"To Hanwha, which recognized my value"… Kang Baek-ho's salary is 900 million won, with 0 defensive innings in the first year of his 10 billion won FA deal
In the first year of a 10 billion won FA deal, he ranks 4th in home runs and 5th in RBIs, yet he has not played a single inning in the field. A qualified hitter with 0 defensive innings has happened only twice in 33 years. Hanwha is in 8th place.
Translated from Korean with AI assistance. Read the original. Sources and original publication dates are retained.
Three-line summary
- Kang Baek-ho signed a four-year FA contract worth up to 10 billion won with Hanwha on November 20, 2025
- In the 2026 season he is hitting 0.289 with 27 home runs, 94 RBIs and a 0.909 OPS in 101 games
- According to News1, he has not played a single defensive inning this year
0 innings. That is how many defensive innings Kang Baek-ho has logged in 101 games of the 2026 season. A hitter with 27 home runs and 94 RBIs has not spent any time on the field with a glove on. News1 reported that, as of the morning of August 31, his defensive innings were 0. He is a player who won consecutive Golden Gloves at first base in 2020 and 2021.
Kang Baek-ho's salary is 900 million won, and the 5 billion won signing bonus has already been paid
Yonhap News Agency reported that the contract was finalized on November 20, 2025. It runs four years and is worth up to 10 billion won, made up of a 5 billion won signing bonus, 3 billion won in total salary and 2 billion won in options. News1 reported that it was the 15th FA contract of 10 billion won or more in KBO history and Hanwha's first. At the time, Kang said, "I am sincerely grateful to Hanwha for recognizing my value."
According to his official KBO profile, his registered salary for the 2026 season is 900 million won. By Scorebase's tally (as of 2026.08.31), he ranks 13th among domestic players in salary. That is 3.3 billion won behind No. 1 Yang Ui-ji (4.2 billion won) and 100 million won below his Hanwha teammate No Si-hwan (1 billion won).
| Rank | Player | Salary | Team · Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yang Ui-ji | 4.2 billion won | Doosan · Catcher |
| 2 | Ko Young-pyo | 2.6 billion won | KT · Pitcher |
| 3 | Choi Jeong | 2.2 billion won | SSG · Infielder |
| 4 | Ryu Hyun-jin | 2.1 billion won | Hanwha · Pitcher |
| 11 | No Si-hwan | 1 billion won | Hanwha · Infielder |
| 13 | Kang Baek-ho | 900 million won | Hanwha · Infielder |
Kang Baek-ho, age 27, ranks 4th in home runs and 5th in RBIs, so his bat has earned its pay
Born on July 29, 1999, he is 27 years old this year. A Seoul High School graduate, he joined the KT Wiz in 2018 as the No. 1 pick in Round 1 of the 2nd draft and homered in his first career at-bat, the first high school rookie ever to do so. That year he won Rookie of the Year with 29 home runs, 84 RBIs and a 0.290 average. Over 8 seasons with KT, he hit 0.303 with 1009 hits, 136 home runs and 565 RBIs.
Both News1 and the KBO records page tally it as 101 games, a 0.289 average, 27 home runs, 94 RBIs and a 0.909 OPS (as of the morning of 2026.08.31). He is 4th in home runs behind Kim Do-yeong (39), Austin (35) and Hilliard (30), and 5th in RBIs behind Austin (111), Diaz (102) and others.
0 defensive innings: the third entry in a record that has happened only twice in 33 years
According to News1, only twice in KBO League history has a player met the qualifying plate appearances with 0 defensive innings: Kim Ki-tae in 1993 and Lee Yong-kyu in 2014. Two players in 33 years. If Kang finishes the season like this, he will be the third. A full-time designated hitter season for a 27-year-old Golden Glove first baseman is a different matter. Even in the 2029 season, when his contract ends, he will be only 30 years old.
The one blocking the spot is Chae Eun-sung (36). The starting first baseman joined Hanwha in November 2022 on a 6-year, 9 billion won deal and has 158 career home runs and 850 RBIs. When Kang signed, General Manager Son Hyuk said, "The club is compiling Kang Baek-ho's records by position," hinting that the team was reviewing how to use him, but five months later the answer was 0 innings.
Hanwha is 8th with a 0.450 winning percentage, and Manager Kim Kyung-moon is already looking toward next year
By the KBO's official standings, Hanwha is 8th at 49 wins, 60 losses and 3 ties in 112 games, a 0.450 winning percentage (as of 00:00 on 2026.08.31). It is 9.0 games behind 5th-place Doosan. Money Today/OSEN reported that a record of 3 wins and 15 losses in August made a postseason berth realistically out of reach. A month with a 0.167 winning percentage ended the season.
Manager Kim Kyung-moon (67) took the job in June 2024 on a 3-year, 2 billion won deal. Money Today/OSEN reported that he indicated he would actively play young players who had had few opportunities and put the emphasis on development for next year. News1 reporter Kwon Hyuk-jun analyzed that, with the postseason chances fading, testing defensive options in the remaining games would be better for both sides.
It has not been confirmed whether the club will actually test Kang at first base or in the outfield for the rest of the season. The 0 defensive innings and the historical precedents are based on News1 reporting, not on original KBO data. The season is still in progress, so the standings and stats keep changing. Even so, one number stands right now: the 2026 defensive innings of the 10 billion won hitter, 0.
Related official sites
- KBO Kang Baek-ho player record — You can check his batting stats and registered salary in the original data
- KBO team standings — Hanwha's wins and losses and the game gap to 5th place are updated daily
- Hanwha Eagles official website — Club announcements and lineup notices are posted here
- KBO official website — The reference page for league-wide records and schedules
Cover image · Photo: Pexels (Ayyeee Ayyeee)
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