Eric Peddy (30, NC Dinos), who unfortunately missed out on the MVP award in April in professional baseball, was ‘rewarded’ by his team.
NC announced on the 16th that Peddy was selected as the club’s April MVP (prize of 1 million won). Starting from the 2019 spring camp, NC has been selecting monthly MVPs by voting by both players and field staff. Reflecting not only grades and records, but also the invisible efforts devoted to the team, the coaches decide on candidates, and the players and field staff vote based on them. The April club MVP vote was held on the 2nd, and a total of 62 people participated in the vote. Peddy received 48 votes, taking 77% of the vote.
Peddy recorded 4 wins and 1 loss with an ERA of 0.47 in 6 appearances during the month of April. He was the strongest pitcher in the league, tied for first in wins, first in earned run average, and second in strikeouts (48). However, in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) April MVP announced on the 9th, he was beaten by Na Kyun-an (Lotte Giants). Na Kyun-an’s monthly performance was 4 wins, undefeated, and an average ERA of 1.34. Peddy, who was ahead in the detailed index, received 17 votes in the press vote, ahead of Na Kyun-an (11 votes), but in the fan vote, he only received 48,106 votes (Na Kyun-an, 154,139 votes), and was pushed back in the total score conversion. It was 3.17 points behind with 35.45 points.
Peddie said, “It is the most meaningful award I received during my career as it is an award chosen by the players. It is a great motivation to finish my first month in the KBO League with an award chosen by my teammates. My April is not just my own. It’s April with my teammates. Thanks to my teammates, I was able to win the April MVP award,” he said. “I was able to quickly adapt to the KBO League with the help of the managers of the international affairs team. , I know that baseball can’t be like that. When difficulties come, I will do my best to overcome them with my teammates.” Kim Young-kyu, who cast a vote for Peddy, said, “I couldn’t help but vote for both individual performance and team contribution.”
Meanwhile, Cheon Jae-hwan won the batter’s monthly MVP. Chun Jae-hwan played in 21 games during the month of April, recording a batting average of 0.313 (21 hits in 67 at-bats), 1 home run and 5 RBIs. He said, “It’s the first monthly MVP award I’ve received since joining the club in 2017, so it’s special. I think the monthly MVP is even more special because it’s an award given by team members and staff.” All the executives and employees gave me a lot of good words. That cheering helped me a lot mentally, so I always have a grateful heart for my teammates. I think it’s special that they even voted me MVP 안전놀이터.”
He continued, “I would like to say thank you to the manager, coaches, and training part who helped me mentally and technically when I was in Team C (Second Army). With their help, I was able to play on the ground until now. There is still a long way to go and I think I have a lot left to show. I know what the team needs. I will become a player who plays maturely on the ground without being conceited.”