KIA Tigers veteran outfielder Choi Hyung-woo led the team to victory with a decisive timely hit.
Choi Hyung-woo started as the fourth designated hitter in Game 15 of the season against the Kiwoom Heroes of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on the 14th, and led his team to a 3-2 victory with two hits (one home run) and three RBIs in four at-bats.
After striking out at his first batter’s box in the bottom of the first inning, Choi made up for his disappointment at his second batter’s box. With two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, he hit a solo shot to the left by hitting a seven-pitch fastball by Kiwoom starter Ariel Furado. Choi’s 22nd homer of this season.
Choi Hyung-woo, who turned to a fly ball to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning, had another chance at the bottom of the ninth inning. After consecutive hits by Socrates Brito and Choi Won-jun, Kim Do-young got on base with a pitch, and Choi Hyung-woo, who faced the opportunity to load the bases with no outs, drew a right-handed hit from Kiwoom’s third pitcher Joo Seung-woo, bringing home third baseman Socrates and second baseman Choi Won-jun. KIA, which had been losing 1-2 until the top of the ninth inning, regained its lead with Choi Hyung-woo’s timely hit, and won the game again. 먹튀검증
After the game, Choi said, “I thought we should score just one point. Since we were tying even if we hit a fly ball to the outfield anyway, we thought we should score one point even if we hit a double play,” adding, “I think I was really lucky. The course was so good the moment I got hit.”
Regarding the opponent team’s starting pitcher Hurado, who met for two consecutive weeks, he said, “It’s not that difficult. I think it’s even more so against our team. I think it’s amazing. I hit only one homer that came into the middle.”
Through the match, Kia reduced its regular-season winning magic number from five to three. “I think (the competition for the championship) is almost over. As the situation itself is advantageous, I think it is only a matter of time (to confirm the championship title during the regular season),” Choi said. “I think our batting lineup is so good. There are batters who can get on base and hit a single shot. As we know, even if we lose by a five-point margin, I feel that something can be achieved. (On the fact that we have many come-from-behind wins), I think that is a strong team.”
In particular, Kia stands out for its harmony between young and veteran players this season. Choi Hyung-woo said, “Originally, our team’s new and old harmony was not bad, but until last year, young players did not come up very well. The players’ skills came up last year, and this year, they are perfectly settled.”
“I’ve been waiting for the young players to come up, and I think (Lee) Woosung, (Park) Chan-ho, and (Choi) Won-jun all came up. They are the main players that can be recognized no matter where they are presented. They are impeccable,” he said, giving compliments to the younger players.
As a veteran, there is only one message I want to convey to my juniors: prevention of injury. “It’s good to win, but since it’s only a matter of time before (to confirm No. 1 ranking in the regular season), the time is coming to prepare as much as possible without getting hurt. There is no point in getting hurt,” Choi stressed.
