‘Major setback for KT’ Choe Won-jun, who hit 208 hits, suddenly benched! Will he miss his ‘reunion’ with Huarada?… Lee Kang-cheol: “His hand is swollen → He will be used as a pinch hitter in key moments” [KS3 On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Choe Won-jun (29), the KT Wiz leadoff batter and ‘key hitter’ who hit an impressive 208 hits in the regular season, was suddenly excluded from the starting lineup for Game 3 of the Korea Series. The much-anticipated rematch with Samsung starter Ariel Huarada (30), following a heated exchange that erupted in Daegu last October, is now effectively at risk of not happening.

KT announced its starting lineup ahead of Game 3 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Korea Series (best-of-seven) against Samsung, scheduled for the 6th at Daegu Samsung Lions Park.

The name that delivered the biggest shock in the lineup was undoubtedly Choe Won-jun. The name of Choe Won-jun, who had driven over 200 hits in the regular season to serve as the vanguard of the team’s offense, was missing from the starting roster.

KT manager Lee Kang-cheol directly conveyed that an injury was the reason for Choe Won-jun’s exclusion from the starting lineup during a pre-game briefing. The manager explained, “(Choe) Won-jun hit the fence and his hand got a bit swollen.” He added, “He says he can play, but I don’t think he will be able to handle defense well.” He further stated, “As the game progresses, it could swell more. For now, we are watching the situation and thinking about using him as a pinch hitter once in a crucial moment.”

Consequently, the likelihood of the matchup between Choe Won-jun and Huarada, which had drawn the attention of baseball fans before the game, became slim. The two players had created a tense atmosphere during their regular season matchup on October 11 in Daegu, when Choe Won-jun threw his bat down despite drawing a walk.

The incident occurred on the same field where Choe Won-jun’s ‘200-hit challenge’ was unfolding. Fans had expected them to face each other again on the big stage of the Korea Series after about a month, but with Choe Won-jun waiting in the bench, the matchup will be difficult unless he is inserted as a pinch hitter at a decisive moment while Huarada remains on the mound.

Meanwhile, KT fielded its lineup with Kim Min-hyuk (left fielder) – Ahn Hyun-min (right fielder) – Kim Hyun-soo (first baseman) – Hilliard (center fielder) – Jang Seong-woo (designated hitter) – Kim Sang-su (second baseman) – Ryu Hyeon-in (third baseman) – Jo Dae-hyun (catcher) – Jang Jun-won (shortstop). It is a positive sign that Kim Sang-su returned after being hit in the leg by his own foul ball in Game 2. So Hyoung-jun will take the mound as the starting pitcher.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original