Choi Hyung-woo, who won the KIA twice, moved to Gwangju for the first time → 90 degrees personnel → reverse-electrode prelude double and three-run shot '43-year-old veteran class'

*This content was translated by AI.

Choi Hyung-woo (43) of the Samsung Lions, who reigned as the central batting line and fielder of the KIA Tigers for nine years, stepped back on the land of Gwangju in a blue uniform. Gwangju fans applauded Choi Hyung-woo generously as he was a player who gave two championship rings while playing for KIA.

Choi Hyung-woo started as the third designated hitter in the first showdown of the season against the KIA Tigers of the "2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League" at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on the 7th. It is the first away game in Gwangju after obtaining a free agent (FA) qualification after the end of the 2025 season and returning to "Friendly" Samsung on the condition of 2 years and 2.6 billion won.

On this day, the air at the site was different from usual. Although he faced KIA in Daegu during the exhibition game in March, it was meaningful in that it was an official regular league game and a reunion on his home turf for nine years.

Choi Hyung-woo bowed to the KIA's cheering section on the third base first before entering the first batter's box with one out in the top of the first inning with a 1-0 lead. It was a sincere courtesy to KIA fans who won two Korean Series titles (2017 and 2024) together as a member of the Tigers. KIA fans, who filled Champions Field, responded with a warm round of applause and cheers to the "solver" who returned as an enemy and honored them.

The reunion at the plate was also dramatic. The pitcher Choi Hyung-woo faced was Yang Hyeon-jong (38), a symbol of KIA and a "great pitcher" who has been a team player for a long time.

But the greeting was brief. Yang Hyun-jong pitched all-out against his senior Choi Hyung-woo, who faced him as the "opposite team batter" again for the first time in nine years, and Choi Hyung-woo also fought back with a sharp swing.

After joining Samsung in 2002, Choi Hyung-woo was released and rejoined, and served as the main player of the Samsung Dynasty until 2016. After moving to KIA ahead of the 2017 season and playing the role of a pillar of the batting lineup for nine years, he returned to his former team Samsung for the final chapter of his career.

Although the uniform changed, Choi Hyung-woo's visit to Gwangju will remain a special scene that gave fans and the team of both teams the romance of the KBO League, regardless of victory or defeat.

Choi Hyung-woo, who was silent at the beginning of the game, showed his scary concentration when he entered the game in the eighth inning. Choi Hyung-woo, who made a sharp timely double in the top of the eighth inning when his team was trailing 1-3, announced the beginning of a great reversal, even fired a large three-run home run with a distance of 120 meters that sealed the victory in the top of the ninth inning.

Choi's final performance on the day was two hits (one home run), two walks and four RBIs in three times at bat. He demonstrated the adage that "class is eternal" by showing perfect batting skills and batting skills at the same time.

After joining Samsung in 2002, Choi Hyung-woo returned to Samsung after nine years at KIA after being the main player of the Samsung Dynasty. Although the uniform has changed, his visit to Gwangju, which responded with respectful greetings and overwhelming skills regardless of victory or defeat, will remain the best romantic scene the KBO League can provide.

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*This content was translated by AI.