The home run, which is called the ‘flower of baseball’, is an element that can change the flow of the game at once. This is why home run hitters are treated generously. That’s how strong the image of the ‘home run king’ is.
Prior to the opening of the ‘2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League’ on April 1, Sports Dong-a, Ryu Ji-hyun, Park Yong-taek, Na Ji-wan (KBSN Sports), Jung Min-cheol, Park Jae-hong, Kim Seon-woo (MBC Sports+), Lee Soon-cheol, Lee Jong-yeol (SBS Sports), A survey was conducted with 10 commentators including Yang Sang-moon and Oh Jae-won (above SPOTV).
Park Byeong-ho (KT Wiz), the home run king last season, received 7 votes, followed by Choi Jeong (4 votes, SSG Landers) and Kang Baek-ho (1 vote, KT). While the outlook for the second match between Park Byung-ho and Choi Jeong was the main focus, more weight was placed on Park Byung-ho. 스포츠토토
Park Byung-ho and Choi Jeong-eun are representative home run hitters in the KBO league. From the 2012 season, his first year full-time, Park Byeong-ho showed off his power with a giant shot, hitting more than 20 homers every year except for the 2016-2017 season when he played in the major leagues (Minnesota Twins). He became the home run king a whopping 6 times. Even last season, the first year after transferring to KT, he recovered his slugging power and became the home run king.
Commissioner Lee Soon-cheol said, “Park Byung-ho looks close to being the home run king.” If he doesn’t get injured, I think he’ll hit just as many home runs as he did last year.” Commissioner Oh Jae-won said, “From last year, Park Byeong-ho’s bat speed revived. Suwon’s park factor also has an advantage for hitters,” and Commissioner Park Yong-taek predicted, “It doesn’t seem easy to beat Park Byung-ho for the next three years with the number of home runs.”
He is a person who is not left out when discussing home run hitter Choi Jeong-do, who has hit more than 20 homers 11 times in his career and won the home run king three times. From 2016 to last year, the slugging power that hit more than 25 homers for 7 consecutive years is still strong.
Commissioner Ryu Ji-hyun said, “Choi Jeong-eun is a hitter who has proven his steadiness,” and Na Ji-wan said, “If Choi Jeong-eun hits 25 or more home runs in the first half, he won’t even be able to record the most home runs (56) in a season in the KBO League, set by Doosan coach Lee Seung-yeop in 2003. does not exist. He predicted that if he does well in the first half, he can gain more momentum in the second half.” They agreed that “the advantage of Incheon SSG Landers Field, which is a hitter-friendly stadium, cannot be ignored.”
There were also loud voices predicting the competition between Park Byeong-ho and Choi Jeong. Commissioner Lee Jong-yeol said, “I think Park Byeong-ho and Choi Jeong are the most advanced in various aspects, such as response to breaking balls and inside balls,” and Yang Sang-moon, member of the committee, “Park Byung-ho and Choi Jeong still seem to be the most competitive. Starting from last year, I also feel that both of them have found the form they had when they hit a lot of home runs.”