Professional baseball player Noh Si-hwan (23) of the Hanwha Eagles' role model is Choi Jeong (36, SSG Landers). The two have something in common: being third basemen on defense and right-handed sluggers at bat.
Rookie Noh Si-hwan and veteran Choi Jeong have been competing for the home run title since the middle of this season. In the end, Noh Si-hwan, who hit 31 home runs, beat Choi Jeong, who hit 29, and won the home run title for the first time in his career. It was a touching result for Noh Si-hwan, who had said, “I am trying to catch up with senior Choi Jeong.”
It was the same at the Golden Globe Awards held on the 11th. Noh Si-hwan swept 245 votes (84.2%) out of a total of 291 votes in the third baseman category, beating Choi Jeong (16 votes) and winning the golden glove for the first time since his debut. He said, “This year, I was able to receive the Golden Gloves thanks to running to surpass senior Choi Jeong. So, he said, “I would like to say thank you to my senior.”
Noh Si-hwan's journey towards Choi Jeong begins this year. Jeong Choi is Korea's representative home run hitter who has already won the home run title three times (2016, 2017, and 2021). With a total of 458 home runs, he ranks second after Doosan Bears coach Lee Seung-yeop (467). He has also won the Golden Glove eight times. He is tied with former Hanwha Eagles coach Han Dae-hwa as the third most awarded player of all time and the most awarded third baseman.
Rookie Noh Si-hwan and veteran Choi Jeong have been competing for the home run title since the middle of this season. In the end, Noh Si-hwan, who hit 31 home runs, beat Choi Jeong, who hit 29, and won the home run title for the first time in his career. It was a touching result for Noh Si-hwan, who had said, “I am trying to catch up with senior Choi Jeong.”
It was the same at the Golden Globe Awards held on the 11th. Noh Si-hwan swept 245 votes (84.2%) out of a total of 291 votes in the third baseman category, beating Choi Jeong (16 votes) and winning the golden glove for the first time since his debut. He said, “This year, I was able to receive the Golden Gloves thanks to running to surpass senior Choi Jeong. So, he said, “I would like to say thank you to my senior.”
Noh Si-hwan's journey towards Choi Jeong begins this year. Jeong Choi is Korea's representative home run hitter who has already won the home run title three times (2016, 2017, and 2021). With a total of 458 home runs, he ranks second after Doosan Bears coach Lee Seung-yeop (467). He has also won the Golden Glove eight times. He is tied with former Hanwha Eagles coach Han Dae-hwa as the third most awarded player of all time and the most awarded third baseman.
For him, the growth of Noh Si-hwan, who is called ‘Post Choi Jeong’, is a pleasant stimulus. After receiving the slugging percentage award at this year's KBO awards ceremony, Choi Jeong said, “I received this award thanks to not forgetting my slugging percentage due to injury (ending the season early). He joked, “Even if he hadn’t been injured, Noh Si-hwan would have won the triple crown in home runs, RBI, and slugging percentage, so I feel sorry for that.”
Noh Si-hwan also remembers that scene fondly. He said, “I was really grateful that senior Choi Jeong mentioned me. “I came to this point because he was my role model and my competitor at the same time,” he said, repeatedly expressing his gratitude.
Noh Si-hwan had a dream year this year. He played as the national team's number 4 hitter in the Hangzhou Asian Games and the Asian Professional Baseball Championship. At the end of the year, he even received the Golden Glove of his dreams. He said, “When I was young, I used to imagine, ‘Is that glove really gold?’ and ‘If I become a professional athlete, will I be able to receive that award?’ “It doesn’t feel real now that it’s become a reality,” he said. “In the future, I want to surpass the record for the most awards by a third baseman and achieve 10 awards (the most awards ever).” It is a goal worth challenging. Choi Jeong won his first Golden Gloves in his seventh year as a professional. Noh Si-hwan is in his fifth year as a professional.
Noh Si-hwan also remembers that scene fondly. He said, “I was really grateful that senior Choi Jeong mentioned me. “I came to this point because he was my role model and my competitor at the same time,” he said, repeatedly expressing his gratitude.
Noh Si-hwan had a dream year this year. He played as the national team's number 4 hitter in the Hangzhou Asian Games and the Asian Professional Baseball Championship. At the end of the year, he even received the Golden Glove of his dreams. He said, “When I was young, I used to imagine, ‘Is that glove really gold?’ and ‘If I become a professional athlete, will I be able to receive that award?’ “It doesn’t feel real now that it’s become a reality,” he said. “In the future, I want to surpass the record for the most awards by a third baseman and achieve 10 awards (the most awards ever).” It is a goal worth challenging. Choi Jeong won his first Golden Gloves in his seventh year as a professional. Noh Si-hwan is in his fifth year as a professional.