Lions veteran happy to cede spotlight to younger teammates

This will let Google show Yonhap news articles that match or are related to your search

DAEGU, Oct. 25 (Yonhap) -- Even at the advanced age of 42, Samsung Lions veteran Choi Hyoung-woo was one of the best hitters in South Korean baseball in the regular season.

He was one of just seven players to bat at least .300 and drive in at least 100 runs in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). Considering his production, it would seem like a no-brainer for the Lions to put him into their starting lineup to begin their postseason.

However, injury-related and other factors kept Choi out of the lineup against the Kia Tigers for Game 1 of their best-of-five second round Sunday. The game was eventually canceled due to rain, but Lions manager Park Jin-man will likely stick to the same batting order for the game rescheduled for Monday.

Choi Hyoung-woo of the Samsung Lions watches his batted ball during a Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game against the KT Wiz at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in the southeastern city of Daegu on Oct. 12, 2026, in this photo provided by the Lions. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Left fielder Koo Ja-wook is just coming back from a hamstring injury, and with his mobility compromised, Koo will be limited to designated-hitting duties for the time being. Normally, Koo being the designated hitter (DH) would have meant Choi, the Lions' usual DH, getting the start in the outfield, as he did in six games in the regular season.

Manager Park, though, inserted Park Seung-kyu, a more athletic defender at age 26, into the left field, not wanting to risk some adventurous times there with Choi in action in these high-stakes games.

With Choi facing his former team -- he played for the Tigers from 2017 to 2025 before rejoining the Lions, who drafted him in 2001, last winter -- Choi was expected to be among the principal figures this week. Unless Koo recovers to a point where he can play in the outfield, Choi may only pinch-hit the entire series.

"Personally, I think this is the right way to go," Choi said at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in the southeastern city of Daegu. "In order for us to win, this is the way we should do things."

Manager Park left the door open for Choi to play in the outfield at some point in the series. Park using Choi for just one pinch-hit appearance may be a waste of his talent. Keeping Choi in the game will likely mean asking him to play in the outfield at least for a couple of innings.

Choi Hyoung-woo of the Samsung Lions speaks before Game 1 of the second round in the Korea Baseball Organization postseason against the Kia Tigers at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in the southeastern city of Daegu on Oct. 25, 2026, in this photo provided by the Lions. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

When informed of the manager's plans, Choi smiled and said, "I don't know. If I am told to take the field, then I guess I have to do it."

"It is difficult enough to get a start in the outfield, but taking over midgame is even more nerve-racking. My legs will be shaking," Choi added. "But we will see how things play out. I just think that the lineup without me is good enough to win the series. I don't know if I will really have to play in the field. We have so many talented young guys here."

Choi, though, said being asked to pinch-hit in a key spot will not be as stressful for him.

"I don't typically feel pressure in those spots," he said. "Fielding is really not my forte. But when it comes to hitting, I can control how I approach my at-bat and stick to my own routine."

Whether he gets the start or sits on the bench, Choi said he was "excited" to take on his former team in a postseason series.

"It feels a lot different than playing another opponent," Choi said. "I think it is going to be fun. I have been keeping in touch with my former teammates over there. But once the series tomorrow, we will all try to win."

The Lions received a bye to this series after finishing with the second-best record in the regular season. The Tigers, No. 3 seed, had to play an extra round to get here, and they swept the defending champions LG Twins last week.

Asked to share his message with Kia players, Choi cracked: "I told them, 'You guys have been playing too well. You are not really that good. You are all going crazy.'"

jeeho@yna.co.kr (END)

Tigers slugger trying not to get caught up in numbers amid postseason surge

Tigers manager predicts low-scoring KBO postseason battle vs. Lions

Lions reliever eager for shot at revenge in KBO postseason

KBO postseason game rained out

Lions manager to lean on breakout pitcher as new closer in KBO postseason

KBO saves leader out for Lions' postseason series due to injury

American aces to face each other in KBO postseason series opener

Old KBO rivals to duel for ticket to championship series

Lions veteran happy to cede spotlight to younger teammates

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

大邱，10月25日（韩联社）——即使已经42岁高龄，三星狮队老将崔亨宇在常规赛中仍然是韩国棒球界最好的击球手之一。

他是韩国棒球联赛（KBO）历史上仅有的七位打击率至少达到.300且打点至少达到100分的球员之一。考虑到他的表现，狮队在季后赛开始时将他放入首发阵容似乎是理所当然的。

