Choi Won-jun's Three Hits, Stolen Base Lift KT

[OSEN=Suwon, Lee Hoo-kwang Reporter] This is what a "generous FA" looks like. Choi Won-jun, an outfielder for the KT Wiz, started as the leadoff center fielder on the 8th at Suwon KT Wiz Park in the 15th head-to-head match of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League against the SSG Landers. He put on a one-man show with 3 hits in 4 at-bats, 1 walk, 1 run scored, and 1 stolen base, leading his team to a 3-1 victory and ending a three-game losing streak. With the score still 0-0 in the bottom of the 1st inning, Choi faced SSG starter Kim Geon-woo and hit a line drive to left field to begin his three-hit performance. In the bottom of the 2nd inning, still tied 0-0 with one out and runners on first and second, he executed a precise infield single to load the bases. On the seventh pitch—a 125 km/h curveball from Kim Geon-woo at full count—he hit a weakly struck ball but sprinted furiously to reach first base ahead of Kim Geon-woo's cover. Following Ahn Hyun-min's two-run timely hit, Choi advanced from second to third base. Then, during Sam Hilliard's at-bat, he stole home while Ahn Hyun-min attempted to steal second base, securing an unearned run. Choi's swift baserunning proved decisive. Choi continued his dominance in the bottom of the 4th inning, hitting another line drive to left field with one out and a runner on first, achieving three hits in a single game for the first time in three weeks since August 16 against the Kiwoom Heroes in Suwon. He later drew a walk in the bottom of the 6th inning with one out and a runner on first, completing a four-time-on-base game. Adding three hits, Choi raised his season batting average from .339 to .342, continuing his competition for the batting title with Koo Ja-wook (Samsung Lions), Víctor Reyes (Lotte Giants), and Austin Dean (LG Twins). KT manager Lee Kang-chul praised, 'Ahn Hyun-min's two RBIs and Choi Won-jun's smart baserunning allowed us to score three runs and win.' A graduate of Seoul High School, Choi was selected as the third pick in the second round of the 2016 rookie draft by the KIA Tigers. He remained a one-club man until last July when he was traded to the NC Dinos in a three-for-three deal. Unable to overcome the pressure of being a pre-FA player, he finished the season with a .242 average, 6 home runs, 44 RBIs, and 62 runs scored in 126 games. During the offseason, Choi exercised his first FA rights. Contrary to experts' predictions of a lengthy negotiation, he signed a four-year contract worth up to 4.8 billion Korean won with KT on November 4. The deal included a 2.2 billion Korean won signing bonus, 2 billion Korean won in annual salary, and 600 million Korean won in incentives, with 4.2 billion Korean won guaranteed—a groundbreaking offer. KT's acquisition of Choi is hailed as a masterstroke. In 114 games this season, he has batted .342 with 163 hits, 8 home runs, 62 RBIs, 97 runs scored, 25 stolen bases, a .466 slugging percentage, a .416 on-base percentage, an .882 OPS, and a .333 batting average with runners in scoring position, leading the "Wizard Army" offense. Although KT struggled with clutch hitting in scoring position in every inning except the 2nd, they secured a valuable win thanks to their pitching and Choi's sensational baserunning in the 2nd inning. /backlight@osen.co.kr