Pitchers capture KBO MVP, rookie awards in landslide wins

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Pitchers capture KBO MVP, rookie awards in landslide wins

Published: 27 Nov. 2023, 16:36 Updated: 27 Nov. 2023, 17:16

NC Dinos' Erick Fedde, left, stands next to KBO President Heo Gu-yeon after winning the MVP award in central Seoul on Monday. [NEWS1]

Erick Fedde of the NC Dinos was named the 2023 KBO MVP at the league award ceremony in central Seoul on Monday, earning the coveted title after an impressive freshman year.

Fedde received 102 out of 111 votes cast by the media, according to Yonhap.

The 30-year-old pitcher signed with the Dinos last fall on a one-year deal worth up to $1 million, the maximum for a first-year foreign player in the KBO. He came to Korea from the MLB where he had played for the Washington Nationals since 2017.

The American pitcher ended his debut KBO season with a 2.00 ERA over 20 wins and six losses, breaking records and earning a slew of player awards.

NC Dinos starter Erick Fedde beats the KBO in 15 games

In July, just a few months into the season, Fedde tied the KBO record for a single pitcher to earn a win against all nine opposing teams in the fewest games, 15.

The Dinos ace was named the KBO’s Player of the Month in September and weeks later, became the first foreign pitcher to win the Triple Crown, capturing the lead in wins, ERA and strikeouts — and the fourth pitcher to do so in KBO history. In October, he also won the Choi Dong-won Award, given to the league’s top pitcher.

In addition to winning the coveted MVP title on Monday, Fedde took home awards as the league leader in ERA, strikeouts and wins, along with the first-time KBO Fielding Award in pitching, which was announced earlier this month.

Fedde’s pitching had led the Changwon team to the postseason for the first time since they defeated the Doosan Bears to win the title in 2020.

Also at the awards ceremony on Monday, Hanwha Eagles pitcher Moon Dong-ju was named the KBO’s 2023 Rookie of the Year. He won 85 out of 111 votes by the media, according to Yonhap.

Hanwha Eagles pitcher Moon Dong-ju speaks after winning Rookie of the Year at a KBO awards ceremony in central Seoul on Monday. [NEWS1]

Moon, 19, ended the 2023 season with 3.72 ERA over eight wins and eight losses.

Moon had also pitched the young Korean national baseball team to a gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games — enduring a rainy final against Chinese Taipei.

BY MARY YANG [[email protected]]