The highly anticipated KBO Home Run Derby is set to take place on July 5, with eight stars sharing the spotlight and competing for the trophy.
Choi Jeong has hit 20 home runs and a 1.019 OPS in the first 68 games for the SSG Landers. Jeong has been in the KBO since 2005, and his single-season best home run total was 46 in 2017.
Kim Do-Yeong has had an incredible breakout season for the Kia Tigers, putting up 21 home runs so far after only having seven last year. The third baseman has only been playing in the KBO since 2022, but this season has been the best, and he has only played 77 games so far.
Roh Si-Hwan has been in the league since 2019, playing for the Hanwha Eagles. Last year was incredible for him, home-run-wise, as he put up 31. However, he is trying to replicate last year’s successes and is starting strong, putting up 18 home runs in 78 games, which is on pace to break his record.
Yonathan Perlaza has had a tremendous first season with the Hanwha Eagles after playing minor-league baseball for several years. He has 16 home runs in 61 games and could be a dark horse pick to win the Derby.
In the MLB, Austin Dean played with the Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, and San Francisco Giants. In his second year with the LG Twins, he has had 16 home runs in 80 games and earned a spot in the KBO Home Run Derby.
Park Dong-Won, a catcher for the LG Twins, is a veteran in the KBO. He has consistently played since 2013 and made his KBO debut in 2010. This year, the 34-year-old has 13 home runs in 71 games and is looking to continue having a great KBO career by potentially winning his first Home Run Derby.
Kim Hyung-jun has played in the KBO for the NC Dinos since 2018 and is not known for his home runs. He had only 11 home runs total before this year, but this year alone, he has 12.
Finally, Mel Rojas Jr last played in the KBO in 2020, where he put up 47 home runs in a single season. But he is back looking to win the Derby as a 34-year-old with the KT Wiz. This year, he has 21 home runs in 79 games and could be one of the favorites to win.
This year’s KBO derby field is stacked and any of the competitors could walk away with the trophy.
Photo Credit: Infilder Choi Jeong #14 of SSG Landers bats in the bottom of the fifth inning during the KBO League game. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images)
