'Why' did KIA send Choi Hyung-woo to Samsung? The reason behind this 'divine move' is gradually coming to light

*This content was translated by AI.

Veteran outfielder Choi Hyung-woo (43), who was a key pillar of KIA's outfield until last season, became a free agent (FA) after the 2025 season concluded, and KIA sent him off to Samsung.

With the season about to begin, many predicted that it would not be easy for KIA to fill the void left by Choi Hyung-woo and Park Chan-ho (31), who moved to Doosan Bears. However, the situation is gradually changing. This is because a rising star, 'second-year pro' Park Jae-hyun (20), is emerging.

On the 5th, KIA defeated Hanwha 12-7 in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season home game held at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field. With this victory, KIA's record stands at 15 wins and 16 losses, leaving them just one win away from a .500 winning percentage. The team currently holds sole 5th place in the league standings. Meanwhile, Hanwha has fallen into a two-game losing streak and sits in 9th place with 12 wins and 19 losses.

The top contributor to KIA's victory today was none other than Park Jae-hyun. Starting as the leadoff hitter and left fielder, Park Jae-hyun dominated with 5 at-bats, 4 hits (1 home run), 4 RBIs, 1 run scored, and 1 stolen base. He tied his personal record for most hits in a single game (4 hits) and recorded his personal best in RBIs (4 RBIs) for the game.

In the bottom of the 1st inning, Park Jae-hyun appeared as the leadoff hitter but was retired on a straight line drive to the shortstop on the third pitch. He began to find his rhythm starting from the 2nd inning.

In the bottom of the 2nd inning, KIA seized a bases-loaded opportunity with no outs through a walk by leadoff hitter Dale, a ground ball single by Han Jun-soo to left field, and a straight walk by Park Min. In response, Hanwha replaced starting pitcher Kang Geon-woo with Yoon San-heum. Park Jae-hyun, stepping into his second at-bat, hit a slider low in the zone from Yoon San-heum on the first pitch, driving it to left field for a two-run single.

Park Jae-hyun's performance continued. In the bottom of the 5th inning, he proved his worth with a powerful hit. Appearing as the leadoff hitter, Park Jae-hyun faced a pitcher who had just been changed from Yoon San-heum to Park Sang-won. With a 1-1 count, he attacked a 149 km/h fastball inside on the third pitch, sending it over the center-left field wall for a solo home run. This was Park Jae-hyun's 3rd home run of the season, traveling 120 meters. This home run broke the tight tie and gave KIA a 6-5 lead.

That was not the end. In the bottom of the 6th inning, with two outs and runners on 1st and 3rd, Park Jae-hyun came to bat for the third time. He then hit a two-run single to center-left field, pushing KIA's lead from 7-5 to 8-5, effectively sealing the game. Continuing his dominance, in the bottom of the 7th inning with two outs and runners on 1st and 2nd, Park Jae-hyun smashed a two-run single to left field, bringing runner Jung Hyun-chang home from 2nd base. This was the moment Park Jae-hyun completed his 4-hit, 4-RBI game.

Park Jae-hyun is currently showing off his hot bat. On the 29th of last month, he recorded 3 hits against NC Dinos, and on the 2nd, he posted a 4-for-4 game with 1 home run, 2 RBIs, and 2 runs scored against KT Wiz. And today, he delivered another 4-hit performance.

Park Jae-hyun, who graduated from Dongmakcho Elementary, Jaeneung Middle, and Incheon High School, joined KIA as the 25th overall pick in the 3rd round of the 2025 Rookie Draft. His signing bonus was 100 million won. After hitting just .081 (5 hits in 62 at-bats) with 3 RBIs in 58 games last season, he is now boasting a batting average of .326 (30 hits in 92 at-bats) this season.

His stats for this season, across 29 games played, include 3 home runs, 15 RBIs, 14 runs scored, 6 stolen bases (1 failed), 5 doubles, 4 walks, 20 strikeouts, a slugging percentage of .478, an on-base percentage of .354, an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .832, and a batting average with runners in scoring position of .476. His batting average over the last 10 games stands at .381.

After the game today, Park Jae-hyun said, "Since the hits are coming easily, I feel my confidence is gradually rising. Looking at last year's stats, I thought playing in the first division was a distant dream. However, thanks to the help from the manager and senior players, that time seems to be arriving sooner than expected. Still, it's early in the season. For now, I'm just thinking about working hard in every game."

If Choi Hyung-woo had remained with KIA, it would have been highly unlikely to see Park Jae-hyun performing as he is now. With Choi Hyung-woo, known for being 'KBO's all-time hits leader,' holding his position, Park Jae-hyun's opportunities to play would have inevitably decreased. However, as a result of Choi Hyung-woo's departure, Park Jae-hyun's playing time has increased, and his outstanding performance has effectively become a 'divine move.' How will Park Jae-hyun finish this season? KIA fans' expectations are rising.

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*This content was translated by AI.