This season, 79 candidates have been confirmed for the prestigious KBO Golden Glove awards, recognizing the best performances in professional baseball.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced the list of candidates for the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Golden Glove' on October 17.
Among the positions, pitchers lead with 25 candidates, followed by 21 outfielders, 7 shortstops and catchers each, 6 second basemen, 5 first and third basemen each, and 3 designated hitters.
A total of 10 players will ultimately receive the award across 8 positions.
In terms of representation by team, the LG Twins, Samsung Lions, and KT Wiz each produced 10 candidates, the highest among all teams. The Hanwha Eagles are the only team to have candidates across all positions, with 9 players on the list.
The most competitive category is the outfield, where 21 players are vying for 3 spots, including 5 who rank first in individual statistics.
Among the candidates, Koo Ja-wook (Samsung) leads in batting average (.371) and on-base percentage (.458). Victor Reyes (Lotte Giants) has the most hits with 211. Sam Hilliard (KT) ranks first in RBIs with 139 and second in home runs with 44, while Choi Won-jun (KT) leads in runs scored with 125. Hwang Seong-bin (Lotte) is also a candidate, leading in stolen bases with 55.
In the pitching category, Kwak Bin (Doosan Bears) stands out, leading in earned run average (2.24) and strikeouts (197). Lim Chan-kyu (LG) and Ko Young-pyo (KT) are tied for the most wins with 15 each.
In the catcher category, Heo In-seo (Hanwha) has excelled both offensively and defensively. He has the highest number of home runs (20) and RBIs (79) among the 7 catcher candidates, along with the best caught stealing percentage at 32.9%. Kim Hyung-jun (NC Dinos) follows with 17 home runs, 66 RBIs, and a caught stealing percentage of 31.9%.
The first base category features a strong competition between Austin Dean (LG) and Lewin Diaz (Samsung). Austin boasts a batting average of .331, 41 home runs, and 127 RBIs, while Diaz has a .305 average, 26 home runs, and 129 RBIs, ranking second in RBIs.
Park Min-woo (NC) stands out in the second base category with the highest batting average of .320 and 50 stolen bases, ranking second in that category. Ryu Ji-hyeok (Samsung) has a .280 average, 60 RBIs, and 29 stolen bases.
In the third base category, Kim Do-young (KIA Tigers) has impressive stats, leading in home runs (45) and slugging percentage (.647), along with a .308 average and 118 RBIs. Noh Si-hwan (Hanwha) has a .283 average, 29 home runs, and 96 RBIs.
In the shortstop category, Park Seong-han (SSG Landers) leads with the highest batting average of .330 and 175 hits, along with a .429 on-base percentage, ranking third. Kim Joo-won (NC) showcases both power and speed with 18 home runs and 30 stolen bases.
In the designated hitter category, Choi Hyung-woo (Samsung), who set the record for the oldest winner last year, is vying for his 9th Golden Glove. He has played 123 games this season with a .301 average, 18 home runs, and 106 RBIs. His competitors include Kang Baek-ho (Hanwha) and Kim Jae-hwan (SSG). Kang has a .285 average, 34 home runs, and 118 RBIs in 122 games, while Kim has a .217 average, 24 home runs, and 70 RBIs in 104 games.
Yang Eui-ji (Doosan), who holds the record for the most Golden Glove awards with 10, is absent from the candidate list this year as he did not complete 720 innings as a catcher. He will have to wait until next season for a chance to achieve this milestone.
To qualify as a candidate, pitchers must complete the regular season's required innings (144 innings) or achieve at least 10 wins, 30 saves, or 30 holds. Catchers and infielders must play over 720 innings defensively at their position. Designated hitters must have at least 297 plate appearances.
Additionally, players who rank first in individual statistics automatically qualify as candidates for their respective positions, regardless of other criteria. If a player has not met the defensive inning requirements at multiple positions, they will be listed as a candidate for the position where they played the most defensive innings.
Voting began on October 17 among media representatives covering the KBO League this season. To ensure fair evaluation based solely on regular season performance, the KBO adjusted the voting period from after the Korean Series to the playoffs, starting last year.
The final 10 award winners will be announced at a ceremony on December 8 at the Lotte Hotel World in Seoul.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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