The defending champion KIA Tigers, haunted by injuries, are stuck in the lower ranks. However, they have only played 22 games so far. If injured players, including MVP Kim Do-young, return, a different level of performance will surely emerge. The Tigers' dream of a second consecutive championship remains valid.

KIA Tigers outfielder Choi Won-jun started as the number 9 center fielder on the 19th in the second game of the season against the Doosan Bears, held at Seoul's Jamsil Stadium in the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League, where he showcased a one-man show with 3 hits in 4 at-bats, 3 RBIs, and 1 run, leading his team to an 8-4 victory.

Manager Lee Beom-ho noted, “In the 6th inning with 2 outs, Choi Won-jun’s perseverance in maintaining his swing under a disadvantageous ball count and scoring the decisive run was a significant help to today’s victory,” naming Choi Won-jun as the MVP.

Choi Won-jun, who broke the ice with a ground ball to second base in the 3rd inning, ignited a 3-hit performance by hitting an RBI single to right field in the 4th inning with 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd base, extending the lead to 3-2.

The highlight was the third at-bat. In the 6th inning, with the score tied at 4-4 and 2 outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd, he hit a 2-RBI single against Doosan's ace Lee Young-ha, marking the moment of the decisive hit. He then came up as the leadoff hitter in the 9th inning, achieving his first 3-hit game of the season with a double, and was responsible for the clinching run on Hong Jong-pyo's sacrifice fly. It was a significant turnaround for a batter with a 0.059 batting average in scoring position.

After the game, Choi Won-jun said, “I hadn’t had good results in scoring position this year, so I’m glad I was able to contribute an important run for the team’s victory. The coaches and manager have continuously believed in me and given me chances. Fellow left-handed batters Choi Hyung-woo and Na Sung-bum also provided great encouragement. By trusting myself and pushing forward, I was able to achieve good results.”

Regarding the situation of the decisive hit in the 6th inning, he mentioned, “After getting a hit in scoring position for the first time in a while in the previous at-bat, I felt psychologically more comfortable. Honestly, when I had 2 strikes, I had also let go. But fortunately, I got a hit.”

Choi Won-jun raised his season batting average from 0.197 to 0.227. Can we say he set the stage for a rebound with 3 hits today? He stated, “Hitting is something I don’t really understand. You can do well today and then not do well tomorrow. It’s a bit hard for me to comment on how I'm doing right now. However, it is definitely better than the beginning of the season.”

With this victory, the defending champion KIA achieved its 10th win of the season (12 losses) late in the season. Injuries to players such as Kim Do-young, Kwak Do-kyu, and Kim Sun-bin have prevented the team from showcasing its championship prowess. It has been a season that has once again reinforced how difficult it is to achieve a .500 winning percentage.

Choi Won-jun analyzed the cause of the slump, saying, “We are in a position to defend our first place. We’ve been there once, and we really want to do it again, so everyone is keeping their heads up. But we all believe without a doubt that we will definitely be at the top when it’s all over. Things will only get better from here.”

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