With just an 8-hit gap closing in front of Choi Hyung-woo and Son Ah-seop... Will the race for the most hits ultimately be overturned?

*This content was translated by AI.

Will it ultimately turn out this way?

Samsung Lions' Choi Hyung-woo (43) has narrowed the gap in the race for the most hits in his career to a single digit against Doosan Bears' Son Ah-seop (38). Choi started as the designated hitter in the third spot in the game against Doosan held at Seoul Jamsil Stadium on the 28th, recording 3 hits in 5 at-bats with 1 RBI. As a result, Choi has recorded 2,614 career hits, closing the gap to just 8 hits behind the KBO League record for most hits (2,622) held by Son Ah-seop.

Until last season, Son Ah-seop had 2,618 hits and Choi Hyung-woo had 2,586, a difference of 32 hits. However, while Son Ah-seop has slowed down, Choi Hyung-woo has quickly caught up. Choi, who returned to Samsung from KIA Tigers this season, has appeared in 25 games, recording 28 hits in 91 at-bats (batting average 0.308), 4 home runs, and 18 RBIs, demonstrating his strong form.

Son Ah-seop has failed to produce notable results even after being traded from Hanwha Eagles to Doosan. On his first day with the team, April 14, against SSG Landers, he started the season with a home run for his first hit, and on the following day, the 15th, he hit a hit, appearing to signal his revival. However, since then, he has only added one hit each in the games against KIA on the 18th and Lotte Giants on the 23rd. His season statistics are limited to 4 hits in 36 at-bats (batting average 0.111) in 12 games.

The Jamsil game on the 28th drew attention as the first head-to-head matchup between the two hitters this season. Choi Hyung-woo played a key role in his team's victory with a strong performance in front of Son Ah-seop.

He was retired with a strikeout in his first at-bat in the top of the 1st inning, but in the top of the 4th with no outs and a runner on first, he hit a hit to right field off Doosan's starting pitcher Kwak Bin. While Doosan right fielder Cameron threw to third base, Choi quickly ran to second base. During Diaz's sacrifice fly to right field, he advanced to third base and scored on Ryu Ji-hyuk's hit to left-center field.

Choi Hyung-woo added a double to center field in the top of the 8th inning. In the top of the 10th extra inning with one out and runners on second, he hit a hit to left field off Lee Byung-hun, extending the lead with an RBI. Samsung won 5-4, escaping a seven-game losing streak.

Son Ah-seop was excluded from the starting lineup that day and came to bat as a pinch-hitter for Im Jong-seong in the bottom of the 9th with the score 0-3 and no outs with runners on first and second. After a close battle lasting seven pitches against the reliever Lee Seung-min, he was retired with a swing-and-miss strikeout on a 129 km/h slider.

Choi Hyung-woo ranks first in the KBO career records in RBIs (1,755), doubles (548), total bases (4,471), and at-bats (8,437). He ranks third in home runs (423) and runs scored (1,379). Son Ah-seop has not secured a starting position with Doosan and is even limited in playing opportunities. Unless a dramatic turnaround occurs for Son Ah-seop, it appears highly likely that Choi Hyung-woo will soon take the top spot in the hits category.

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*This content was translated by AI.