Park Byung-ho (36, Kiwoom) has won five Golden Gloves in the past. It was always first base. He won the home run king for four consecutive years, and he took it three times between 2012 and 2015. Excluding 2015, when Eric Thames (then NC) swept the league with 4 batting crowns, the golden glove in the first baseman category for three consecutive years from 2012 to 2014 belonged to Park Byung-ho.
During the two years Park Byeong-ho played in the United States, the first baseman’s golden glove, which was shared by Thames and Lee Dae-ho, became Park’s again for two consecutive years from 2018.
After that, the Golden Globes passed on to a new generation. Kang Baek-ho (KT), who turned from an outfielder to a first baseman, won the award for two consecutive years from 2020 to 2021 with KT’s advance into fall baseball. It was a period when Park Byeong-ho fell into a slump due to bad hits and injuries.
They said that the era of Park Byeong-ho was over. Park Byung-ho never thought that he would win the Golden Glove again as a first baseman. It was because he moved to KT this year where Kang Baek-ho is located. The conflict between Park Byeong-ho, the best first baseman in Korea, and Kang Baek-ho, who had to grow as a first baseman, was KT’s biggest concern. The conclusion was Kang Baek-ho. Park Byeong-ho, who decided to play as a designated hitter, generously passed on first base defense know-how to Kang Baek-ho before the opening game.
However, just before the start of the season, Kang Baek-ho suffered a serious injury that fractured his toe, took a long break, and even after returning, he could not stand on first base. Park Byeong-ho played as the first baseman full-time, which was not planned at all.
And Park Byung-ho, who hit 30 homers again in three years and regained the home run king, even embraced the Golden Glove. The first baseman’s Golden Glove, which had moved from Park Byeong-ho to Kang Baek-ho, went back to Park Byung-ho after three years.
Reclaiming the Golden Glove as a first baseman, as much as regaining the home run title, is another indicator that Park Byung-ho is still the best in Korea as a first baseman besides long hits.
Park Byeong-ho said, “It was fun to defend from before, and since there are so many left-handed hitters in Korea, I have been working hard to do better with pride that first base is never an easy position. However, after coming from KT this year, I entered the season thinking that first baseman would now be my second position,” he said. I felt proud every time the pitchers said, ‘It’s stable’ and ‘Thank you,’ and I even got a Golden Glove.”
Park Byeong-ho, who won his 6th first baseman Golden Glove, is determined to challenge himself with a different look, just like he did a year ago.
Park Byeong-ho said, “Next year, Baek-ho will of course play in good condition. I think it’s right for Baekho to play a lot as first baseman for the team to go as planned. The plan to do this year will be implemented next year,” he said. “I have no desire to become a first baseman. At the Golden Globes, I think I should try at the designated hitter now,” he laughed.
Park Byeong-ho, who kept his sluggish performance over the past two years in his mind, regained his confidence more than anything else through the many achievements he achieved this year. He naturally became greedy for next year.
Park Byeong-ho said, “Since I erased my doubts through this season, I want to improve next year, not be similar to this year. He felt that he could play better enough because he would be less defensive and could have more stamina. I’m not in my 20s now, but I’ll take better care of my body and prepare to do better next year.” 메이저사이트
Park Byeong-ho, who ruptured his ankle ligaments at the end of the season and made a comeback in four weeks and excelled in the playoffs, is already in technical training. Park Byung-ho said, “His basic rehabilitation period is over. It has been 4 weeks since I started lifting weights while doing ankle strengthening exercises, and I have already started hitting training,” he said.