The oldest Korean series MVP ever failed to raise his salary.
SSG Landers announced on the 24th that it had completed an annual salary contract with all 49 people eligible for renewal in 2023.
Kim Kang-min (41), who was the main player in SSG’s first win with a pinch-hitter home run in the Korean Series with Kiwoom last year, was frozen at an annual salary of 160 million won last year. Kim Kang-min secretly wanted a salary increase, but the club carried through with a freeze plan according to internal salary evaluations, regardless of regular season and postseason results.
Kim Kang-min played an active part in the Korean Series with a batting average of 3.77 (3 hits in 8 at-bats), 2 homers and 5 RBIs, winning the oldest Korean Series MVP award.
After one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, where the first game was 5-6, he came out as a pinch hitter and hit a tying solo home run against Kim Jae-woong, who finished Kiwoom, and took it to overtime. In Game 3, he appeared as a pinch hitter in the top of the 9th inning, leading 2-1, with one out and bases loaded, and opened up a big inning by hitting a timely hit with 1 RBI.
And he laid the foundation for the championship with a decisive home run in Game 5. In the 9th inning, trailing by 2-4, he came out as a pinch hitter on 1st and 3rd base and hit a three-run home run to end the come-from-behind game. It was a dramatic home run that saved the team from defeat by pulling the slider that was driven to the middle on the ball count 2 strike.
Had SSG lost Game 5 in the series 2-2, winning the Korean Series could not be guaranteed. SSG, 안전놀이터 who won Game 5 with Kang-Min Kim’s walk-off home run, took the momentum and decided to win Game 6.
Most teams calculate their annual salary based on their performance during the season. Last year, Kim Kang-min handed over the center fielder position to rookie Choi Ji-hoon and played as a backup.
I dedicated myself to the team as a supporting actor rather than a lead actor, but I also recorded decent results. He had a .449 slugging percentage, .375 on-base percentage, and .824 OPS in 84 games played.
They agreed to an annual salary contract this year for the same amount without an increase from last year’s annual salary of 160 million won. His strong performance in the Korean series was recognized as a winning bonus.