KIA Tigers’ Choi Hyung-woo contributed to the team’s victory by hitting a home run in his first at-bat.
Choi started as the fourth designated hitter in Game 13 of this season against SSG Landers of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League held at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on Sunday, and made one hit (one homer) and two RBIs from three times at bat, contributing to his team’s 10-4 victory. Choi, who had 19 homers this season before the game on Sunday, hit 20 homers for the first time in four years since 2020.
Choi Hyung-woo felt flank pain in the match against KT Wiz in Gwangju on the 7th, and was unable to play for a while as an MRI examination revealed that he was diagnosed with damage to his right internal oblique muscles. Since then, he has devoted himself to recovery and has been accompanied by the team, empowering his juniors.
After checking his sense of play through the Futures League game against the Doosan Bears from May 23 to 25, he was listed in the starting lineup on the day of his return. KIA manager Lee Bum-ho said, “There is no problem at all. Honestly, I think it would be a little faster (to come back now), but when I came back from the Futures League and said, “It’s okay, so don’t worry,” he welcomed Choi’s return, saying, “I think I’m in good physical condition.”먹튀검증
Choi’s confidence was attributable to his confidence with a reason. At the bottom of the first inning, when the two teams were tying 0-0, Choi hit SSG starter Roenis Elias’ three-ball 125 km/h slider and hit a two-run shot to cross the right fence. Choi’s 20th homer of this season.
KIA, which took the lead with Choi Hyung-woo’s two-run shot, went on a 4-0 run by adding two more runs in the bottom of the second inning, and solidified its winning spirit early by scoring six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning alone. Starting pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong gave up the bases-loaded shot to Park Sung-han in the top of the fifth inning, but he ended the inning with the lead, and both Choi Hyung-woo and KIA were able to laugh as the cold game was declared in the top of the sixth inning.
After the game, Choi Hyung-woo said, “I felt really good because I hit 20 home runs. I didn’t hit it thinking (about 20 home runs), but I thought, ‘I still have strength’ because I hit 20 home runs in a long time.”
How is your current physical condition? “The article says I’m preparing quickly, but I didn’t prepare quickly and I didn’t intend to prepare quickly. The team is doing well. There was no pain since last week. I started preparing because I have to do it if there is no pain,” Choi explained.
In fact, Choi Hyung-woo’s home run almost flew away due to rain. This is because the game was suspended once due to heavy rain with no outs and a full base in the bottom of the fourth inning when KIA led 4-0. However, 30 minutes after the game was suspended, the rain gradually subsided and the game resumed again.
Choi Hyung-woo said, “I usually go inside and rest looking at my cell phone when it rains, but I was really nervous (laughs). I was nervous, but the rain suddenly stopped. I think the home run really brightened the atmosphere, but I’m glad I won,” and added, “I’ve never rained since hitting a home run in a long time in baseball, but I know how the players feel.”
“I wanted to show something. Of course, I didn’t know if it would go my way, but I think it made no sense from the beginning. My juniors told me I live like a movie,” he said with a smile.
KIA took the void of pitcher James Nail, who suffered a broken jaw when he was hit by a water strike during the match against Changwon NC Dinos on the 24th. That’s how important the role of existing players has become. Before the game, the head coach called for batters to cheer up more.
Choi Hyung-woo said, “It’s right that we need to concentrate more, but I didn’t think the hitters should do more. If you do that, it will backfire,” and encouraged his juniors, saying, “Everyone is doing well even if they do what they did.”
He also said, “I didn’t watch the video at the time, but I hope my nails come back healthy rather than quickly. Shouldn’t I leave baseball and find stability and return quickly?” and prayed for the recovery of my nails.