The oldest Korean series MVP ever failed to raise his salary.
SSG Landers announced on the 24th that it had completed an annual salary contract with all 49 people eligible for renewal in 2023.
Kim Kang-min (41), who was the main player in SSG’s first win with a pinch-hitter home run in the Korean Series with Kiwoom last year, was frozen at an annual salary of 160 million won last year. Kim Kang-min secretly wanted a salary increase, but the club carried through with a freeze plan according to internal salary evaluations, regardless of regular season and postseason results.
Kim Kang-min played an active part in the Korean Series with a batting average of 3.77 (3 hits in 8 at-bats), 2 homers and 5 RBIs, winning the oldest Korean Series MVP award.
After one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, where the first game was 5-6, he came out as a pinch hitter and hit a tying solo home run against Kim Jae-woong, who finished Kiwoom, and took it to overtime. In Game 3, he appeared as a pinch hitter in the top of the 9th inning, leading 2-1, with one out and bases loaded, and opened up a big inning by hitting a timely hit with 1 RBI.
And he laid the foundation for the championship with a decisive home run in Game 5. In the 9th inning, trailing by 2-4, he came out as a pinch hitter on 1st and 3rd base and hit a three-run home run to end the come-from-behind game. It was a dramatic home run that saved the team from the brink of defeat by pulling the slider that was driven to the middle on the ball count 2 strike.
Had SSG lost Game 5 in the series 2-2, winning the Korean Series could not be guaranteed. SSG, who won Game 5 with Kang-Min Kim’s walk-off home run, took the momentum and decided to win Game 6.
Most teams calculate their annual salary based on their performance during the season. Last year, Kim Kang-min handed over the center fielder position to rookie Choi Ji-hoon and played as a backup.
I dedicated myself to the team as a supporting actor rather than a lead actor, but I also recorded decent results. He had a .449 slugging percentage, .375 on-base percentage, and .824 OPS in 84 games.
He agreed to an annual salary contract this year for the same amount without an increase from last year’s annual salary of 160 million won. His strong performance in the Korean series was recognized as a winning bonus.
Choi Ji-hoon, who is regarded as the successor to Kim Kang-min, participated in all games (144 games) of the regular season last year and played an active role with a batting average of .304 (.304) and double-digit home runs (10) for the first time in his professional debut. He signed a contract for 300 million won, a 100% increase from his annual salary of 150 million won.
Park Seong-han, who played an active role as the starting shortstop for two consecutive years, signed a contract for 270 million won, an increase of 130 million won from 140 million won. 안전놀이터
Infielder Jeon Eui-san (77 games, 13 home runs, OPS .797), who showed potential as a next-generation giant in the first year of his debut, earned 90 million won, three times the annual salary of 30 million won last year. This is the club’s highest increase rate in the 2023 season.
Seo Jin-yong, who played an active role as a closer with Pil Seung-jo, signed a contract for 265 million won (80 million won increase), and Oh Won-seok, who showed growth by playing as a starter and bullpen, signed a contract for 140 million won (75 million won increase), becoming the first billion won annual salary.
Veteran pitcher Noh Kyung-eun, who contributed to the combined championship, signed a contract for 170 million won (70 million won increase), and Koh Hyo-jun signed a contract for 85 million won (45 million won increase).