Seoul: After his previous start for the SSG Landers last Saturday, left-hander Kim Kwang-hyun playfully called out his struggling teammate Choi Jeong. Choi had managed a couple of hits and an RBI in a 9-3 victory over the Hanwha Eagles, yet he was still struggling with a .196 batting average for the season.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim, captain of the Landers, jestingly urged Choi to start carrying the team offensively, humorously remarking, “He has to show why he’s getting paid all that money.” Choi responded promptly, hitting two homers the next day for his first multihomer game of the year and going deep again three days later.

With Kim starting Friday for the first time since his playful jab, Choi delivered the go-ahead run with a fifth-inning double, helping the Landers secure a 7-2 win over the Doosan Bears, marking their fifth consecutive victory and placing them in fourth place at 49-46-4 (wins-losses-ties).

“He’s been playing well since I made those comments, and it’s great for the team,” Kim noted, after holding the Bears to two runs over six innings at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. “He is the face of this team. And once he starts swinging the bat well, other guys will follow. I am grateful that he didn’t take offense to what I said last week.”

Kim humorously added, “Well, I shouldn’t be praising him now,” but expressed hope that Choi maintains his form for the rest of the season to make up for lost time.

Choi’s batting average, which was at .230 in July, has slightly improved to .213, reflecting his struggles earlier this year. The Korea Baseball Organization’s all-time home run leader with 509 homers, Choi missed about a month and a half due to a hamstring injury, and although he retained his power, he was often an all-or-nothing hitter, with nine of his first 18 hits being home runs.

Choi credited his recent form to help from his hitting coaches, while Kim expressed gratitude to Choi and the lineup for providing him with a cushion during a challenging game.

Kim Seong-uk and Ha Jae-hoon also contributed with home runs, boosting the team’s morale. “The vibe is pretty good on the team, but the season is not over yet and we have to be better,” Kim Kwang-hyun stated, acknowledging the effective leadership within the team despite his captaincy.