Daejeon: LG Twins catcher Park Dong-won homered and led all players with three hits and three RBIs, as his Team Nanum defeated Team Dream 8-6 in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) All-Star Game. Park, who smacked a two-run home run in the first inning, collected 27 out of 28 votes from the media to earn the All-Star Game MVP award.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Team Nanum consisted of players from the Twins, the Kia Tigers, the NC Dinos, the Kiwoom Heroes, and the Hanwha Eagles, who hosted this year’s festivities at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark. Team Dream featured representatives from the remaining clubs: the Samsung Lions, the Doosan Bears, the KT Wiz, the SSG Landers, and the Lotte Giants.

The victorious Team Nanum received 30 million won in prize money, while Park was awarded a Kia EV4 vehicle for his outstanding performance. The game attracted a sellout crowd of 16,850 at the new stadium, marking the fourth consecutive sellout for an All-Star Game and 24th overall.

Team Dream initially scored a run in the top first, but Team Nanum quickly responded with a four-spot in the bottom first, highlighted by a two-run double from Eagles star Chae Eun-seong and a two-run shot by Park. Team Nanum extended their lead with three more runs in the bottom second.

Team Dream fought back with three runs in the top third, thanks to run-scoring hits by Lions representatives Koo Ja-wook and Lewin Diaz. KT Wiz slugger Ahn Hyun-min, a top contender for the Rookie of the Year award, brought Team Dream closer with an RBI double in the top sixth and a solo home run in the top eighth.

However, Tigers catcher Kim Tae-gun solidified Team Nanum’s victory with a solo shot in the bottom eighth. Notably, Twins outfielder Kim Hyun-soo made his record-setting 14th consecutive All-Star Game appearance as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning.

The event emphasized entertainment, with players appearing in costumes and makeup. Team Nanum’s starter Cody Ponce donned a Darth Vader costume, while Giants outfielder Victor Reyes sported a traditional Korean hanbok for Team Dream. Twins outfielder Park Hae-min and his young son dressed as Spider-Man.

The regular KBO season is set to resume next Thursday.