The year-end baseball awards ceremony adds a new twist with the winners’ verbal contests.At the 2023 DAILYSPORT-ZOAH Pharma Baseball Awards ceremony held at the Eliana Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on April 4, the players who received awards drew applause with their witty words.”I didn’t believe in myself either, but coach (Kim Jong-kook) believed in me, so I got the award,” said Yoon Young-chul, a left-handed pitcher for the KIA Tigers who won the JoyByTone-A award. “I will try to live up to expectations next year,” said Young-hyun Park, the winner of the Skill Development Award, who will challenge to be the new closer for KT WIZ next year after Kim Jae-yoon’s transfer to the Samsung Lions. I have to look good to the manager,” he said to KT manager Lee Kang-cheol, “Please keep an eye on me. I will do my best,” and strongly appealed for the closing position.
Defensive award winner Yang Ji (Doosan Bears) and comeback hero Son Ah-seop (NC Dinos) expressed their ambition to help their managers Lee Seung-yup and Kang Myung-ho win the manager’s award (for winning the Korean Series) as their goals for next year. Yang Ji said, “I congratulate LG for winning this year, but it burns a lot because they are next door,” and added, “I will try to make the Doosan hull unite and win the manager’s award for Lee Seung-yup.”
Moon Dong-joo (Hanwha), a second-year pro who beat out rookie Yoon Young-chul this year to win the KBO League Rookie of the Year and other media rookie awards, first greeted Yoon with “thank you and sorry” and then said, “I won the rookie award this year, but next year I will win the individual title and get the award.” Moon Dong-joo (Hanwha) showed his determination. Bae Ji-hwan (Pittsburgh Pirates), who received a joint special award for raising the profile of Koreans in Major League Baseball, openly asked Kim Ha-sung (San Diego Padres) what his secret to survival was.”I stuck to it with my Korean grit,” Kim said, “and when I batted against Ji-Hwan (in the big leagues), I felt he was too good. Noh Si-hwan (Hanwha), who received the best hitter award, said, “I’m not the best hitter, but I’m honored and grateful that you called me that.” “My dream was to be a home run hitter, but I worked hard, so it feels good to be the home run king,” he said confidently, adding, “I don’t think the word ‘burden’ suits me anymore.He added, “My next dream is to be a batting 슬롯게이밍 champion. (Son) Asub, you should be a little nervous.” He encouraged a sense of competition.
