[Official] 'LG, KIA, and Samsung: 2 each; Hanwha: 1; SSG: 1' — Who will be the proud owner of the first monthly MVP of 2026? 'Final 8 candidates announced'

*This content was translated by AI.

Who will be the first KBO League monthly MVP of this year? The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) officially announced a total of eight candidates.

On the 4th, the KBO stated, "Eight players have been selected as the first monthly MVP candidates for the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League." It added, "In the pitcher category, LG Wells, Yoo Young-chan, Samsung Furado, and KIA Oller; in the position player category, Hanwha Peraza, SSG Park Sung-han, Samsung Ryu Ji-hyuk, and KIA Kim Do-young are vying for the 3rd–4 month monthly MVP award."

First, LG Twins Asian quota foreign pitcher Wells has been a major boost to the team's starting rotation. Wells started in five games and secured two wins. His performances were excellent. In all four games except the April 8 match against Changwon NC, he recorded a quality start (six or more innings pitched with three or fewer earned runs). He posted an ERA of 1.16, ranking first in the league, while also leading in innings pitched.

LG closer Yoo Young-chan has been recognized as a 3–4 month monthly MVP candidate for his stable pitching that has protected the back end of the LG bullpen. During this period, he appeared in 13 games, pitched 12 innings, recorded 11 saves, and posted an ERA of 0.75. He reached double-digit saves in just 11 games, tying the all-time record for the fewest games to achieve 10 saves, and currently stands alone at the top in the saves category. However, due to an unfortunate elbow injury recently, he has been ruled out for the season.

Samsung Furado demonstrated his strength in handling innings during the 3rd–4 month period as well. He started six games and pitched 39 innings, leading the league in innings pitched. While handling a large number of innings, he minimized runs allowed. Furado recorded an ERA of 1.62, ranking second in the league in that category.

KIA Oller dominated opposing batters during the 3rd–4 month period. He took the mound in six games, posting four wins (tied for first in wins), 38⅓ innings (second in the league), an ERA of 1.64 (third in the league), and 36 strikeouts (fourth in the league), delivering powerful pitching. Notably, on the 24th against Gwangju Lotte, he earned his first career shutout, showcasing his role as the team's ace.

The statistics of the four position players are also impressive. First, Hanwha's lucky charm Peraza played in 27 games during the 3rd–4 month period, posting a batting average of .381 (third in the league), 40 hits (tied for second in the league), and delivering consistent performances. Additionally, Peraza started every game as the second batter, faithfully fulfilling the role of a table-setter. He recorded an on-base percentage of .472, ranking second in the league, and scored 28 runs, leading the league in that category.

SSG Park Sung-han set a league-first milestone with 22 consecutive hits since the start of the season, emerging as the hottest hitter in the early part of the season. On April 21 against Daegu Samsung, he surpassed the previous record of 18 consecutive hits set by Kim Yong-hee (Lotte) in 1982. He continued to extend the record through the the 24th match against KT at Munhak. In 27 games, he hit 45 hits, posting a batting average of .441 and an on-base percentage of .543, sweeping first place in batting average, hits, and on-base percentage to assert his presence.

Samsung infield veteran Ryu Ji-hyuk also boasted a sharp bat. He appeared in 27 games, recording 37 hits and a batting average of .381, ranking tied for second in batting average and fifth in hits. Additionally, with three home runs in the 3rd–4 month period, he quickly tied his personal single-season record for most home runs, demonstrating his improved power.

KIA Kim Do-young, serving as the team's new fourth batter, hit 10 home runs in the 3rd–4 month period alone, showcasing explosive power. He is the only player in the league with double-digit home runs and leads the category alone. Kim Do-young also accumulated 27 RBIs, ranking second in that category.

Meanwhile, the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League monthly MVP is jointly selected each month by the KBO and Shinhan Bank, the league's title sponsor. The monthly MVP, awarded to the player who demonstrates the best performance in the KBO League each month, is determined by combining fan votes and votes from the Korean Baseball Writers Association, selecting Choi Jong (수상) winner. Fan voting is available from 10:00 a.m. on May 4 until 11:59 p.m. on the 10th via the Shinhan Bank mobile application "Shinhan SOL Bank."

The monthly MVP winner, selected through the final voting results, will receive a prize of 3 million won and a monthly MVP commemorative trophy. Additionally, to support youth baseball development, a donation of 2 million won will be made in the name of the MVP-winning domestic player to their former middle school through Shinhan Bank's sponsorship.

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*This content was translated by AI.