'2600 Hits Milestone' Kim Hyun-soo's Pride: "Artificial Generational Change Overcome by Skill → I Will Compete Fiercely Until the End"

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Hyun-soo (38, KT Wiz), known as the 'Hitting Machine,' reached the historic milestone of 2,600 career hits, the third in KBO League history. Along with this achievement, he offered a poignant statement as a veteran regarding the artificial wave of generational change that has swept through professional baseball in recent years.

On the 9th, Kim Hyun-soo started as the designated hitter batting second in a home game against the Samsung Lions at Suwon KT Wiz Park. He delivered a powerful performance with 3 hits in 4 at-bats, leading his team to a 5-2 victory. Particularly in the bottom of the third inning with no outs and runners on first and second while trailing 0-1, he hit a two-run single to first base, reaching the historic 2,600-hit milestone, the third in KBO history. He continued to showcase his enduring form by adding another hit and a double later in the game. Kim Hyun-soo finished the day with 3 hits, bringing his career total to 2,602 hits.

The 2,600 hits achieved today rank third all-time in the KBO League's cumulative hits list, surpassed only by Choi Hyung-woo (43, Samsung Lions, 2,651 hits) and Son A-seop (38, Doosan Bears, 2,642 hits). After the game, Kim Hyun-soo met with on-site reporters as the game's most valuable player, displaying a heavy sense of responsibility as a veteran rather than mere emotion.

Despite reaching the historic third-place milestone, Kim Hyun-soo remained humble. Regarding reaching 2,600 hits, he said, "I am grateful to the many managers who gave me the opportunity to play frequently, to my parents who gave me a healthy body, and to my family who always take care of me." He added, "I have felt since childhood that I received opportunities far beyond what others had. Because of those opportunities, the record naturally followed." He credited those who helped him.

When asked about his ambition to reach the top spot for all-time hits, Kim Hyun-soo maintained his humility by mentioning Son A-seop and Choi Hyung-woo. He stated, "(Choi) Hyung-woo and (Son) A-seop both hit more hits than me and are ahead, so it is not easy." He emphasized, "If I set a specific number of hits to achieve by the end of my career, that could actually limit my goals. Beating the team and fulfilling the role the organization expects of me is the top priority over personal records."

In response to the question, "Are Choi Hyung-woo and Son A-seop, who are competing for the most hits, sources of inspiration?" Kim Hyun-soo shared his thoughts on the artificial generational change trend that has dominated the league in recent years.

He said, "When I was young, there was an atmosphere where juniors tried to beat their seniors. In fact, just a few years ago, there was a trend in baseball where generational change was being artificially forced. However, I have many thoughts on the fact that my peers and seniors, including myself, overcame that trend with skill. Now, even teams are accepting players' skills as they are."

Kim Hyun-soo then made it clear that veterans are not holding their positions simply because they are "older" or due to "past reputations." He mentioned peers such as senior Choi Hyung-woo, fellow veterans Yang Eui-ji, Choi Jeong, Ryu Hyun-jin, and one-year junior Son A-seop, expressing deep pride in having survived fiercely while maintaining top-tier skills in the league.

At the same time, he did not forget to send a strong message to the juniors. Kim Hyun-soo said, "We do not take our starting positions for granted either. Every hit and every opportunity to play is earned through fierce preparation." He added, "Juniors should not think they cannot play just because they are not given opportunities; I hope they prepare even more fiercely and come at us."

Regarding the juniors dousing him with a refreshing "water shower" celebration immediately after the game, he smiled and said, "It's good to do it when you can. It seems they planned it. It's fortunate that I can say it was refreshing. The juniors probably find me annoying for giving them harsh words. But I will continue to do so until the end."

Kim Hyun-soo repeatedly emphasized that "team victory comes before personal cumulative hit records." His 2,600th hit, which proved his value through skill and effort without being shaken by the atmosphere of artificial generational change, is closer to a new milestone showing what true "skill-based generational change" in Korean baseball is.

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*This content was translated by AI.