Why Choi Hyung Woo never gets old... Lee Bum Ho sums it up in one word

KIA, which struggled with injuries last year, has already taken a sigh of relief this year after losing Na Sung-beom and Hwang Dae-in to hamstring injuries in quick succession. Na Sung-beom is the team's core hitter, and arguably its signature hitter. Hwang Dae-in was the player who was in the best batting shape in the exhibition games.

But Kia has a player who has always been there, rain or shine, like a pine tree, silently leading the batting lineup. It's veteran Choi Hyung-woo (41). When the team is in a crisis due to injuries, Choi Hyeong-woo plays diligently and keeps his place. And he still keeps his pride alive with his hitting ability. That's his real value.

Choi Hyung-woo was instrumental in KIA's opening three-game winning streak early in the season. In the opening game against Kiwoom on the 23rd, Choi hit two doubles and finished 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, and two RBIs to break the hot start. In the two midweek games against Lotte, he came through in clutch situations. In the sixth inning, down 1-0, he hit a tying solo shot off starter Charlie Barnes to lighten the gloom in the dugout. Against Lotte on Sunday, he hit a two-run shot in the top of the first inning to lead his team to victory.

It's only been three games, but he's batting .400 with two home runs and a 1.738 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). It's nice to see that the long ball is starting to click so early in the season. It's nice to see Choi Hyung-woo continue to hit for power, as someone has to make up for Na Sung-beom's lack of power. Choi himself said he can't remember the last time he felt this good this early in the season, which is humbling, but it wouldn't be possible without thorough preparation.

Choi broke his collarbone in the final game of last season when he fell down at first base while making a play at the plate. It was an injury that ended his season. The aftermath lasted quite a while. Even during the Australian camp, Choi says he felt a heavy, stiff sensation when he swung. He admits that he also had anxiety. However, he believed the medical staff that it would gradually get better, and since the Okinawa camp, he has been swinging more lightly. And he is still performing well, showing the true colors of a "hitting master.

Choi Hyung-woo's batting hasn't gotten old, it hasn't worn out, and it hasn't faded away, even though he's well past 40 years old. Kia head coach Lee Bum-ho, who also played until the age of 38, said he couldn't define it in a single sentence. Instead, he defined it in one sentence. He pondered for a while before saying, "Maybe it's because Choi Hyung-woo is the best? Because he's the best." He smiled broadly. The idea is that if no one else can do it, Choi can. It's the ultimate compliment, a vote of confidence in the whole process.

"I played baseball in my late 30s, but cases like Choi's are very rare. He manages himself very well, always thinks positively and goes out to play. "I can't 스포츠토토 say what keeps him going, but I think he can do it because he's the best, and I think that's a good answer," Lee said.

In fact, it wasn't without its ups and downs. In 2021 and 2022, the team did not perform well. While they weren't mediocre, they certainly weren't the best of Choi's career. Choi struggled, experimenting with different things along the way. As a result, he bounced back with a .302 batting average, 17 home runs, and 81 RBIs in 121 games last year and is off to a great start this year. It's a flame that hasn't gone out, in fact, it's burning brighter. This is where the word pillar comes in.