KT's Hilliard Named Sept-Oct MVP, First Foreign Player to Win Twice in Single Season

KT Wiz foreign hitter Sam Hilliard has been named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for September and October in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced today (the 20th) that "Hilliard received 11 out of 35 press votes (31.4%) and 271,145 out of 460,484 fan votes (58.9%), scoring a total of 45.16 points to beat SSG Landers' Pedro Avila (24.88 points) and capture the monthly MVP award."

During September and October, Hilliard anchored the team's batting lineup by posting a batting average of .326 with 14 home runs and 40 RBIs across 32 games.

He ranked first in home runs and RBIs, second in runs (33) and slugging percentage (0.697), and third in hits (43).

Playing a pivotal role in KT's regular-season championship, Hilliard notably recorded three consecutive home runs—hitting one in his final plate appearance against the Samsung Lions at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 7th, followed by two in his first plate appearances against Samsung at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 11th.

This marks Hilliard's second monthly MVP honor this year, following his previous win in July.

Since monthly MVP awards became regularized in winning twice in a single season, following Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha Eagles) and Lee Dae-ho (Lotte Giants) in 2010, Kang Jung-ho (Nexen Heroes) in 2014, Yang Hyeon-jong (KIA Tigers) in 2019, Lee Jung-hoo (Kiwoom Heroes) in 2022, and Kim Do-young (KIA Tigers) in 2024. Hilliard is the first foreign player to achieve this feat.

Hilliard will receive a prize of 3 million won and a trophy.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.