Daegu:Even at 42, Samsung Lions veteran Choi Hyoung-woo remains one of the top hitters in South Korean baseball, finishing the regular season as one of only seven players to achieve a batting average of at least .300 and drive in over 100 runs in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). Despite his impressive performance, Choi found himself out of the starting lineup for Game 1 of the Lions' postseason series against the Kia Tigers due to injury-related and other considerations. The game was canceled due to rain and rescheduled for Monday, with Lions manager Park Jin-man likely maintaining the same lineup.
According to Yonhap News Agency, left fielder Koo Ja-wook, returning from a hamstring injury, will be limited to designated-hitting duties, forcing Choi out of his usual designated hitter position. Instead, the Lions opted for Park Seung-kyu, a younger and more athletic defender, in left field to avoid potential defensive vulnerabilities during these critical games. Choi, who played for the Tigers from 2017 to 2025 before rejoining the Lions last winter, expressed his agreement with the strategy, acknowledging the stronger lineup without him and expressing readiness to pinch-hit if necessary.
Manager Park has left open the possibility of Choi playing in the outfield later in the series, though Choi noted the challenges of taking the field midgame. He expressed confidence in the Lions' young talent and his comfort in pinch-hitting situations, saying, "Fielding is really not my forte. But when it comes to hitting, I can control how I approach my at-bat and stick to my own routine."
Choi is eager to face his former team, highlighting the unique excitement of the matchup. The Lions, having secured a bye with the second-best regular-season record, are set to face the third-seed Tigers, who advanced by sweeping the defending champions LG Twins. In a light-hearted message to the Tigers, Choi humorously remarked on their strong performance, saying, "You guys have been playing too well. You are not really that good. You are all going crazy."
Source Yonhap News Agency