LHP Yang Hyeon-jong, Kia Tigers (32 years old)
Yang is arguably the top returning pitcher in the league now that the Milwaukee Brewers' Josh Lindblom has made the move back to MLB. The left-hander went 16-8 with a 2.29 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 163 strikeouts in 184.2 innings to finish third in MVP voting last year, and he took home the award in 2017 when he was 20-6 with a 3.44 ERA in a more hitter-friendly environment.
C Yang Eui-ji, NC Dinos (32 years old)
In his first season with the Dinos after nine full campaigns with the Bears, Yang led the league in batting average (.354), on-base percentage (.438) and slugging (.574), adding 26 doubles, 20 home runs and 68 RBI. He was the runner-up in MVP voting to Lindblom.
1B Park Byung-ho, Kiwoom Heroes (33 years old)
After a brief, unsuccessful stint with the Minnesota Twins in 2016, Park has returned to the KBO and picked up right where he left off as one of the league's most productive sluggers. Last season, he hit .280/.398/.560 while leading the league with 33 home runs.
3B Choi Jeong, SK Wyverns (33 years old)
Entering his 16th season with the Wyverns, Choi has 335 home runs and 1,084 RBI in his KBO career. He showed no signs of slowing down last year, batting .292/.399/.519 with 27 doubles, 29 home runs and 99 RBI. He led the KBO in home runs in 2016 (40) and 2017 (46) and is a four-time Gold Glove winner at third base.
RF Kang Baek-ho, KT Wiz (20 years old)
One of the rising stars of the KBO, Kang hit .336/.416/.495 with 13 home runs and 65 RBI in his second professional season. While his power numbers dropped after a 29-homer rookie season, he trimmed his strikeout rate from 21.2 to 17.2 percent, showing an advanced approach for a player his age.
