Poor → trade in the FA season. FA Choi Won-joon, who held hands with Hoduji, is on the bench for three to four weeks
Jul 31, 2025
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In the 10th year of his debut, something big happened in the most important year of his baseball life. Choi Won-joon, who changed his uniform from KIA Tigers to NC Dinos, will now play for NC with the 10 years of love he received from KIA fans.
The moment of separation hurts. Choi Won-jun said "I was moved because many fans contacted me through SNS. The time of the past 10 years came to my mind, he said. "Older brothers such as Yang Hyun-jong, Choi Hyung-woo, and Kim Sun-bin also contacted me and encouraged me. He told me to think that it was a good opportunity because it was an equally good opportunity. I also think NC reached out because they needed me," he said, expressing his sudden separation from KIA, who has played for 10 years.
No one would have expected Choi Won-joon to leave KIA in this way. Choi Won-joon, who showed his hotachoon style with a batting average of 292, nine homers, 56 RBIs and 21 steals last year, raised his stock price as a preliminary FA this season.
However, the burden of the FA season plunged him into a slump. He had a batting average of 229 (52 for 227) with four homers, 19 RBIs and nine steals in 76 games.
KIA, who felt the need to strengthen the mound, made a 3-3 trade with NC, and Choi Won-joon, who NC manager Lee Ho-joon wanted, was the main player.
Coach Lee Ho-joon was focusing on the psychological things caused by the FA rather than technical problems for Choi Won-joon. Choi Won-jun said "I think the director said it well, but there seemed to be a psychological part and a lack of technology." Now, all I want to do is to do well,' he said. "I think you've only seen my good points. I think I need to show you my quickness in defense, and I want to show my strengths as much as possible in hitting and running base"
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Now, I just want to play baseball rather than FA. Choi Won-joon, who said `I really don't have any thoughts about it now,' stayed on the bench for about three to four weeks before coming to NC. And I found it interesting to play baseball. That's why I'm so happy to be able to play in the game, and that's the only thought I have."
He gave too much love and heart to KIA fans for 10 years. Choi Won-joon, who said, `I won't forget and will always be in my heart.' to NC fans, expressed his determination, `You don't know me well yet, but I'll only show you good performances from now on so that the team can reach the highest place.'
Choi Won-joon, who played as the second batter and had no hits in four at-bats against Lotte on the 29th, came out as the ninth batter on the 30th and showed two hits in four at-bats, three RBIs and two runs. In the top of the second inning, he hit an RBI right-handed hit from Lotte starter Gamboa with two outs and runners on the first and second bases, an RBI infield grounder in the top of the sixth inning, and a sacrifice fly to left field in the top of the seventh inning. In the top of the ninth inning, he hit a right-handed hit and scored.
Choi Won-joon said, `I had a lot of thoughts that I didn't want to come to the trade and hurt the team's rise, but I was worried that it didn't go away in the first game. I feel good because I think I showed a good performance today. "The coach told me to turn the bat quickly because it's okay to be struck out rather than aimed at it. In addition, Seo Jae-eung, the head coach, took care of me a lot from KIA, but he told me not to lose my smile and not to lower my head because I couldn't do it well. As many of NC's older brothers and juniors welcomed it, I want to contribute to NC's rise to the high ranking."
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
