[Official] Samsung 3 players, KIA, Hanwha, LG 2 players each, KT 1 player — Total of 10 candidates for the glorious May KBO MVP announced

*This content was translated by AI.

Who will be the second monthly MVP of the glorious 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League? A total of 10 players have been selected as candidates.

In the pitcher category, LG Kim Jin-seong, Son Ju-young, Samsung Yang Chang-seop, Auerklin, and KIA Hwang Dong-ha are among the candidates.

In the position player category, Hanwha Kang Baek-ho, Heo In-seo, Samsung Choi Hyung-woo, KT Choi Won-jun, and KIA Park Jae-hyun are vying for the May monthly MVP award.

▲ LG Kim Jin-seong

LG Kim Jin-seong demonstrated the dignity of a veteran. As the team's most senior player, he appeared in 14 of the 26th games LG played in May, posting an ERA of 1.69, 8 holds, and 1 save. He has been bolstering LG's lead race with a first-place ranking in May holds and a joint second-place ranking in games played. With 11 holds for the season, he is currently second in the league's holds category, trailing only his teammate Woo Kang-hoon (12 holds).

▲ LG Son Ju-young

LG Son Ju-young has successfully transformed into a closer. Due to a side injury before the season opener, he joined the first team late and made his return appearance on May 9 against Daejeon Hanwha, pitching 2 scoreless innings. He then took over as LG's closer, replacing injured reliever Yoo Young-chan. From the May 13 game against Jamsil Samsung to the May 31 game against Jamsil KIA, he recorded 1 win and 8 saves without a blown save, guarding LG's bullpen. He tied for first place in monthly saves alongside Kim Jae-yoon (Samsung) and was named a candidate for the May monthly MVP.

▲ Samsung Yang Chang-seop

Samsung Yang Chang-seop had a fiery May. He made a relief appearance on May 10 against Changwon NC, pitching 1⅔ scoreless innings, and then seized another opportunity to start. He went on to win three consecutive games in his three starts, finishing May with 3 wins in 4 games (tied for fifth in wins). He also posted an excellent ERA of 1.25. Notably, on May 24 against Lotte at Sajik, he experienced an unforgettable moment by recording his first career complete-game shutout, allowing just 1 hit with no walks over 9 innings.

▲ Samsung Auerklin

Samsung Auerklin is writing a new myth as a short-term replacement foreign player. He donned the Samsung uniform as a short-term replacement foreign pitcher, filling in for Manning, who was sidelined with an injury during the off-season. Consistently holding his spot in the starting rotation, he appeared in 5 games in May, recording 4 wins with no losses, an ERA of 3.49, and 25 strikeouts over 28⅓ innings, serving as a key pillar of Samsung's starting staff. He tied for first place in monthly wins alongside Tolhurst (LG), Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha), and Hwang Dong-ha (KIA).

▲ KIA Hwang Dong-ha

KIA Hwang Dong-ha has blossomed with his potential. He started 5 games in May, going 4-0 without a loss. He tied for first place in wins and posted a solo first-place ERA of 1.48. With 30⅓ innings pitched, he also ranked fourth in the innings category, showcasing his ace-like presence. Notably, on May 2 against Gwangju KT, he recorded 7 scoreless innings against a powerful opposing lineup.

▲ Hanwha Kang Baek-ho

Hanwha Kang Baek-ho's bat was on fire. In 23 games in May, he posted a batting average of 0.424, 39 hits, 8 home runs, 30 RBIs, and 21 runs scored. His on-base percentage was 0.495, and his slugging percentage was 0.783. During this period, he led the league in RBIs and slugging percentage, while ranking second in on-base percentage, batting average, and hits. He also topped various leaderboards, tying for second in home runs and fourth in runs scored. He is currently leading the season-long RBI race with 60 RBIs, showcasing his hot hitting form.

▲ Hanwha Heo In-seo

Hanwha Heo In-seo has made a strong presence known. Leveraging his strength in power, Heo In-seo exploded for 9 home runs in May alone, securing solo first place in monthly home runs. His slugging percentage of 0.728 placed him second, just behind Kang Baek-ho, and he tied for second in RBIs with 25 alongside Noh Si-hwan, continuing his hot performance day after day. With 10 home runs for the season, he also recorded his first double-digit home run total in his debut season.

▲ Samsung Choi Hyung-woo

Samsung's veteran Choi Hyung-woo continued to display his consistent hitting prowess. In 24 games in May, he recorded 33 hits and a batting average of 0.384, leading Samsung's lineup. He also contributed 24 RBIs, ranking joint fourth in the RBI category. Choi Hyung-woo, who holds the all-time records for most hits, doubles, and total bases, wrote a new chapter of history on May 31 against Daegu Doosan. With his 553nd double, he set a new KBO League record as the first player to reach 1,000 extra-base hits (20 triples and 427 home runs).

▲ KT Choi Won-jun

KT Choi Won-jun demonstrated the epitome of a contact hitter. He posted a batting average of 0.450 in May alone, ranking first in the league. Notably, his 45 hits in May are the second-most in a single month in KBO League history, trailing only the 46th hits recorded by Kim Jae-hwan in June 2018. He also led the league in on-base percentage with a high 0.517 and ranked third in runs scored with 22. Stealing 7 bases, he also tied for third in stolen bases, establishing himself as a key offensive weapon for KT.

▲ KIA Park Jae-hyun

KIA Park Jae-hyun is emerging as a new source of vitality. Appearing in 25 games in May, he recorded a batting average of 0.330, 34 hits, 7 home runs, and 20 RBIs, solidifying his role as a new starting outfielder for the team. With 8 stolen bases, he ranked second, and his 7 home runs tied for fifth in the league, showcasing both speed and power to capture fans' attention. Notably, he displayed clutch ability by hitting 4 game-winning hits in May, the most in the league.

Meanwhile, the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League monthly MVP is jointly selected each month by the KBO and its title sponsor, Shinhan Bank. The monthly MVP, awarded to the player who shows the best performance in the KBO League each month, is decided by combining fan votes and votes from the Korean Baseball Writers Association, with Choi Jong (수상) votes determining the winner. Fan voting is available until 11:59 PM on the 7th via the Shinhan Bank mobile application 'Shinhan SOL Bank'.

The monthly MVP selected through the final voting results will receive a cash 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 domestic MVP winner to their former middle school through Shinhan Bank's sponsorship.

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*This content was translated by AI.