Choi Won-jun (26-KIA Tigers) was discharged from the commercial baseball team on December 12.
Three days before he was scheduled to be discharged. The KBO and the Korea Baseball Softball Association announced the final 24-man roster for the Hangzhou Asian Games baseball team. Although there was an age limit of 25 and under, Choi Won-jun was named as one of three wild cards.
It’s been five years since he earned the honor after representing his country at the 2017 Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC).
“As a baseball player, it’s something that everyone dreams of from a young age, and it’s such an honor,” Choi said. “I was honored, but at the same time, I felt like I was being recognized, so I went to practice with the idea that I needed to do better.”
In the preliminary roster for the Asian Games, the outfield was a problematic spot. Aside from Lee Jung-hoo and Choi Ji-hoon, there were no clear-cut hitters, and another wildcard, Choi Jae-dae (KT), was injured.
Choi Won-jun was the top hitter in the Nambu League last year, batting .388 with 2 RBIs in 92 games in the Futures League, but this year he was only .211 with 9 RBIs in 30 games.
There was a reason. Over the winter, he experimented with different batting formats. Unlike the first team, it was a time to test the waters, so I wanted to be prepared without regrets. He also had a shoulder injury at the beginning of the season, but it was decided that a ‘healthy’ Choi would be able to bounce back. His defense also played a role in his selection.
“I wasn’t really thinking about the national team. They said I was in the wild card, but I thought I was only on the roster anyway,” he said, adding, “I thought it was a mistake at first (the reserve list). I thought it was Doosan’s Choi Won-jun brother.” “Looking back, I realized that they looked at me well before I went to the army, so I thought I should work harder,” he said.
With the added responsibility of 먹튀검증 wearing the Taekwondo mark, he put on the KIA jersey with a heavier sense of responsibility, which he proved with his performance.
He joined the team right away and was named to the starting lineup on the 13th as a second baseman and first baseman. With the team’s solid outfield, he made his first appearance at first base in 1446 days on June 28, 2019, against the Suwon KT Wiz.
After training, Choi smiled and said, “My body remembers (playing first base).” He showed his ‘reserve power’. After greeting the KIA fans in the away section, he stepped up to the plate and took advantage of a two-pitch cutter from Kiwoom starter Ariel Furado for a clean hit to left field in his first at-bat.
In the eighth inning, he batted leadoff and again singled to left, completing his first multi-hit game since returning to KIA.
Kim said that he will use Choi Won-jun in the outfield when he needs to strengthen his defense. As such, he has a lot of faith in the defense.
With his perfect comeback, Choi proved that his expectations were not misplaced.