“Starting ERA 10.31”: The dismal record of a 7 billion won free agent; the Choe Won-tae option has effectively vanished [KS]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

They had just come off a grueling five-game battle in the Playoffs (PO), and given the starting rotation schedule, no one had placed great expectations on him. Yet, no one expected him to collapse without even lasting three innings. The Samsung Lions were once again held back by Choe Won-tae’s (29) poor performance, following their struggles in the PO.

Choe Won-tae started Game 1 of the 2026 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO Postseason Korea Series (best-of-seven) against the KT Wiz on the 3rd at Suwon KT Wiz Park. He collapsed after throwing 43 pitches over two innings, allowing five hits (one home run), one walk, and three strikeouts while giving up five runs.

The Samsung Lions, who trailed from the start of the game after giving up five runs early on, shook up the KT bullpen in the late innings to mount a chase, but ultimately lost by a single run, 7-8. It was a game where Choe Won-tae’s poor performance felt particularly painful.

In the regular season, Choe Won-tae finished with a career ERA of 4.44, which left some room for regret, but he secured an impressive 93 wins (70 losses). He was a pitcher who consistently took responsibility for innings and fulfilled his role. As a fourth or fifth starter, he is a pitcher capable of providing sufficient support to the team in leading long races.

However, the story is different when it comes to postseason baseball. Choe Won-tae has extensive experience in fall baseball. He appeared in as many as 23 games, recording two wins, four losses, one save, and two holds, with an ERA reaching 8.40. His performance as a starter was even more disappointing, with his ERA soaring to 10.31.

The Samsung knew this all too well. They had experience facing him as an opponent in the 2024 semi-Playoffs, where they dismantled him after just two and two-thirds innings.

Nevertheless, after the season ended, they signed him for up to 7 billion won over four years. For the Samsung, who are aiming for postseason baseball, it was reasonable to nod in agreement that he is a pitcher capable of leading a long season. In fact, despite not putting up extraordinary performances with ERAs of 4.92 last year and 4.58 this year, he delivered eight wins (seven losses) and seven wins (five losses) to the team, respectively.

In his first year with the Samsung in 2025, he also shone in the postseason. After securing a win with a six-inning scoreless outing against the SSG Landers in the semi-Playoffs, he started twice in the PO, holding opponents to six runs (four earned) over ten and one-third innings to record one win and one loss. Last year’s postseason record was two wins, one loss, and an ERA of 2.20.

Therefore, they entered the PO with expectations and started Choe Won-tae in Game 3, but he collapsed after giving up two runs in one and two-thirds innings, forcing the early deployment of relief pitchers. The same happened on this day.

He wavered from the first inning. After allowing a stolen base with one out and a runner on first, he also committed a wild pitch and issued a walk. He then allowed a two-run RBI hit to Sam Hillyard. After giving up another run, he barely finished the first inning, but was removed after allowing a two-run home run in the third inning. The Samsung had to use six more pitchers afterward.

Manager Park Jin-man stated ahead of this series, “Our goal is to finish with a record of one win and one loss before returning to Daegu.” The opponent was a team that secured first place in the regular league with powerful strength, but they had no choice but to set such a modest goal because they were at a disadvantage in the starting rotation.

The bigger problem lies in inning consumption. In this fall, he started two games but managed to consume only three and two-thirds innings. Fifteen pitchers had to lead the rest of the games over fifteen and one-third innings.

After the game, Samsung Manager Park Jin-man reflected on the match, saying, “I think we missed the timing for a pitching change slightly in the early stages.” He added, “The two-run home run allowed to An Hyun-min in a 0-3 situation became a major factor in falling behind in the early momentum battle. We should have moved the substitution timing one step earlier; as a manager, it is a game that leaves me with regrets.”

Regarding Choe Won-tae’s additional appearances, he said, “We will think about it and discuss it after going back, but his next appearance does not seem easy.” It has effectively become difficult to find Choe Won-tae in this Korea Series. Unless the score gap widens significantly and the game effectively tilts to one side, he has become a card that is hard to utilize any further. As a 7 billion won free agent pitcher, it is all the more bitter.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original