The 1R franchise star trade of all my 20s, Kia fans really said goodbye
Jul 31, 2025
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It took three full days. A trade that was so shocking. Choi Won-joon vowed a new start at the NC Dinos, leaving a tearful goodbye to KIA and KIA fans, who have been franchise stars for the past decade.
Choi Won-joon expressed his sincere feelings about the trade by posting his last photo of him wearing a KIA uniform on his SNS late at night on the 30th.
Choi Won-jun was happy and honored to be loved as Choi Won-jun of the KIA Tigers for half of my baseball life and all of my 20s. I couldn't win the fourth championship that I promised my fans, but I really hope I can face it higher. So far, it has been Choi Won-joon of the KIA Tigers. Once again, I would like to thank the KIA Tigers fans for their generous support.
Choi Won-joon was included in the 3-3 trade between KIA and NC on the 28th, causing a big shock. KIA received pitcher Kim Si-hoon, Han Jae-seung, and infielder Chung Hyeon-chang, risking bleeding by giving up a large number of first-team players to NC, including Choi Won-joon, outfielder Lee Woo-sung, and infielder Hong Jong-pyo. KIA's bullpen situation, which had one win, one draw and seven losses in the second half of the year, was so bad that it was an inevitable choice.
Choi Won-joon graduated from Seoul High School and wore a KIA uniform as the third-ranked player in the second round of the 2016 Rookie Draft, and has been a franchise star for 10 years until this year. He recorded a career-high 822 games, a batting average of 0.280 (719 hits in 2,566 at-bats), 29 homers and 258 RBIs for KIA.
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However, he has rarely established himself in KIA this year. He prepared for the season more enthusiastically than any other year as he was set to become his first FA in his life, hitting only 0.224 (50 hits in 223 times at bat) in 70 games in the first half. In the second half, he had only four at-bats in six games before the trade.
While Choi Won-joon was sluggish, the outfield players, including Kim Ho-ryeong, Oh Sun-woo, Ko Jong-wook, and Kim Seok-hwan, became thicker. Third baseman Kim Do-young returns, and Patrick Wisdom, who is now in charge of third baseman, has to return to first base. Center fielder Kim Ho-ryeong and right fielder Na Sung-beom were fixed, and in the end, KIA and Choi Won-joon were also lost. This is why KIA made way for Choi Won-joon.
Choi Won-joon, who left Gwangju in shock, started as the ninth batter and center fielder against the Lotte Giants in Busan on the 30th and led the team to a 9-4 victory. Two hits in four at-bats, one steal, and three RBIs. When he made a satisfactory performance for the first time since moving, he left a real goodbye that he had endured so far.
NC is the team that brought Choi Won-joon to use right away. Choi Won-joon made a new start in NC, where he worked hard to feel his value again on the ground.
Choi Won-joon thanked the NC Dinos fans for welcoming him warmly. I want to become a player who works harder and develops to win NC and deliver happiness and joy to Dinos fans. thank you" he expressed his sincerity.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
