'The Choi Hyung-woo Effect' Has Fully Taken Hold! Park Seung-kyu's Confession: "When I'm confused, he provides a clear direction"

*This content was translated by AI.

Samsung Lions outfielder Park Seung-kyu (26) delivered a decisive hit that saved the team. It was a go-ahead two-run home run that instantly turned around an atmosphere that could have sunk. After the game, Park Seung-kyu cited veteran Choi Hyung-woo (46)'s advice as the secret to his batting surge and expressed heartfelt gratitude.

On the 27th, Samsung won 4-1 in an away game against SSG at Incheon SSG Landers Field in the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.' Although they fell behind 1-0 in the fourth inning, they secured a comeback victory thanks to Park Seung-kyu's two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth.

For Samsung, there was a situation where the game flow could have slipped away. With the score tied 0-0 in the bottom of the fourth, two outs, and runners on first and third, starting pitcher Ariel Herado induced a ground ball to first base, but first baseman Lewin Diaz failed to field it, committing an error. Taking advantage of the mistake, third baseman Guillermo Heredia scored, putting Samsung behind 0-1.

But opportunity followed crisis, and Park Seung-kyu immediately stepped up as the savior. In the top of the fifth with no outs and a runner on first, Park Seung-kyu entered the batter's box and relentlessly attacked Anthony Veniziano's third pitch, a 133 km/h slider inside. His powerful swing sent the ball soaring over the fence for a go-ahead two-run home run.

Even amidst raindrops that thickened and thinned throughout the game, Samsung's one-hit wonder was a nutrient-rich blast that completely seized the initiative. Ultimately, Park Seung-kyu's home run became the game-winning hit.

After the game, Park Seung-kyu reflected on the home run situation, saying, "In my previous at-bat, I fouled off a mistake pitch. I felt my timing was slightly late, so I tried to be a bit more relaxed and adjust my timing. I focused on keeping the ball in play, and it seems that effort led to a good result."

With this home run, Park Seung-kyu recorded his sixth of the season, tying his personal single-season record of six home runs set in the 2025 season. For the first time since his debut, he reached a slugging percentage in the .500s, putting him on a pace that could theoretically reach 18 home runs this season. While he gained recognition last season for his outstanding outfield defense, he is now sprinting toward a career high with added power-hitting instincts.

So, what is the secret behind the rapid rise in his power-hitting and overall batting metrics? Park Seung-kyu pointed to technical adjustments and the exceptional guidance role of his senior teammates.

Park Seung-kyu explained, "I've tried to make my preparation movements a bit more concise compared to last season. Thanks to that, I've gained more timing flexibility, which seems to have increased my power hits." When asked for specific details, he mentioned his seniors by name.

Park Seung-kyu confessed, "We have many wonderful seniors on the team. I often consult with senior Choi Hyung-woo, and when I'm confused, he provides a clear direction. Since he shares advice based on his own experiences, it helps me see the ball better in the batter's box and is a great help. I also have many discussions about batting with former teammate 'Jawook' and frequently talk with 'Sung-yoon' about the preparation process, receiving feedback that seems to be very helpful to me."

Having evolved to the next level with solid defense and now reliable hitting, Park Seung-kyu remains hungry. He stated, "I don't think my baseball has fully matured yet. However, it's positive that I can now fight pitchers more confidently in the batter's box. I have personal goals set before the season, but they haven't all been achieved yet. I'll speak openly after the season ends. For now, I will focus solely on each game and each at-bat." With this resolve, he left the stadium.

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*This content was translated by AI.