"Why do all my hits go straight to the field?" Hong Chang-gi records his first three-hit game in 26 days, ending a grueling season with a performance in his most familiar position.

*This content was translated by AI.

Hong Chang-gi (33, LG Twins), who had endured one of the toughest seasons of his career ahead of his first free agency (FA) status, soared back to his most familiar position.

On the 16th, Hong started as the leadoff hitter and right fielder in a road game against NC Dinos at Changwon NC Park during the 2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League regular season. He went 3-for-5 with one RBI and two runs scored, leading LG to a 9-2 victory.

LG swept both games of their two-game road series in Changwon, extending their winning streak to four consecutive victories. With a record of 71 wins, 55 losses, and one tie, LG remained in third place but narrowed the gap with second-place Samsung Lions by four games after the latter lost on the same day, intensifying the late-season race for standings.

Hong's start as leadoff hitter came 34 days after his last appearance in that role during a game against Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 13th. Once considered LG's premier leadoff hitter, Hong had struggled with severe offensive slumps this season, drifting away from his usual spot in the lineup.

The day did not start smoothly. In his first two plate appearances, Hong was retired on fly balls to the outfield against Mike Clevinger (36), a new foreign pitcher for NC making his KBO League debut. Clevinger, who has accumulated 60 career wins in Major League Baseball (MLB), effectively neutralized Hong by mixing four-seam fastballs, cutters, changeups, and sweepers.

However, once Clevinger was relieved, Hong's bat came alive. In the bottom of the fifth inning with LG trailing 1-2 and one out, Hong hit a powerful ball off Kim Jin-ho. The shot to deep shortstop turned into an infield hit.

Park Hae-min and Austin Dean then drew consecutive walks, allowing Hong to advance to third base. When Song Chan-ui reached base on a hit-by-pitch, Hong scored from third to tie the game at 2-2. A sacrifice fly by Moon Jeong-bin added another run, giving LG a 3-2 lead.

Once the momentum shifted, hits kept coming. In the seventh inning as the leadoff hitter, Hong pulled a inside fastball from Lee Yong-jun for a hit to right field. After advancing to second base on Park Hae-min's sacrifice bunt, he moved to third and scored on a wild pitch in the following play.

In the eighth inning, a well-hit extra-base hit emerged. With two outs and runners on third, Hong drove Ryu Jin-wook's third pitch, an outside fastball, into the gap. The ball cleared the left fielder's reach, and Hong reached second base comfortably. It was his 15th double of the season, his second consecutive game with a double, and a two-run RBI that extended LG's lead to 5-2.

After the game, Hong said, "I'm happy we could wrap up our Changwon road trip with four straight wins. I thought my hitting was okay, but some well-hit balls went straight to fielders, which left me thinking, 'Why do all my hits go straight to the field?' However, it seems the infield hit came as a lucky break that allowed three consecutive hits." Indeed, all three of his hits that day were made by targeting fastballs.

He hadn't been waiting solely for fastballs from the start. Hong explained, "I didn't specifically target fastballs, but since I wasn't reacting well to them, it felt like 'if a fastball comes in, I'll hit it,' and that approach worked out."

His two-run double in the eighth inning showcased his experience. Hong said, "With a runner on third, I assumed they wouldn't throw a forkball due to the risk of a wild pitch. It seems my decision to target fastballs happened to pay off. I'm glad my hit helped the team."

This season has been particularly difficult for Hong. Through 119 games played, he recorded a .249 batting average (394 at-bats, 98 hits), 33 RBIs, 69 runs scored, three stolen bases, a .384 on-base percentage, a .297 slugging percentage, and an OPS of 0.681. The disappointment was compounded by the fact that this is the season he became eligible for free agency for the first time in his career.

Nevertheless, Hong remains determined not to give up on anything until the end. He emphasized, "I want to thank the fans who traveled all the way to Changwon. Although only a few games remain, I will do my best to accumulate more wins and finish higher than our current third-place standing."

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*This content was translated by AI.