 111 runs batted in and second with 30 homers.

The hot corner featured the hottest battle and the Bears’ third baseman Kim Dong-joo came out on top for the second straight season. He collected 128 votes, beating the Wyverns’ Choi Jung (106) and the Giants’ Lee Dae-ho (85).

Hong Sung-heun won the designated hitter’s Golden Glove. He played the 2008 season with the Bears but recently signed a free agent deal with the Giants.

The home run leader, Kim Tae-kyun of the Hanwha Eagles, received the award at first base in a landslide. After belting 31 home runs and putting up the KBO-best .622 slugging percentage, Kim won 332 of 346 votes.

2008 Korean Baseball Organization Gold Glove Winners

Catcher
Kang Min-ho, Lotte Giants

First Base
Kim Tae-hyun, Hanhwa Eagles

Second Base
Cho Sung-hwan, Lotte Giants

Shortstop
Park Ki-hyeok, Lotte Giants

Third Base
Kim Dong-ju, Doosan Bears

Outfield
Karim Garcia, Lotte Giants
Kim Hyeon-su, Doosan Bears
Lee Jong-wook, Doosan Bears

Designated Hitter
Hong Sung-hoon, Doosan Bears

Pitcher
Kim Kwang-hyeon, SK Wyverns

Source: KBO Website

Tags: South Korea