Why is Kang Baek-ho singing 10 billion won in salary increase for MVP…Are you sure you're going to get rid of half-stigmatism

Jan 28, 2025

Why is Kang Baek-ho singing 10 billion won in salary increase for MVP…Are you sure you're going to get rid of half-stigmatism
The second round of semi-PO between LG and KT at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 6th. KT Kang Baek-ho is hitting an RBI sacrifice fly with one out and runners on first and third in the third inning. Jamsil = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.10.06/






Interest in Kang Baek-ho (26, kt Wiz) is already hot. Opinions are divided over the possibility of a large contract worth 10 billion won.

Kang Baek-ho will become the first FA in his life when he finishes this season healthy. Since his debut season in 2018, he has a batting talent called 'Genius', and is expected to be a weapon next year at a young age of 27.

KT is defending Kang Baek-ho for now. It earned an annual salary of 700 million won this year, the highest ever in its eighth year in the KBO League. The previous record was 650 million won for Kiwoom Heroes Kim Hye-sung (currently the LA Dodgers) last year. Kang Baek-ho received an annual salary of 290 million won last year in the aftermath of injuries and hitting slumps, and a whopping 410 million won was raised. It was the highest record in the club's history, higher than last year's KBO League MVP Kim Do-young (KIA Tigers). Kim Do-young signed 500 million won, an increase of 400 million won from 100 million won in annual salary last year.




Kang had a batting average of 0.289 (159 hits in 550 at-bats), 26 homers, 96 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.840, in 144 games last season. Although it was a season that made up for sluggish performance in 2022 and 2023, it was certainly not a performance that expected an annual salary increase of more than 400 million won. In any case, since Kang Baek-ho is a preliminary FA, he seems to understand KT's defense strategy and move on.

Kang Baek-ho, however, is a player who has as clear disadvantages as his strengths. This year is my 8th year as a professional, but I don't have a definite position. As an outfielder, he turned to first baseman under the judgment that his feet were slow and his competitiveness was poor, but he failed to surpass veterans who boast the league's best first base defense, such as Park Byung-ho (current Samsung Lions) Oh Jae-il. In fact, it was becoming a designated hitter due to defensive instability and injuries.

Why is Kang Baek-ho singing 10 billion won in salary increase for MVP…Are you sure you're going to get rid of half-stigmatism
KT Kang Baek-ho is batting training in the second wild card game between KT and Doosan held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 3rd. Jamsil = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.10.03/



Kang Baek-ho suddenly started wearing a catcher mask last year. He had experience as a catcher when he was in Seoul High School, but last year was the first time he wore a catcher mask when he came to the professional league. He actually found his last breakthrough because he couldn't be a half-player who relied only on hitting at a young age.




Kang recorded 169 â…” innings in 30 games (19 starts) as a catcher last year. Of course, there were mistakes, but considering that it was a sudden position change, it was evaluated as not bad. This is why KT wrote Kang Baek-ho's position as a catcher on this year's spring camp list. KT tries to clear the stigma of its half-player by making Kang Baek-ho thoroughly prepare for the catcher from spring. Kang Baek-ho must also be recognized as a catcher in order to receive the treatment he wants in the FA market. No matter how good the batting is, it is not easy for designated hitters to win a jackpot contract of more than 10 billion won.

Expressing his excitement to properly prepare for the season as a catcher, Kang Baek-ho boarded a flight to Australia, the training site for the first spring camp. If the current excitement leads to the birth of a new homeowner, it is expected to lead to love calls from various clubs while escaping from the evaluation of a player who cannot defend. Then, it is worth singing a jackpot contract worth more than 10 billion won.

Why is Kang Baek-ho singing 10 billion won in salary increase for MVP…Are you sure you're going to get rid of half-stigmatism
The KBO League KT and Hanwha match held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 5th. KT Kang Baek-ho is the starting catcher. Suwon = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.06.05/







This article was translated by Naver AI translator.