"I'll run with grit," passion burns bright as Choi Won-jun returns to KT's leadoff and designated hitter roles! Park Se-ung targeted in the lineup [Suwon]

*This content was translated by AI.

The man of will, Choi Won-jun (29), has finally returned to KT Wiz as the leadoff hitter.

On the 5th, KT announced its starting lineup for the home game against Lotte Giants at Suwon KT Wiz Park in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season.

KT's lineup today: Choi Won-jun (designated hitter), Kim Hyun-soo (first baseman), Ahn Hyeon-min (right fielder), Sam Hilliard (center fielder), Kim Min-hyuk (left fielder), Kim Sang-su (second baseman), Heo Kyung-min (third baseman), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Kwon Dong-jin (shortstop). The starting pitcher is Matt Sauer.

The most notable return is that of the KBO's top leadoff hitter, Choi Won-jun. Having joined this year on a four-year FA contract worth up to 4.8 billion won, Choi has excelled in the regular season with a .365 batting average (112 hits in 307 at-bats) over 75 games, along with 7 home runs, 44 RBIs, 66 runs scored, and 16 stolen bases. His on-base percentage stands at 0.444, slugging percentage at 0.518, and OPS (on-base plus slugging) at 0.962.

Choi Won-jun felt lower back pain during a defensive play in the match against Daejeon Hanwha Eagles on the 28th last month. Medical examinations revealed a strain of the erector spinae muscles, and he was unable to play for four games.

Although not at 100% physical condition, he is an indomitable warrior whose determination to play stood out above all. The day before (on the 4th), Choi briefly participated in an interview with head coach Lee Kang-cheol and reporters, strongly asserting his desire to play: "If the coach lets me go, I can play. Whether it's batting or anything else, I'm ready."

When Coach Lee Kang-cheol asked back, "You can't run, but you can hit?" Choi raised his voice and replied, "I can do 70–80%. Even if I have to grit my teeth, I'll run. I'm also available as a pinch hitter. Please give me the chance in important situations. I'll even go out after getting hit."

Coach Lee Kang-cheol admonished Choi's overflowing enthusiasm: "(You) can't get hit by the ball. You must dodge it. If we want to win, we have to avoid being hit." Nevertheless, Choi stubbornly refused, saying, "I can't dodge when bases are loaded," drawing laughter from the manager.

Ultimately, the day before, Choi appeared as a pinch hitter for KT in the bottom of the 8th inning while trailing 1-3 and managed to hit a ground ball single to right field. He was replaced by Jang Jun-won after the hit but secured a starting opportunity the following day. Before today's game, Coach Lee Kang-cheol explained the reason: "Choi Won-jun said he could at least handle the designated hitter role."

Ahead of the match, starting pitcher Ko Young-pyo was removed from the first-division roster the previous day to prepare for the second half of the season. Catcher Kang Hyun-woo was registered in his place. Ko had endured 5⅓ innings against Lotte with seven hits allowed, no walks, six strikeouts, and two earned runs despite defensive errors by other position players. Coach Lee Kang-cheol encouraged the ace, saying, "Ko Young-pyo gave up three runs yesterday, but he pitched well."

The opposing starting pitcher is Lotte's Park Se-ung (31). This season, Park has recorded 15 games with 2 wins and 6 losses, an ERA of 4.75, and 83⅓ innings with 78 strikeouts. This marks his first matchup against KT this year. Last year at Suwon, he also struggled with a 1-1 record and a 6.35 ERA in two games.

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*This content was translated by AI.