Tied for first with 197 hits: Reyes and Choi Won-jun head toward a KBO first, with the Golden Glove also on the line

*This content was translated by AI.

Victor Reyes (32, Lotte Giants) and Choi Won-jun (29, KT Wiz) both reached 197 hits late in the season, joining forces to challenge for a first in KBO League history.

Reyes and Choi Won-jun each recorded multiple hits in the matchup between Lotte and KT held on the 4th at Suwon KT Wiz Park in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

Before the game, the two were tied for the lead with 195 hits. Reyes, who had been alone in first place through the previous day (the 3rd), was caught up by Choi Won-jun, who hit three times against Lotte on the 3rd.

The balance remained intact on this day as well. Reyes recorded two hits in four at-bats, one walk, and one run scored, including one intentional base on balls. Choi Won-jun also posted two hits in five at-bats and one run scored. Their season hit totals stood at exactly 197 each. They are now equally three hits away from 200.

However, the significance of reaching 200 hits differs slightly for the two players. For Reyes, it is a challenge toward new history. After entering the KBO League in 2024, he hit 202 hits in his rookie year, surpassing Seo Geon-chang's (then Nexen Heroes) 201 hits from 2014 to set a new single-season record for most hits. Last year, he also played in all 144 games and claimed the top spot with 187 hits. In 2024 and 2025, he won the outfielder Golden Glove two years in a row.

If he claims the title for most hits this year as well, it will be the first time a foreign player has led the league three consecutive years. Adding three more hits would make him the first player in KBO history to achieve 200 hits in a season twice. There is also still the possibility of surpassing his own record of 202 hits set in 2024.

For Choi Won-jun, 200 hits are a long-held dream. Recognized early for his batting talent, having recorded a .470 batting average and received the Lee Young-min Batting Award during his time at Seoul High School, Choi Won-jun debuted in the pros in 2016. His previous personal single-season record was 174 hits, set in 2021.

His potential exploded after signing with KT on a four-year contract worth 4.8 billion won last winter. He has already surpassed his own personal records as well as the KT club's single-season record of 192 hits held by Lee Dae-hyung (43), a commentator, and Mel Rojas Jr. (36). Choi Won-jun had previously expressed ambition for his first Golden Glove, stating in July that "200 hits have been a goal I've dreamed of since my pro debut."

Now, only three hits remain to fulfill that dream. If achieved, he will become the first player in KT club history and the second domestic player ever to reach 200 hits in a season, following Seo Geon-chang, marking the first such feat by a domestic player in 12 years. If both surpass 200 together, an even greater history will be made. In KBO League history, only Seo Geon-chang and Reyes have recorded 200 hits in a single season. There has never been an instance where two players simultaneously reached 200 hits in the same season.

Particular attention is also on whether Reyes can defend his Golden Glove in the outfield category for three consecutive years alongside leading the league in hits for the third straight year. This year's outfield Golden Glove race features strong candidates, including Koo Ja-wook (33, Samsung Lions), who is virtually certain to win the batting title with a .371 average, Sam Hilliard (32), competing for the home run title with 41 home runs, Choi Won-jun (also KT), also competing for most hits, and Na Seong-beom (37, KIA Tigers), who is on the verge of reaching 30 home runs and 100 RBIs for the first time in five years.

Having the individual title for most hits could help him stay competitive in the Golden Glove race as well. Compared to his rivals, he has the most games remaining (seven), along with Na Seong-beom. Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung (59) mentioned the possibility of placing him higher in the batting order but ultimately stated that Reyes needs to perform well himself. Manager Kim smiled and said, "Tomorrow (the 5th), the opposing pitcher is a left-hander (Logan Allen), so I think we can move him up to lead off," while adding, "Ultimately, he has to hit well."

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*This content was translated by AI.