KT Wiz slugger Hilliard voted KBO's top player for July

Sam Hilliard, an outfielder for the KT Wiz, has been named the Korean baseball organization's (KBO) top player for July. The KBO declared Hilliard the Player of the Month for July, surpassing six other contenders. Media members voted Hilliard 22 times out of 35 possible votes, while fans online cast their ballots 70,702 times for the American slugger, totaling 39.67 points. Samsung Lions outfielder Kim Ji-chan took the second place with 29.48 points, earning two media votes and 228,406 fan votes.

Hilliard's impressive performance in July was highlighted by his nine home runs, 26 RBIs, and a remarkable .365/.413/.743 batting line in 19 games. The American player led the KBO in home runs, RBIs, and slugging percentage for the month, and was ranked third in runs scored with 17. For the entire season, Hilliard ranks third in the home run race with 29 and is second in RBIs with 92. His slugging percentage of .592 is the third-highest in the league.

Notably, Hilliard is the first foreign hitter for the KT Wiz to win the monthly award since Mel Rojas Jr. in June 2020. As a reward for his outstanding performance, Hilliard will receive 3 million won, equivalent to $2,115, in prize money, along with a championship trophy.