Seoul: KT Wiz outfielder Ahn Hyun-min has been voted the best rookie in South Korean baseball for the 2025 season.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the 22-year-old slugger clinched the Rookie of the Year prize in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) with a commanding margin, securing 110 out of 125 media votes. This accolade comes after a remarkable season with the Wiz. Hanwha Eagles pitcher Jeong Woo-joo was the runner-up, receiving only five votes.
Ahn distinguished himself among first-year players by leading with a .334 batting average, 22 home runs, and 80 RBIs. His .448 on-base percentage and .570 slugging percentage placed him first in on-base percentage, second in batting average, and third in slugging percentage across the league. He was one of only three players to achieve at least a .300 batting average, a .400 on-base percentage, and a .500 slugging percentage.
In advanced metrics, Ahn excelled with a league-leading wins above replacement of 7.22 and the highest weighted runs created plus, a metric that evaluates a player's offensive value, at 172.5. These impressive statistics were achieved over just 112 games, as Ahn missed much of April and began playing regularly in May after a stint in the Futures League, the minor league of the KBO.
Ahn expressed his gratitude after receiving the award and 3 million won (US$2,040) in prize money. "I am so lucky to win this prestigious award as a member of the KT Wiz," he said at the ceremony in Seoul. He credited his teammates and coaches for their support and vowed to aim for even greater achievements in the future.
This award marks Ahn as the third player in KT Wiz history to earn the Rookie of the Year honor, following outfielder Kang Baek-ho in 2018 and pitcher So Hyeong-jun in 2020. Ahn is also the first position player to receive this accolade since Kang, breaking a six-year streak of pitchers being named top rookie.
Eligibility for the top rookie award was limited to players who joined the KBO in 2025 or those who entered the league within the past five years without reaching 30 innings pitched or 60 plate appearances. Ahn made his KBO debut the previous year with just 29 plate appearances in 16 games.