Seoul: When Kia Tigers outfielder Choi Won-jun was shuttled between the top league and the minors in South Korean baseball last month, he admittedly wasn't having any fun. Nonetheless, the 28-year-old still learned a great deal from that humbling experience.

According to Yonhap News Agency, mired in a protracted slump at the plate for the Tigers in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), Choi logged 10 games in the Futures League, the South Korean minor circuit, over two separate stints in May. When he was first demoted on May 4, Choi was batting only .210, a far cry from his career average of .285.

He was brought back up on May 15. But after six unproductive games, Choi's batting average dipped to .195, and his defense had slipped along the way too. The Tigers demoted him to the Futures League for the second time on May 22. Choi was called up before Sunday's game, and he had three hits in his second game back Tuesday-one more than his total for May.

Choi kept up the momentum Wednesday by belting a two-run home run in the ninth inning to help the Tigers beat the Doosan Bears 8-3 at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. Choi also made an excellent defensive play in right field, robbing pinch hitter Kim In-tae of an extra-base hit with a running grab right at the fence in the eighth inning.

Asked after the game how he approached his time in the minors, Choi said he used that as an opportunity to look at himself in the mirror. "It was a chance for me to get my act together," Choi said. "It had been a while since I had last bounced between here and the minors. This experience reminded me what sort of mindset I should have. It wasn't all that fun playing with young guys, but I still learned a few things."

Specifically, Choi, with 787 KBO games to his credit, said he realized he had forgotten the joy of playing ball at the highest level in the country. "Because I've been up here for a long time, there were things that I started taking for granted," Choi said. "I should have felt happy being here. Instead, I started stressing over everything. So I tried to change my way of thinking."

To that end, Choi wrote a few daily reminders under the bill of his cap. Words and phrases meaning "Remember where you come from," "Happiness," "Smile," and "Have fun" surround his No. 16 and the initials for him and his wife in the center of the bill. Choi said he wrote them after he was called up from the Futures League for the second time, following some discussions with his wife.

"I used to think that my problems were all physical. I tried everything, but nothing worked," Choi said. "And then I decided I should try something on the mental side. I started thinking maybe I was putting too much pressure on myself, and I wanted to change that. I didn't want to hurt the team."

With the Tigers having been impacted by injuries to key players, including the reigning league MVP Kim Do-yeong, manager Lee Bum-ho has said veterans like Choi have to carry the day. Choi said it's been easier said than done. "I understand exactly what the manager wants from me, but things haven't been going the way I want them to," Choi said. "It's been a bit frustrating not being able to do what I am expected to do. But I have to have a clear head on the field to make the plays I am supposed to make. So that's where my focus is now."

In the Futures League, Choi batted .300/.396/.550 with two home runs, eight RBIs, two steals, and seven walks in 10 games. Though these numbers came against inferior competition, Choi said he is still proud of how hard he worked in the minors. "I don't think I've ever slacked off on a baseball field," he said. "Just because I have some experience in the KBO, I didn't want to act like a big shot in the minors and not play hard. I thought young guys wouldn't have anything to learn from me that way. I suppose it left a good impression on my manager."