Kia Tigers second baseman Kim Sun-bin took home Korean Series MVP after collecting ten hits in the five-game series victory over the Samsung Lions. Kim earned 46 of the 99 total votes cast, beating out teammate Kim Tae-gun, who hit a clutch grand slam in Game 5, by one vote.
The 34-year-old Kim, who made his debut in 2008, has spent his entire career with the Tigers. He has collected 1,645 hits and posted a .305 career batting average. The five-foot-five-inch second baseman makes up for a lack of power with tremendous plate discipline, working 584 career walks against just 528 strikeouts.
Though he played 72 games during the regular season, Kim was left off the Korean Series roster during their 2009 championship win. He played a much larger part in their 2017 championship season, batting a career-high .370 during the regular season and collecting five hits in their five-game series victory over the Doosan Bears.
Despite entering his mid-30s, Kim remained a key figure in the Tigers’ league-best offense, posting a .329 average and hitting a career-high nine home runs. After collecting a hit and a pair of walks in Game 1, he tallied at least two hits in each of the final four games. His best game came in Game 4 when he went 3-for-5 with two doubles in the 9-2 victory.
김선빈!!! pic.twitter.com/ghzfNnZp87
— KBO in English (@KBO_ENG) October 26, 2024
Kim became the shortest player ever to win the Korean Series MVP, a fact that was not lost on him when he spoke after the game.
“I’ve had so many people tell me I couldn’t succeed as a pro because I was too short,” Kim said. “I think I beat those stereotypes with this MVP award.”
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WBN KBO: https://worldbaseball.com/league/south-korea/
Photo Credit: Kim Sun-bin swings. (KoreaJoongAngDaily)
