‘Lead off with a home run’ As Choi Hyung-woo, the inimitable No. 4 hitter, rounded the bases in his first at-bat, Samsung junior Kim Sang-soo bowed his head in tribute.
Choi Hyung-woo, a veteran batsman in his 22nd year as a professional, started the game against the KT Wiz at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, South Korea, as the No. 4 designated hitter and activated the home run machine from the first at-bat.
KIA’s Choi Hyung-woo batted as the leadoff hitter in the second inning, trailing 2-0. KT starter Uhm Sang-baek was continuing his strong form against Choi this season (7-for-7).
Uhm didn’t throw a single fastball against Choi, using a changeup from the first pitch to the fourth pitch that led to the home run. 2B 1S With the changeup in the middle of the zone, Choi turned his bat as if he had been waiting for it.
He took a good look at the pitch and sent it over the right field fence. A 120-meter solo shot. The No. 4 hitter, Choi Hyung-woo, who hadn’t missed a pitch, ran around the bases.
As Choi stepped on second base and headed for third, shortstop Kim Sang-soo made eye contact with a 90-degree folder. It was such a brief moment that Choi didn’t react and ran past the base. It was a moment when Kim Sang-soo, who now wears a Kia and KT uniform but played with Choi during his Samsung days, showed his respect for the opposing team.
In his 22nd year as a professional, Choi is the only player in the KBO to reach the 1,500-hit plateau. Second place is Lee Seung-yeop with 1,498 hits. This season, Choi is batting in the low double digits and is ranked in the top half of the team in all offensive categories, including RBI, home runs, and runs batted in.
As hitters age, their bat speed declines and they have trouble handling fastballs. Choi Hyung-woo, a 22-year pro, is no exception. Both his power and bat speed decline with age compared to his peak years. However, Choi’s clutch ability to score runs when it counts is one of the best on the team. Aside from Socrates (66 RBIs), Choi leads the team with 63 RBIs.
Choi Hyung-woo is proving his worth with skill, not age. After finishing his at-bat with a fly to center field on a full count in the third inning, KIA’s Choi Hyung-woo was heading to the dugout when he ran into third baseman Hwang Jae-gyun. Hwang Jae-gyun made a gesture that said, “Why are you hitting so well?” and Choi Hyung-woo wordlessly slapped him on the butt. Hwang was envious of Choi’s hitting, which has only gotten better with age. 바카라사이트
Choi reached on a walk in the sixth inning. After advancing to second on a Socrates single, Choi was greeted by second baseman Park Kyung-soo. Both are the most senior members of the team and lead the younger players well. Park Kyung-soo, who is one year younger than Choi Hyung-woo, was thrilled with his older brother’s performance.
In the second inning, Choi Hyung-woo, who was the runner on second base when Kim Sun-bin hit a single, gritted his teeth and raced home.
After coming back in the sixth inning offensively, KIA lost the lead again in the sixth inning defensively due to an error and lost 8-4.