Choi Won-tae, LG's dream winner, the reason why he woke up at Samsung → He had a good eye, just didn't know how to use it

Oct 20, 2025

Choi Won-tae, LG's dream winner, the reason why he woke up at Samsung → He had a good eye, just didn't know how to use it
The second round of PO between Samsung and Hanwha at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 19th. Choi Won-tae, who finished pitching scoreless in the bottom of the seventh inning, is cheering. Daejeon = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.10.19/



Choi Won-tae, LG's dream winner, the reason why he woke up at Samsung → He had a good eye, just didn't know how to use it
The second round of PO between Samsung and Hanwha at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 19th. Choi Won-tae is happy with Won Tae-in after pitching in the seventh inning. Daejeon = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.10.19/
I think it's what the LG Twins dreamed of.

Samsung Lions Choi Won-tae completely smashed the image of being weak in big games. Samsung manager Park Jin-man said, `Choi Won-tae, who was seen as weak in the postseason, seems to have become the man of the postseason. It was perfect pitching," he praised.

This is the potential that LG saw first. I couldn't bloom at LG, but I came to Samsung and woke up. LG's eye was right in the end. I just didn't know how to use it.




Choi Won-tae transferred through a large trade between LG and Kiwoom in 2023. LG gave up Lee Joo-hyung, a top outfield prospect, to win the championship and immediately recruited Choi Won-tae, a starting pitcher.

Choi Won-tae was 'Winning Composer'. LG succeeded in winning the combined championship in 2023.

However, Choi Won-tae actually started Game 2 of the Korean Series and was sluggish by allowing four runs in ⅓ innings. In the 2024 semi-playoff, he also struggled with three runs (two earned) in two ⅔ innings. In the playoffs, he allowed five runs in three innings.




LG released Choi Won-tae, who became an FA after the 2024 season. LG, seeking to win the Korean Series, had no reason to invest a large amount of money in Choi Won-tae, who is weak in the postseason. Choi Won-tae signed a four-year contract with Samsung for up to 7 billion won.

Choi Won-tae, LG's dream winner, the reason why he woke up at Samsung → He had a good eye, just didn't know how to use it
The second round of PO between Samsung and Hanwha at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 19th. Choi Won-tae roars after pitching in the seventh inning. Daejeon = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.10.19/
Choi Won-tae, LG's dream winner, the reason why he woke up at Samsung → He had a good eye, just didn't know how to use it
The second round of PO between Samsung and Hanwha held at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 19th. Samsung starter Choi Won-tae is pitching hard. Daejeon = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.10.19/
'Overpay' There was a lot of criticism. This is because Choi Won-tae had two losses and three holds and one save and an ERA of 11.16 in the postseason until last year without winning 17 games (six starts).

But such a story has now gone in. Choi Won-tae changed 180 degrees this fall. On the 9th, he became the winning pitcher (six scoreless innings) and MVP in the first round of the semi-playoff against SSG Landers. On the 19th, he won another MVP as the winning pitcher (one run in seven innings) in the second playoff game against the Hanwha Eagles.




Choi Won-tae said the existence of 'Captor Kang Min-ho' is the secret to good pitching. Choi Won-tae threw according to Min-ho's signature without thinking. Minho led us well. It's all thanks to Minho."

Choi Won-tae, LG's dream winner, the reason why he woke up at Samsung → He had a good eye, just didn't know how to use it
The second round of PO between Samsung and Hanwha held at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 19th. Samsung starter Choi Won-tae is pitching hard. Daejeon = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.10.19/
Choi Won-tae, LG's dream winner, the reason why he woke up at Samsung → He had a good eye, just didn't know how to use it
The first PO match between Samsung and Hanwha held at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 18th. Kang Min-ho is in pain after being hit by Moon Hyun-bin's ball. Daejeon = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.10.18/
Choi Won-tae, LG's dream winner, the reason why he woke up at Samsung → He had a good eye, just didn't know how to use it
The second round of PO between Samsung and Hanwha held at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 19th. In the top of the ninth inning, Kang Min-ho hit a two-run home run and cheered with two outs and a runner on first base. Daejeon = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.10.19/
Kang Min-ho revealed that Choi Won-tae was originally strong in his argument.

Kang Min-ho "He didn't listen to me during the regular season. Just trying to throw the ball hard, I got a lot off. Let's slow down and throw it in the square. That part went well in both games."

Choi Won-tae was mentally mature above all else.

Choi Won-tae said "I have a little stubbornness. When I got excited, I couldn't control myself"He confessed why he didn't listen to Kang Min-ho." Choi Won-tae said, `Now I can control myself. I'll listen to Minho and do my best at next year's camp"I vowed.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.