Seoul: Sophomore starter for the Doosan Bears, Choi Min-seok, has expressed satisfaction with his rapid progress in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), despite not being a highly regarded prospect coming out of high school. Picked in the middle of the second round during the 2024 KBO draft, Choi always believed in his potential to become a successful starting pitcher within a few years.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Choi has exceeded those expectations in his second year, boasting some of the best pitching statistics in the KBO for the 2026 season. At nearly 20 years of age, Choi's performance has been impressive, highlighted by his recent six shutout innings leading to a 5-0 victory over the Lotte Giants. With an 8-2 record and a 2.39 ERA over 15 starts, his numbers significantly improved from his rookie season, where he had a 3-3 record and a 4.40 ERA in 17 games. Currently, Choi ranks second overall in ERA and shares second place in wins with two other players.
In other statistical areas, Choi is ranked seventh in innings pitched with 86 2/3, eighth in strikeouts with 80, and sixth in walks and hits per inning pitched with a 1.18 WHIP. Choi attributes his successful season to staying aggressive on the mound and focusing less on avoiding walks, which has helped him reduce his walk rate as the season progressed.
Choi's performance in June was particularly noteworthy, achieving a perfect 4-0 record in five starts with a remarkable 0.84 ERA over 32 innings. He managed to strike out 28 batters while issuing only six walks, none of which occurred in his latest outing. This was the first game of the year in which Choi did not allow any walks.
Choi credits his success to his varied pitch repertoire, which includes a two-seam fastball, cutter, slider, and forkball. He has only recently added the cutter to his arsenal, which has been a crucial factor in his ability to attack hitters effectively.
Currently engaged in a competitive race with Kia Tigers' ace Adam Oller for the league lead in wins and ERA, Choi remains focused on his own game rather than external competition. Despite being aware of statistics, he maintains that his primary concern is his performance against hitters in each game.
Choi is also working on improving his velocity, aiming to increase his average two-seam fastball speed from 144.2 kilometers per hour this year. At 188 centimeters and 84 kilograms, he is dedicated to gaining strength to enhance his pitching speed.
As the youngest in the Bears' starting rotation, Choi appreciates the support from veteran teammates and the contributions from the team's position players. He acknowledges their consistent offensive support and defensive plays whenever he is on the mound, allowing him to focus on his pitching.