'Who talks about overpaying?' Choi Won-jun boasts a 0.364 batting average whenever he faces LG; his explosive performance as KT's leadoff hitter has fans eagerly anticipating the playoffs.

*This content was translated by AI.

KT Wiz's new leadoff hitter, Choi Won-jun (29), showcased his hot hitting against the championship-winning LG Twins, making fans eager for the postseason already.

KT lost to LG in the April 30 Suwon LG Twins game with a 5-6 score, ending their three-game winning streak. This also broke their undefeated record of four consecutive wins against LG this season.

This series was billed as a showdown between the top two teams in the early 2026 season, boasting overwhelming strength, and was even nicknamed a "preview of the Korean Series." In this highly anticipated matchup, KT managed to secure a narrow victory over LG, the reigning champion and a strong title contender this year, revealing a transformed team identity.

At the forefront of this transformation was Choi Won-jun. Even though KT lost the game, Choi's bat was sharp. In the bottom of the fifth, with KT trailing 0-3, a big inning began with Choi's one-run double to left-center field. In the bottom of the sixth with two outs and runners on first and second, he capitalized on Kim Yu-young's mistake, smashing a massive two-run double over the center fielder's head to take the lead. Choi also came to the plate as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the ninth while KT trailed 5-6, fouling off four pitches before drawing a walk on the tenth pitch, frustrating the LG lineup.

It wasn't just this game. Over the three-game series, Choi Won-jun hit 0.385 (13 at-bats, 5 hits), including two doubles, with 4 RBIs, 2 stolen bases, and 3 runs scored. In the first game of the series (April 28), he stole second and third base in quick succession thanks to a lucky hit, rattling LG's battery. He also hit a powerful double to the outfield in the bottom of the sixth and later scored on an infield hit in the bottom of the ninth, showcasing his speed once again.

Even in the April 29 game where he failed to get a hit, Choi made his presence felt on the bases. In the bottom of the fourth, shortstop Oh Ji-hwan, wary of Choi's speed, rushed a throw and allowed Choi to reach base. LG's concern proved justified as Choi immediately stole second base. He scored on Kim Hyun-soo's infield single and later on Sam Hilliard's grounder. In the bottom of the tenth of extra innings, with KT trailing 3-4, Choi drew a walk and scored on Jang Seong-woo's game-winning two-run double, becoming the hero of the comeback victory.

Until now, KT had shown a very weak record against LG since entering the first division in 2015, with 69 wins, 2 ties, and 105 losses. Excluding their first year in 2015 (8-8) and their championship season in 2021 (8-2-6), they struggled to even match LG's winning percentage.

Choi Won-jun's relationship with LG is the exact opposite of KT's. After graduating from Seoul High School, Choi entered the professional league in the 2016 KBO Rookie Draft, selected third overall in the second round by the KIA Tigers. Since his 2016 debut in the first division, excluding 2018 and 2019, he has consistently maintained a batting average over 0.300 against LG, with a career average of 0.337 against them.

Even last year, when he struggled with historically poor performance overall, he was an exception against LG, hitting 0.391 (46 at-bats, 18 hits) in 16 games. This year, he continues his strong form against LG with a 0.364 batting average (22 at-bats, 8 hits). With both teams building a top-three structure alongside SSG Landers in the early season, the likelihood of them meeting in the postseason is high, making Choi Won-jun's presence a tremendous asset for KT.

The effect of Choi Won-jun joining the team goes beyond just psychological benefits. Last year, as the leadoff hitter for the team that finished last in stolen bases, he provided pressure whenever he reached base, injecting energy into the lineup. Through April, he recorded a 0.313 batting average (115 at-bats, 36 hits), 1 home run, 16 RBIs, 22 runs scored, and 6 stolen bases, with an on-base percentage of 0.394, slugging percentage of 0.443, and an OPS of 0.837. Considering the controversy over the "overpay" rumors surrounding his four-year, 4.8 billion won FA contract signed last winter, his current performance feels like a remarkable turnaround.

The manager's satisfaction is also high. KT manager Lee Kang-cheol (60), ahead of the April 30 game, smiled and said, "We've had many comeback wins recently. These days, if a runner gets on base, a one-run lead is fine. Once the top of the lineup—Kim Min-hyuk, Choi Won-jun, Kim Hyun-soo, and Jang Seong-woo—gets going, something is bound to happen."

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*This content was translated by AI.