Chiang Kun-yu extends awards streak

GOLD GLOVE: The CTBC Brothers shortstop committed four errors in 425 fielding chances, lifting his fielding percentage to .991 this season from .990 last season

CTBC Brothers shortstop Chiang Kun-yu on Thursday won his seventh consecutive Gold Glove at the CPBL’s defensive awards, announced annually amid the Taiwan Series, which had Game 5 last night postponed to today due to Typhoon Champi.

Chiang, who has been among the award winners every year since 2020, extended the league record for consecutive Gold Gloves by an infielder.

His teammate Sung Sheng-jui was among the first-time winners.

CTBC Brothers shortstop Chiang Kun-yu attends a training session in an undated photograph. The CPBL on Thursday announced its list of Gold Glove winners for this season, with Chiang picking up his seventh consecutive honor.

Photo: Lin Cheng-kun, Taipei Times

Chiang committed four errors in 425 fielding chances, recording 180 putouts, 241 assists and 57 double plays. His .991 fielding percentage was up from .990 last year.

Wei Chuan Dragons second baseman Li Kai-wei won his fifth straight Gold Glove after making just one error in 464 chances. Sung won his first outfield award with a .996 fielding percentage.

Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions outfielder Chen Chieh-hsien and Yueh Cheng-hua, an outfielder for the Brothers, missed out, ending streaks of four and two straight awards respectively.

The CTBC Brothers’ Sung Sheng-jui, left, reacts alongside teammate Pan Chih-fang during Game 4 of the Taiwan Series against the Wei Chuan Dragons at the Taipei Dome on Wednesday.

Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times

The other outfield winners were Wei Chuan’s Kuo Tian-shin, who won his fifth career award, and the TSG Hawks’ Chen Wun-jie, whose error-free season earned him his third.

Rounding out the Gold Glove lineup were Uni-Lions pitcher Brock Dykxhoorn, Rakuten Monkeys catcher Sung Jia-xiang, Fubon Guardians first baseman Fan Kuo-chen and Wei Chuan third baseman Liu Ji-hong.

The announcements followed Monday’s unveiling of the CPBL’s all-league team for this year, known as the “Best Nine,” along with a separate award for best designated hitter.

Wei Chuan’s John Gant was selected at pitcher after leading the league with a 1.49 ERA and 136 strikeouts over 133-1/3 innings.

The other selections were Uni-Lions catcher Chen Chung-yu, Fubon first baseman Fan and second baseman Lin Ze-bin, Uni-Lions third baseman Pan Chieh-kai and Wei Chuan shortstop Chang Cheng-yu.

Chen Chieh-hsien, Rakuten’s Chen Chen-wei and Kuo filled the outfield positions.

TSG’s Steven Moya won his third straight best designated hitter award after leading the league with 126 hits, 20 home runs and 90 RBIs.

Both sets of awards were decided by 41 voters, including three representatives from the league’s statistics department.

The awards ceremony is to be held on Nov. 2 at the Taipei Marriott Hotel.

Game 5 of the CPBL Taiwan Series was rescheduled to today, with the first pitch set for 5:05pm at the Taipei Dome.

The Wei Chuan Dragons lead the CTBC Brothers 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.