Korean All-Star Game Includes Bunt Derby and Perfect Pitcher Competitions

Forget the Home Run Derby and Celebrity Softball, at the Korean All-Star Game they had a bunt derby and a pitching accuracy competition.

Players from the land that gave us some of the greatest bat flips in the game showed off more traditional skills during the Korean All-Star Game activities. Baseball old-timers who complain about “players these days and their disregard for the fundamentals” would have been proud. Small ball lovers, unite! At the Korean League All-Star Game, players competed in a Bunt Derby and Perfect Pitcher competition.

The Bunt Derby at the Korean All-Star Game was just as exciting as you could imagine. There were concentric circles on the first and third base sides of the field and the batter tried to lay down a bunt that would stop in the center of the circles. It was like Skee-Ball on the baseball diamond, but without the prize tickets. When the task was accomplished, fans cheered loudly and the announcers were very excited, although I have no idea what they were saying. Hooray for the fundamentals!

It didn’t stop there. To reward throwing accuracy, competitors had to knock down nine bats that were stood up on their barrels with as few throws as possible. Doosan infielder Oh Jae-won took the top honor in this year’s competition. He had multiple tosses in which he knocked down two bats with one toss. It was very impressive and, again, the fans seemed to love it and the announcers ooohed and ahhhhed appropriately.

This raises the question: would a Bunt Derby and Perfect Pitcher competition be popular at the MLB All-Star Game? Would fans cheer as wildly for the perfect bunt as they did for Giancarlo Stanton’s 61 home runs at the Home Run Derby? This year’s leaders in sacrifice bunts include Billy Hamilton, Adam Eaton, Alcides Escobar and DJ LeMahieu. Lay down those bunts, boys, and let the battle begin!

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What other competitions could be included? Perhaps a pitcher pick-off contest, with the fans yelling, “Balk!” every time. If it included Bartolo Colon, the fans would love it. Actually, Bartolo Colon should be involved in every competition. He can bunt. He can throw accurately. As long as it doesn’t involve running, let Bartolo compete! Free Bartolo!

Or maybe a “hitting the cut-off man” challenge? It can be named the Orerreug Rimidalv Competition in honor of Vladimir Guerrero (spelled backwards) because Vladi had a great arm but NEVER hit the cut-off man.

For the defensive portion of the All-Star Game Fundamentals Challenge, MLB could bring out Tom Emanski and Fred McGriff as team captains.

Top fielding shortstops Brandon Crawford, Francisco Lindor, Jose Iglesias and Zack Cozart could line up and field ground balls. One miss and they’re out. Fans could chant, “21, 22, 23” as the fielders continued to make plays, “55, 56, 57”, as the tension continued to mount, “97, 98, 99.” Oh, the excitement of it all!

The Top Outfielder contest would feature Kevin Kiermaier, Jason Heyward, Ender Inciarte and Kevin Pillar, who would all start from the same spot and be tasked to chase down fly balls to different parts of the ballpark. Home-run robbing would be part of the competition.

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Leave it to Korea to teach the U.S. a thing or two about All-Star Game activities. Maybe it’s time to expand beyond the Home Run Derby and Celebrity Softball and add the Bunt Derby and Perfect Pitcher competition. The key is to remember to include Bartolo Colon in whatever new activity is added.