The players acknowledged this. Although it can be considered a disappointing performance compared to last year, earning a selection to the All-Star team chosen by the players has added another badge to their career.
The KBO announced on the 23rd the best 12 roster for the All-Star game to be held on July 12 at Daejeon Hanwha Life Eagles Park. Kim Seo-hyeon of Hanwha Eagles set the record for the most votes ever in the All-Star fan voting with 1,786,837 votes. This year's team producing the most All-Stars is Lotte, with six players selected for the All-Star best 12.
Following Kim Seo-hyeon, outfielder Yoon Dong-hee ranked second in All-Star voting with 1,717,788 votes, along with Jeon Jun-woo, Reyes, Jeon Min-jae, and Go Seung-min selected as the Dream All-Stars. Here, Jeon Min-jae, Go Seung-min, and Reyes celebrated being selected for the All-Star for the first time. Jeon Min-jae and Reyes were chosen unanimously in both the fan voting and player voting. Jeon Min-jae, receiving 1,579,413 votes in the fan voting and 178 votes in the player voting, totaled 46.5 points to be named the All-Star shortstop. Reyes ranked third among outfielders with 1,273,504 fan votes and first with 180 player votes, totaling 40.6 points to make the All-Star roster.
However, Go Seung-min was different. Go Seung-min fell short in the fan voting behind Ryu Ji-hyeok of Samsung. Ryu Ji-hyeok received 1,365,858 votes, while Go Seung-min garnered 1,153,002 votes. Nevertheless, the players acknowledged Go Seung-min. He received 169 votes out of 352 player votes, surpassing Ryu Ji-hyeok's 68 votes. With a total difference of 2.85 points (Go Seung-min 37.27 points, Ryu Ji-hyeok 34.42 points), Go Seung-min was selected for the All-Star.
Go Seung-min has recorded a batting average of .292 in 65 games this season (73 hits in 250 at-bats), along with 2 home runs, 25 RBIs, and 39 runs scored, with an OPS of .745. Compared to his performance last year as a full-time starting second baseman, it has been somewhat disappointing. The fact that it is a 'pitcher's season' must also be considered, and the injuries he suffered to his internal oblique early in the season and ongoing pain in his left knee must also be taken into account. Although he is currently playing as a first baseman due to the underperformance and injury of the starting first baseman Na Seung-yeop, Go Seung-min remains the steadfast second baseman for Lotte this year. Notably, Go Seung-min has showcased improved defensive skills, creating multiple highlight film plays from second base. There are no longer worries about his defense at second base. Despite being 189 cm tall, he has taken responsibility for the Lotte infield with graceful movements, having played 383 innings at second base with only 4 errors.
Last year, Go Seung-min recorded a batting average of .300 in 120 games with 148 hits, 14 home runs, 87 RBIs, and an OPS of .834. The 87 RBIs also set the record for the most RBIs in a single season by a Lotte second baseman, surpassing the previous record of 83 set by 'Tank' Park Jeong-tae in 1999. This achievement broke a record that had stood for 25 years. Additionally, on September 17 of last year, he achieved his 32nd career cycle hit in KBO history, becoming the fourth player in Lotte's history to do so.
After an impressive season in many ways, he has now secured his place as an All-Star second baseman recognized by the players in his second year.
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