카지노사이트In July 2023, the brightest star in Busan was Chae Eun-sung (Hanwha). She won the home run race on the 14th, and on the 15th, she hit the second walk-off home run in the KBO All-Star Game in 41 years (since 1982) to win the MVP award. He became the first player in history to win both the home run race and the All-Star Game MVP.
Chae Eun-sung started at third base for the Nanum All-Stars (Kiwoom, LG, KIA, NC, Hanwha) in the 2023 KBO All-Star Game at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 15th. After hitting a timely double to right-centre field with one out in the first inning, which turned out to be the game-winning hit, Chae Eun-sung came to bat for the third time in the fourth inning with two outs. She saw a 141km/h fastball from Koo Seung-min (Lotte) driven to the middle of the plate. It flew straight up and over the left field fence for a grand slam.
This is only the second time in history that a KBO All-Star Game has featured a grand slam. The first All-Star Game grand slam came in 1982, the first year of professional baseball, when Kim Yong-hee (then of Lotte) hit a grand slam at Dongdaemun Stadium. The home run earned Kim the title of the inaugural Mr All-Star.
Chae Eun-sung’s game-winning double in the first inning and only the second All-Star Game walk-off home run in history made her a “star among stars” at the 2023 KBO All-Star Game, as she was named MVP with 56 of the 61 votes cast by the media. Chae’s five hits on the day tied the record for most hits in an All-Star game, along with Han Yoo-seom’s (then SK) five hits at the 2019 All-Star Game in Changwon.
In the post-game interview, Chae Eun-sung was a little nervous. “It’s similar to yesterday. I don’t know if I should be here,” she said, adding, “I didn’t realise it was the second home run in the All-Star Game. I didn’t get greedy, but I thought a fastball was coming in on the first pitch, so I swung at it, and it went over.”
Chae said the previous day’s home run race had an impact on his blast. “I think it definitely had an effect,” he said. When I was preparing for the home run race, I put the batting point in front of me, and today I also hit with the point in front of me,” he explained. “Actually, when Socrates’ home run came in the first inning, I thought he was going to win MVP. I’m more happy to be Mr All-Star than I am to hit a grand slam.”
From winning the home run race to being named MVP of the All-Star Game, Chae Eun-sung has said all along that she was “not greedy”. And it seems to have paid off. “It was my first All-Star Game with fans since COVID-19, so I came with the mindset of going to play,” she said. “Usually, players who try to win awards don’t do well, so I approached today’s game with the mindset of competing.”
Having earned 15 million won in two days, including 5 million won for the home run race and 10 million won for the All-Star Game MVP, what are Chae Eun-sung’s plans for using the prize money? “I don’t have any plans yet because I didn’t think I would get any,” he said. “I decided to share the home run race prize money with (Yoo) Gangnam, who threw the batting ball 6-4. When I first agreed to throw the bat, he didn’t think I was going to win, so I wanted to split it 5-5, but when we had dinner last night, I said, ‘In my conscience, 5-5 is fine. ‘ He said, ‘Let’s make it 6-4,’ and it happened to be his birthday, so we decided to do that.”
The KBO starts the second half of the season on the 21st. Chae Eun-sung, who had the best result in the All-Star Game, said he hopes to pass on that energy to the team. “The team is in a good mood,” he said. We won a lot of tight games at the end of the first half. I want to take the good momentum and contribute to the team’s upswing,” he said.
After the fifth inning of the All-Star Game, a performance by the Navy Band was held. Chae Eun-sung performed her national service at the Presiding Officer’s Stand at the Ministry of Defence. Watching the performance brought back memories. He said, “Watching the soldiers perform brought back memories. When I was in the army, I never imagined a day like today…I was overwhelmed with emotions,” he said.