After a spectacular first season in the KBO, NC Dinos ace Kyle Hart was named the 2024 Choi Dong-won Award winner, which recognizes the best pitcher in the KBO each year. The award was created in 2014 to honor the late great Lotte Giants ace. Hart will receive a trophy and 20 million won (US$14,495).
The 31-year-old Hart came to the KBO after seven minor league seasons and a brief stint with the Red Sox in 2020. In his first season with the NC Dinos, the left-hander led the league with 182 strikeouts and finished second in both wins (13) and ERA (2.69).
Other considerations for the award included Kia Tigers starter James Naile and Samsung Lions starter Won Tae-in, who lead the league in ERA and wins, respectively, as well as Lotte Giants starter Aaron Wilkerson and Kiwoom Heroes starter Ariel Jurado.
Hart is the second consecutive NC Dinos pitcher to claim the Choi Dong-won award, following in the footsteps of Erik Fedde, who ran away with the award after winning the pitcher’s Triple Crown (strikeouts, ERA, wins)
The award ceremony for Hart is scheduled for November 11.
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