Kia Tigers right-hander Jung Hai-young has become the first closer to lead the All-Star Game fan voting in Korean baseball.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced starters for its annual All-Star Game on Monday, with fans and fellow players voting in 12 players per side — the Dream and Nanum teams. Those 12 positions were starting pitcher, middle reliever, closer, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, three outfielders and designated hitter (DH).
Representatives for the Tigers will be on the Nanum side, along with those from the LG Twins, NC Dinos, Hanwha Eagles and Kiwoom Heroes. Players from the Samsung Lions, Doosan Bears, SSG Landers, Lotte Giants and KT Wiz will make up the Dream squad.
According to the KBO, Jung collected 1,396,077 votes to lead all players, with Bears catcher Yang Eui-ji finishing second overall at 1,362,773 votes and 토토 getting the starting job for the Dream team.
Jung is currently second in the KBO with 20 saves and has a 2.08 ERA in 30 outings covering 30 1/3 innings. Jung has recorded 109 saves since becoming the Tigers’ closer in 2021, the second-highest total in the KBO in that span.
The KBO added the closer position for fan voting in 2015, and Jung is the first closer to top fan voting.