'Recently 10-game batting average of 0.462' The original genius hitter who toppled Ryu Hyun-jin has another reason to excel: "I want to show my daughter, born in August, a wonderful performance."

*This content was translated by AI.

The original Seoul High School genius hitter, Choi Won-jun (29, KT Wiz), continued his relentless hitting streak, even stopping Ryu Hyun-jin (39, Hanwha Eagles) from reaching 200 career wins in both Korea and the United States.

On the 17th, at the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season home game against Hanwha at Suwon KT Wiz Park, Choi Won-jun started as the leadoff hitter and right fielder. He went 4-for-3 with one RBI, one walk, and two runs scored, leading KT to an 8-7 victory.

KT, boasting explosive hitting form recently, out-hit Hanwha with 13 total hits, including both long and short hits, dominating at the plate. The path was opened by leadoff hitter Choi Won-jun.

In the bottom of the first inning, Choi Won-jun crushed Ryu Hyun-jin's first-pitch fastball, hitting a double that split the gap between left and center field. He advanced to third base on Kim Min-hyuk's sacrifice bunt and scored on Sam Hilliard's one-out, two-out, bases-loaded single to left field, taking the early lead.

After sitting out the second at-bat on a fly ball to left field, Choi Won-jun troubled Ryu Hyun-jin again in his final at-bat of the fifth inning. With KT trailing 2-3 and two outs in the bottom of the fifth, even in a 1-ball, 2-strike count, he drove an outside cutter into the gap for a hit to center field. Ryu Hyun-jin was eventually replaced by Park Jun-young in the sixth inning after striking out Kim Min-hyuk looking.

Even after Ryu Hyun-jin left the mound, Choi Won-jun's bat remained hot. In the bottom of the seventh, he drew a walk and contributed to a three-run big inning. In the bottom of the eighth, with one out and a runner on second, he crushed Hanwha closer Lee Min-woo's two-seam fastball, hitting a one-out, two-out, bases-loaded single to left-center field to tie the game at 6-6.

As a result, Choi Won-jun's season stats stand at 41 games, .351 batting average (168 at-bats, 59 hits), one home run, 21 RBIs, 31 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, .434 on-base percentage, .458 slugging percentage, and .892 OPS. His recent 10-game performance reached an impressive .462 batting average (39 at-bats, 18 hits).

After the game, Choi Won-jun said, "As the leadoff hitter, I'm focusing on getting on base. (Kim) Hyun-soo and (Kim) Sang-su have often told me to play brightly and happily on the field. I'm also trying not to be tied to the past and to forget quickly and reset. I believe that letting the past affect my future performance would be wrong."

Choi Won-jun was known as a genius hitter during his time at Seoul High School. With high expectations, he was selected third overall in the second round of the 2016 KBO Rookie Draft by the KIA Tigers, beginning his professional career. While with KIA, he won two Korean Series titles, but was traded to the NC Dinos mid-last season.

Due to his poor performance last season—126 games, .242 batting average (413 at-bats, 100 hits)—there was controversy over an overpay when he signed a four-year, maximum 4.8 billion won FA contract with KT this season.

However, as if to dispel concerns, he has established himself as the league's top hitter in the early part of the season. Choi Won-jun smiled and said, "In the early season, I was full of ambition and had a strong desire not to give up. Recently, even when I'm out, I approach games with the mindset of playing as aggressively and optimally as possible. Because I'm enjoying it, I've been able to overcome anxiety and pressure."

On top of that, there was one more powerful motivation. After marrying in 2023, Choi Won-jun is expecting his first child in August. He declared, "I want to show my daughter, who will be born in August, that her dad plays wonderfully and happily on the field."

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*This content was translated by AI.