Hanwha Eagles first baseman Kang Baek-ho won the Korea Baseball Organization’s annual Home Run Derby on Friday at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, South Korea.
Kang edged SSG Landers infielder Oh Tae-gon in the finals, as Oh failed to homer in the 30-second timed sudden-death round.
At the end of the year, Jamsil Baseball Stadium will be demolished. The ballpark, which opened in 1982 and is home to the KBO’s Doosan Bears and LG Twins, will be the host site of tomorrow’s KBO All-Star Game between the Nanum and Dream All-Stars.
Representatives from the Twins, Kia Tigers, Eagles, Kiwoom Heroes and NC Dinos will play for Team Nanum. Players from the Bears, Samsung Lions, Lotte Giants, KT Wiz, and Landers will suit up for Team Dream.
According to a report from Yoo Jee-ho of Yonhap News Agency, there are 27 first-time All-Stars this year. Former Major League left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin earned his ninth selection.
Yuto Kanakubo, a Japanese right-hander with the Heroes, was the lone Asian Quota System player to earn an All-Star spot. He spent parts of six seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
The Nanum All-Stars won last year’s game 8-6 at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark. Eventual 2025 KBO MVP Cody Ponce was named the contest’s winning pitcher as a member of the Eagles.
The KBO recently announced that it had set a first-half league attendance record, drawing 7,633,775 fans through 424 games.
Photo: Kang Baek-ho won the 2026 KBO Home Run Derby at Jamsil Baseball Stadium.
