LG Twins’ austin Dean: A Transpacific promise Kept at the KBO Golden Glove Awards

LG Twins first baseman Austin Dean (31) made a remarkable journey across the Pacific Ocean to accept his second consecutive KBO Golden Glove Award, a testament to his commitment to his Korean fans. The ceremony, held December 13th at the COEX Auditorium in Seoul, saw Dean triumph over stiff competition, securing a landslide victory with 67% of the vote (193 out of 288).

Dean’s acceptance speech was memorable, punctuated by repeated exclamations of “Wow!” He then proceeded to read a heartfelt message prepared for the occasion.His win marks a meaningful achievement, not only for himself but also for the LG Twins. He’s the first foreign player in the team’s history to win the award twice in a row, fulfilling a promise he made after the departure of Casey Kelly last July: “I want to be remembered as a player like Kelly. I will carry on his legacy.”

Dean’s presence at the ceremony was particularly noteworthy.Attendance at the Golden Glove Awards has been declining, and with many foreign players not remaining in Korea during december, it’s become customary for club officials to accept awards on their behalf. In fact, the last foreign player to attend was Josh Lindblom in 2019. This year, four foreign players won Golden Gloves, yet Dean was the only one to make the trip to Seoul.

his dedication underscores his commitment to his fans and the Korean baseball community. By crossing the Pacific to personally accept his award, Dean demonstrated a level of respect and appreciation rarely seen. His actions serve as an inspiring example of dedication and sportsmanship in the world of professional baseball.

LG Twins’ Austin Wins Coveted Golden glove Award

LG Twins first baseman, Austin, added another accolade to his extraordinary resume, claiming the prestigious Golden Glove Award at the 2024 Shinhan Solbank Golden Glove Awards Ceremony held December 13th at the COEX Auditorium in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. This marks a significant achievement for the player, who was celebrated alongside manager Yeom Kyung-yeop and teammate Oh Ji-hwan.

Austin’s journey to this award has been remarkable. Last year, he became the first LG first baseman to win the Golden Glove in nearly three decades, since Seo Yong-bin’s win in 1994. Interestingly, due to prior commitments, he was unable to attend the ceremony then. He finally received his award last March at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, upon his return from overseas training. “I promised my fans at the beginning of this year, ‘If I am nominated for the Golden Gloves, I will definitely attend the awards ceremony.’ I came because I wanted to keep that promise,” Austin stated.

His dedication and performance this season were undeniable. Austin boasted a .319 batting average, 32 home runs, and 132 RBIs in 140 games, making him the first LG player to ever achieve a .300 batting average, 30 home runs, and 100 RBIs in a single season.He also secured the RBI title, a first in LG club history. playing in the expansive Jamsil Stadium, the largest in Korea, the LG Twins tied for 6th in home runs and ranked 5th in slugging percentage (.573).

Austin’s commitment to the LG Twins is evident. He recently signed a contract extension with the team for a total of $1.7 million. Reflecting on his future, austin shared, “My big goal is to remain a good player at LG. My goal is to play hard until my leg breaks and make it to the end at LG.”

While Luis Jimenez holds the distinction of being the only foreign hitter to play three seasons for LG, his tenure was cut short due to injury. Austin’s longevity and consistent performance, however, paint a different picture of success for international players in the KBO.

By Lee Hyeong-seok

KBO Royalty: An Interview with Dean’s Manager

Austin Dean made history this week by being the first foreign player to win back-to-back KBO Golden glove Awards for the LG Twins. Dean, defying a recent trend of foreign players skipping the awards ceremony, flew to Seoul to personally accept the honor. We spoke with Lee Kun-woo, Dean’s manager with the LG Twins, about this momentous occasion adn what it means for both the player and the team.





Senior Editor, World-Today-News.com: Congratulations, Manager Lee, on Austin Dean’s consecutive Golden Glove win. What does this achievement represent for the LG Twins organization?



Lee Kun-woo: This is a truly remarkable accomplishment for Austin and a moment of immense pride for the whole LG Twins organization. To have a foreign player win the Golden Glove not only once but twice consecutively is a first in our team’s history. It speaks volumes about Austin’s talent, dedication, and the impact he’s had on the KBO.



Senior Editor: Dean’s decision to come to Seoul personally to accept the award was especially remarkable, especially given the decreasing attendance of foreign players at the ceremony. Can you shed some light on his reasons for making this transpacific journey?





Lee Kun-woo: Austin is deeply committed to the LG Twins and our fans.He cherishes the support and bond he’s built with the Korean baseball community. For him, receiving the award in person was about expressing his gratitude and reinforcing that connection.He deeply values being a part of this team and league.



Senior Editor: Dean’s dedication is truly inspiring.



Lee Kun-woo: Absolutely.You can see it in his performance on the field too.His dominance is evident in his extraordinary stats this season – a.319 batting average, 32 home runs, and 132 RBIs. He’s rewriting the record books for the LG Twins and achieving feats no other foreign player has accomplished before.





Senior Editor: Looking ahead, do you see Austin continuing his legacy with the LG Twins?



Lee Kun-woo: I certainly hope so! he recently signed a contract extension, demonstrating his commitment to the team. We are incredibly fortunate to have a player of his caliber,not only for his exceptional skills but also for his character and the positive example he sets for our young players.Austin embodies the spirit of the LG Twins and the essence of Korean baseball. His presence elevates our team and the entire league.



Senior Editor: Manager Lee,thank you for sharing your insights. Congratulations again to Austin and the entire LG Twins organization.



Lee Kun-woo: My pleasure. Thank you.