'Lee Jong-beom and Lee Byung-gyu summoned' — 223-hit pace, leading in four categories with 'MVP-level sprint'

*This content was translated by AI.

A 223-hit pace.

KT Wiz's Choi Won-jun (29) is continuing his 'MVP-level sprint' in his first year as a free agent (FA).

On the 16th, Choi started as the leadoff center fielder in the game against Doosan Bears at Seoul Jamsil Stadium. In the bottom of the fifth inning, he hit a ground-rule double off opposing starter Choi Seung-yong. This was his 100th hit of the season among batters from all 10 teams. Achieving 100 hits in just 64 personal games (65 team games), Choi became the second player in KBO League history to reach 100 hits in the fewest games since Kim Ju-chan (then with KIA Tigers) did so in 62 games in 2014.

He has also joined the ranks of legends. His 64-game mark ties the records set by Lee Byung-gyu (then with LG Twins) in 1999 and Seo Geon-chang (then with Nexen Heroes) in 2014, and surpasses the 65th-game records of Lee Jong-beom (then with Haitai Tigers) in 1994 and Park Yong-taek (then with LG) in 2009.

With 100 hits in 64 games, that averages 1.56 hits per game. Applying this rate to the team's remaining 79 games yields an additional 123 hits, bringing the season total to 223.

The all-time single-season record for most hits in KBO League history is held by Lotte Giants. In 2024, they recorded 202 hits over 144 games, breaking Seo Geon-chang's previous record of 201 hits set in 2014. At that time, Seo reached 100 hits in just 75 games. Choi Won-jun reached the 100th-hit milestone 11 games earlier (10 games earlier for his team).

After attending Seoul High School, Choi was selected third overall in the second round of the 2016 rookie draft by KIA Tigers. In July 2025, he was traded to NC Dinos. Following the previous season, he earned FA status and signed a four-year contract worth up to 4.8 billion won with KT.

Excluding his 2022 season with the military service, Choi filled the required plate appearances in only three seasons: 2021 and 2024 (both with KIA) and 2025 (with NC). He has never posted a batting average above .300. His highest batting average was .295 in 2021, while last season he hit .242 in 126 games. His single-season record for most hits is 174, achieved in 143 games with KIA in 2021.

However, this season, under the full trust of KT manager Lee Kang-cheol (60), Choi has started in all 64 games, batting either first or second in the lineup, missing only one game.

Regarding Choi's secret to his powerful hitting, manager Lee Kang-cheol said, "He is an exceptionally talented player, and the fact that he isn't dropped from the lineup for a single poor performance is probably the biggest factor. This applies to everyone. If Choi thinks, 'If I can't hit this, I'll be benched,' he might end up unable to hit. Looking ahead and giving players time is beneficial for them. It also helps them avoid becoming impatient."

Leading in four categories — batting average (.383), runs scored (58), on-base percentage (.461), and hits — Choi said, "It seems like the ball's trajectory and some luck have favored me, resulting in many hits." He added, "Coaches Yoo Han-jun and Kim Kang have offered advice to help me improve further, and the team provides excellent data and post-game feedback. Manager Lee Kang-cheol also fixed me in the upper part of the batting order last year despite my poor performance, which has given me more confidence to step into games."

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*This content was translated by AI.