Choi Chae-heung (29, LG Twins) is determined to play in the new season.
Choi Chae-heung was appointed as a compensation player for Choi Won-tae, who transferred to the Samsung Lions as an FA on the 13th, and transferred to LG.
Choi Chae-heung, who joined Samsung as the first designated player in 2018, recorded 27 wins, 29 losses and a 4.59 ERA in 486 ⅓ innings in a total of 117 games in six seasons.
Notably, he played in 26 games in the 2020 season with 11 wins and 6 losses and an earned run average of 3.58. He also achieved his first double-digit win in the professional league, creating a career-high season. In the 2021 season, he also contributed to his team ranking second in the regular season by recording five wins, nine losses and two holds with an earned run average of 4.56 in 122 ⅓ innings in 26 games.
After returning from military service at Sangmu, however, the team showed sluggish performance by posting one win, seven losses and an earned run average of 6.68 in 63 ⅓ innings in 15 games in 2023 and one hold and an earned run average of 6.30 without losing or losing 14 games this year. Although he was listed in the Korean Series entry list, he left a regret by allowing three hits (one homer) and two strikeouts in one ⅔ and one inning.
Choi Chae-heung, who was able to start and bullpen both, was a suitable resource for LG, which needed to reinforce the mound.
LG said, “Choi Chae-heung has sufficient potential, and in 2020, he proved his ability by winning 11 games as a starting pitcher. I expect to find his career-high performance in 2020, and if he finds himself, I expect he will be able to take charge of a domestic starting position for the team as a young player.”
“I felt very sorry (for the fans) for my poor performance this year,” Choi said on Samsung’s YouTube. “I hope you cheer me on at this event. I will also support Samsung.”
Since the designation of the compensation player, Choi has been sweating profusely at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. He is working hard to show what LG wants. 메이저놀이터
Cha Myung-seok, LG’s general manager, was also surprised to see Choi working out. According to Cha, Choi started to lose about 5 kilograms. He also stopped drinking.
“It was so nice to show this determination,” Cha said on LG YouTube Live. “I’m working hard to regain my good performance as a starting pitcher. I think we can be ranked as we want if we do well with Shim Chang-min.”
“Choi Chae-heung had a bad season this season after his discharge from the military, but he has a history of winning 11 games in the past. I thought it would be amazing if he succeeded because he changed the team.”
Choi is expected to compete for the fifth starting pitcher position. “If we consider who would be the best organization to select the fifth starting pitcher, it would be good if Song Seung-ki plays the starting pitcher and Choi Chae-heung plays the role of Ham Deok-joo,” Cha said. “If Lee Ji-gang enters the must-win group with Longman and Woo Kang-hoon, I think the team would be the most ideal.” “Lee Ji-gang and Woo Kang-hoon remained the same, so it would be good if Choi and Song (change seats). I think Choi should be a candidate for the fifth starting pitcher,” Cha said.