然而，由于伤病和其他因素，崔志万缺席了周日与起亚老虎队五局三胜制第二轮首场比赛的阵容。这场比赛最终因雨取消，但狮队主教练朴镇万很可能会在周一的补赛中沿用同样的打线。

2026年10月12日，在韩国东南部城市大邱的大邱三星狮公园举行的韩国棒球联赛常规赛中，三星狮队的崔亨宇正在观看自己击出的球。这张照片由三星狮队提供。（照片非卖品）（韩联社）

左外野手具滋旭刚刚从腿筋伤势中恢复，由于行动受限，他暂时只能担任指定打击。通常情况下，具滋旭担任指定打击意味着狮队常规指定打击崔志万将首发镇守外野，就像他在常规赛的六场比赛中那样。

不过，朴教练还是派上了 26 岁、运动能力更强的后卫朴承奎到左外野，不想让崔在这种高风险的比赛中冒险上场。

崔志万将面对老东家——他曾在2017年至2025年效力于底特律老虎队，之后于去年冬天重返2001年选中他的底特律狮队——因此，崔志万被认为是本周比赛的关键人物之一。除非具荷拉能够恢复到可以出任外野手的程度，否则崔志万可能整个系列赛都只能作为代打出场。

“我个人认为这是正确的做法，”崔在韩国东南部城市大邱的大邱三星狮子公园说道。“为了赢得比赛，我们就应该这样做。”

朴教练并没有排除崔志万在本系列赛中担任外野手的可能性。如果只让崔志万代打一次，或许会浪费他的天赋。要想让崔志万继续留在场上，很可能意味着至少要让他镇守外野几个局。

2026年10月25日，在韩国棒球联赛季后赛第二轮第一场比赛前，三星狮队球员崔亨宇在韩国东南部城市大邱的大邱三星狮公园球场发表讲话。这张照片由三星狮队提供。（照片非卖品）（韩联社）

得知经理的计划后，崔笑着说：“我不知道。如果让我上场，那我想我就得上。”

“在外野首发就已经够难了，中途接替上场更是让人紧张。我的腿肯定会发抖，”崔志万补充道。“不过，我们走着瞧吧。我觉得即使没有我，这套阵容也足以赢得系列赛。至于我是否真的需要上场守备，我也不确定。我们队里有很多才华横溢的年轻球员。”

不过，崔表示，被要求在关键时刻替补上场对他来说不会有太大压力。

“我通常不会在那种情况下感到压力，”他说。“守备真的不是我的强项。但说到打击，我可以控制自己上场打击的方式，并坚持自己的节奏。”

无论首发还是替补，崔表示他都很“兴奋”能在季后赛系列赛中与老东家交手。

“感觉和跟其他对手比赛很不一样，”崔说。“我觉得会很有趣。我一直和那边的队友保持联系。明天比赛开始后，我们都会全力以赴争取胜利。”

狮队常规赛战绩排名第二，直接晋级本轮系列赛。老虎队作为3号种子，需要额外打一轮才能晋级，他们在上周横扫了卫冕冠军LG双子队。

当被问及想对起亚队的球员们说些什么时，崔斗浩开玩笑说：“我告诉他们，‘你们打得太好了。你们其实没那么厉害。你们都疯了。’”

jeeho@yna.co.kr (完)

老虎队强棒在季后赛强势反弹中努力不被数据所迷惑

老虎队主教练预测与狮队的KBO季后赛将是一场低比分大战

狮队救援投手渴望在KBO季后赛中复仇

KBO季后赛比赛因雨取消

狮队主教练将在KBO季后赛中倚重这位爆发型投手担任新的终结者。

KBO联赛主力球员因伤缺席狮队季后赛系列赛

美国王牌球员将在KBO季后赛系列赛首战中交锋

老对手将在总决赛门票争夺战中展开对决

狮队老将乐于将聚光灯让给年轻队友