'Home Run Derby Champion' Kang Baek-ho unexpectedly thanked KIA starting catcher Han Jun-soo! "Planning to share the prize money with (Han) Jun-soo"

*This content was translated by AI.

Hanwha Eagles' Kang Baek-ho (27) claimed the ultimate throne in the final 'Home Run Derby' held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. It was a thrilling victory achieved after a tight final match against Oh Tae-gon (SSG Landers), his former teammate from his time with KT Wiz. Notably, immediately after winning, Kang Baek-ho surprised everyone by mentioning an unexpected figure: KIA Tigers catcher Han Jun-soo (27), showcasing their strong bond of camaraderie. He explained that he had requested batting balls using their connection as 'draft classmates,' and the result was favorable.

On the 10th, Kang Baek-ho lifted the final championship trophy at the 'Com2uS Pro Baseball Home Run Derby' event held before the 2026 KBO All-Star Game at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium. Currently ranked third in the league for most home runs this season with 23 home runs, Kang Baek-ho perfectly demonstrated his explosive power as a slugger with this victory.

The preliminary round of this Home Run Derby featured an intense battle among sluggers hotter than ever before. Kang Baek-ho, Oh Tae-gon, and Heo In-seo (Hanwha) each hit seven home runs to form a joint lead, but according to the KBO regulation on 'longest distance,' only Kang Baek-ho and Oh Tae-gon advanced to the finals. Kim Do-young struggled to clear the high walls at Jamsil Stadium and unfortunately failed to reach the final round.

The final match between Kang Baek-ho and Oh Tae-gon, who had a thrilling preliminary battle, was an unforgettable showdown that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. Both players hit seven home runs even in the finals, maintaining equal footing, and the contest went to sudden death to determine who hit the most home runs within 30 seconds. Under time pressure, Kang Baek-ho dramatically overtook Oh Tae-gon to claim the championship.

After the game, Kang Baek-ho entered the press conference room and surprised everyone by unexpectedly mentioning KIA catcher Han Jun-soo. Han Jun-soo served as Kang Baek-ho's batting ball thrower during this final match and contributed to his victory. Kang Baek-ho explained, "I requested batting balls from several players about 30 minutes before the start, but (Han) Jun-soo's balls were the best, so I chose him as my partner."

He also shared a humorous behind-the-scenes story. Kang Baek-ho revealed, "Jun-soo has taken many of my bats to use. He's already taken four this season," which made the laugh out loud. He then joked, "Since he took my bat, shouldn't he at least throw good balls?" Adding, "Thanks to Jun-soo's excellent throws, I was able to win. I'm also planning to share the prize money with him," expressing his gratitude.

With this victory, Kang Baek-ho received a prize of 10 million won along with a Samsung Bespoke AI AirDresser as an award. Additionally, he swept the 'Distance Award (LG Puricare AI 360° Air Purifier Plus)' for the large arch of 145 meters recorded during the preliminaries, becoming the top star of this Home Run Derby.

Runner-up Oh Tae-gon, who fought hard until the end, received a prize of 3 million won and was awarded a 'Com2uS Pro Baseball Award (Moving Style Mini LED MH70)' as an award. Meanwhile, Han Jun-soo, who silently supported Kang Baek-ho's victory from behind as his batting ball partner, was also selected as the 'Home Run Maker Award' recipient and received Bose QC Ultra Headphones 2nd Generation as a prize.

According to Kang Baek-ho, this marks his first All-Star Home Run Derby appearance and championship win since his rookie season in 2018 during his time with KT, eight years later. Kang Baek-ho smiled, saying, "Actually, my goal today was to hit the ball completely over Jamsil Stadium, but I couldn't achieve that, so I'm disappointed. Even if I hadn't won, I wanted at least to do that one thing, which is why I'm upset. Tomorrow's All-Star Game main event will also be challenging."

Finally, Kang Baek-ho said, "The final sudden death was really nerve-wracking, but thanks to the fans' cheers, I could focus," and added, "I will do my best to carry forward the spirit of the All-Star Game and contribute to the second-half standings race."

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*This content was translated by AI.