By process of elimination, it should be fairly clear who the top player on this list is. A debate can be made for positioning on this list, but ultimately this was the final determination. Really, if any of the players on this top-10 list was on another team, a case may be made for them to get the top spot. The Pittsburgh Pirates were a very talented team and this makes the list difficult to compile.
#1 Jung Ho Kang– Let’s forget about what Jung Ho Kang did for a second and look at how the team fared without him.
It was clear that something was missing from the team and lineup construction did not go well after his injury. Aramis Ramirez is not a cleanup hitter, and manager Clint Hurdle admitted that Starling Marte is not a cleanup hitter. There is only one cleanup hitter on this team, and it’s Jung Ho Kang. When he was injured, Andrew McCutchen was pitched differently and the Pirates lineup clearly appeared more vulnerable.
Even if fans forgot he was injured on September 17, he was given a loud standing ovation by the fans prior to the National League Wild Card game. He waved and showed his appreciation for the gesture.
While McCutchen got the headlines, Kang was the glue to this team. He embraced each challenge whether it was facing Aroldis Chapman, acclimating himself to the city or even dealing with both the American and Korean media, sometimes on the same day.
Kang was a .310 hitter at PNC Park is a shortstop by trade, however became a strong third-base option upon Josh Harrison’s injury. Often times he would replace Ramirez late in a game as his arm was strong and he was a better defender.
In July, Kang was named NL Rookie of the Month after batting .379 and registering a .443 on-base percentage.
Over time, Kang became very well-liked and respected in the Pirates clubhouse. Hurdle’s son Christian has become a friend to Kang and the two often would play video games together hours before a contest.
Despite his injury, Kang has become a fixture of this team. Though he will not return to the team until around the middle of the 2016, he already has made an impact. How the team will play with out him to start 2016 is up in the air, but for this year, Kang gets top honors on PSN’s top-10 Pirates MVP list.
