'King Jeongjo' Hilaryd: Baseball Fans Dress Up in Team Uniforms! AI-Generated Image of Choice Is "LG Christmas Edition" [Interview 2]

*This content was translated by AI.

Wearing a uniform inscribed with the Chinese characters 'Suwon ()' against the backdrop of Suwon Fortress, he held a bat. An unexpected event unfolded when Sam Hilliard (32, KT Wiz), a foreign hitter from the United States, transformed into 'King Jeongjo'.

The '2026 kt wiz King Jeongjo Uniform', jointly planned by KT and the Suwon City Design Foundation, was created with King Jeongjo, who symbolizes Suwon—the team's home city—as its motif. This special uniform expresses harmony between the club and fans through a design where multiple colors blend into one, and it went on sale starting the afternoon of the 8th.

However, when the uniform was unveiled, fans' attention focused not only on the design but also on the model. Hilliard, with his long hair, beard, and tall stature, striking a pose holding a bat in front of Suwon Fortress, oddly matched the King Jeongjo concept. The reaction was similar to that two years ago when KT's beloved foreign investor William Cuevas (36) wore the King Jeongjo uniform.

Once Hilliard's photos spread online, fans began their creative play. Not only KBO teams but also past professional baseball uniforms, special edition uniforms, and even Major League Baseball (MLB) uniforms appeared. Using artificial intelligence (AI), fans created images of Hilliard wearing a variety of different uniforms.

Recently, when Hilliard met StarNews in Gwangju, he was shown the photos created by fans directly. Hilliard said, "I saw them through translation. What you showed me now is almost everything I've seen." He added with a smile, "With recent advances in AI technology, it seems such things are becoming more common. Seeing my likeness recreated this way feels a bit awkward yet fascinating."

Most importantly, what Hilliard appreciated was that the fan activity did not remain limited to KT supporters alone. He said, "The fact that fans from other teams are doing this too means they find me entertaining and want to enjoy it together. I believe it's done with good intentions, so I viewed it with a happy heart."

When asked about his favorite among the numerous AI-generated uniform versions, with the King Jeongjo uniform being the top choice, Hilliard replied, "Most are KBO uniforms, but the Miami Marlins version stood out as an MLB uniform. Personally, my favorite is the LG Christmas uniform."

His family's reaction was also cheerful. Recently, Hilliard welcomed his second child, and his mother, Tamara, visited Korea to see her hardworking daughter-in-law and grandson. Hilliard laughed, saying, "My family said the photos turned out well. Even if I looked ugly in them, my family would have still said they came out well—that's what family does."

Hilliard's strong sense of attention from Korean fans was not solely due to the photoshoot. Having joined the KBO League for the first time this year, he led KT's core batting lineup with a .295 batting average (135 hits in 457 at-bats), 32 home runs, 104 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.919 across 116 games. His performance was so impressive that he even became a contender for the outfielder Golden Glove award.

As his performance improved, so did his closeness with fans. Hilliard said, "Korean fans are extremely kind. They give many gifts, an experience I've rarely had in the United States." He continued, "They found snacks and treats I used to eat in America and gifted them to me. Recently, someone even gave me a bag name tag with my name and my eldest son Jackson's name on it—it was very impressive. I felt they were extremely thoughtful and considerate, and I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude." He bowed his head in thanks.

For Hilliard, Korea is the first country he has lived in, and the KBO League is a stage he is experiencing for the first time. Initially, it took time to understand pitchers at the plate, and the culture inside and outside baseball stadiums differed from that in the United States. However, before completing even one season, Hilliard had already become the model for a uniform inspired by a historical figure of Suwon and a player whom fans from other teams wanted to dress in their own team's uniforms.

Hilliard accepted such attention not as a burden but as affection. What began as photos with just one King Jeongjo uniform grew into numerous images featuring various uniforms. For Hilliard, this was also a special form of fan letter showing how much love he has received in unfamiliar Korea.

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*This content was translated by AI.