“I thought it was 0%.”
Choi Won-jun (26, KIA Tigers) was discharged from the Sangmu baseball team on the 12th.
The 9th, the 3rd before the discharge. The KBO and the Korea Baseball Softball Association announced the final 24 players for the Hangzhou Asian Games baseball team. Although there was an age limit of 25 years old or younger, Choi Won-jun was listed as one of the three wild card players.
The Taegeuk mark was worn for the first time in five years since the 2017 APBC (Asian Professional Baseball Championship) national team.메이저놀이터
Choi Won-joon said, “As a baseball player, becoming a national representative since childhood is a dream that everyone dreams of, and it is a very honorable position.” told
The 2023 KBO League Kiwoom Heroes and KIA Targiz match will be held at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 13th. KIA Choi Won-joon poses in front of Choi Jae-jin after being discharged. Gocheok = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com/2023.06.13/
In the preliminary entry for the Asian Games, the outfielder’s position was a concern. Except for Lee Jung-hoo and Choi Ji-hoon, there were no players who came out clearly. Another wild card player, Bae Jeong-dae (KT), was injured.
Choi Won-joon became the Southern League batting champion by posting a batting average of 3.82 in 92 games in the Futures League last year, but this year he only batted in 30 games with a batting average of .219.
There was a reason. He tested during the winter, including changing his batting form. Unlike the 1st team, he meant to prepare without regret, as it is a testable time. He also had a shoulder injury at the beginning of the season. However, it was judged that if he was a ‘healthy’ Choi Won-joon, he would be able to successfully rebound. His decent defense also played a part in his promotion to the national team.
Choi Won-jun said, “Actually, I didn’t think about the national team. They say I’m on the wild card, but I thought it was only on the list anyway.” He continued, “Looking back, I thought that I had to work harder because I thought they looked at me favorably before I went to the army.”
As he wore the Taegeuk mark, he wore the KIA uniform with a greater sense of responsibility and proved it with his performance.
He joined the team immediately with the discharge, and was named to the starting lineup as the second hitter and first baseman on the 13th. As the team’s outfield is solid, he will play as first baseman after 1446 days against Suwon KT Wiz on June 28, 2019.
After finishing training, Choi Won-joon, who smiled and said, “(First base defense) my body remembers,” showed ‘reserve power’. After greeting the KIA fans who filled the away box, he entered the plate and made a neat hit in the left field by targeting the second cutter of Ariel Furado, the starting pitcher of Kiwoom, in the first at-bat.
In the 8th inning, he came out as the lead batter and got another hit to the left, finishing his first game after returning to KIA with a multi-hit.
Coach Kim revealed that he would use Choi Won-joon as an outfielder when the defense needs to be strengthened. As much as that, faith in defense is firm.
Choi Won-joon proved that his expectations for himself were not wrong with his perfect comeback match.