The bat of the veteran, who is entering the preliminary free agent season at age 42, shows no signs of slowing down. At this pace, it seems he could easily hit a third free agent jackpot at an age when retirement would be understandable. Choi Hyung-woo has always been an irreplaceable player in the KIA Tigers' lineup, both in the past and now.

On the 21st, in the fifth game of the season against the KT Wiz at Suwon KT Wiz Park, KIA fell into a two-game losing streak with a 1-3 defeat. Despite the loss, a player shone brightly; Choi Hyung-woo started as the designated hitter and hit 3 for 4.

Choi Hyung-woo, who loosened up with a ground ball to shortstop in the first inning, hit a double to right field against KT's starting pitcher Go Young-pyo with two outs and no runners on in the third inning, achieving a hit in eight consecutive games. Then, still trailing 1-2 in the fifth inning with one out and a runner on first, he hit a fortune-favored double just over the head of the third baseman, early on achieving a multi-hit game.

Choi Hyung-woo's bat did not stop. In the seventh inning, trailing 1-3, he came up as the leadoff hitter and got a hit against the new pitcher Son Dong-hyun, completing his fourth three-hit game of the season after five games since the match against the Lotte Giants in Gwangju on the 15th.

Thanks to his three-hit performance, Choi Hyung-woo raised his season batting average from .324 to .336. This was the moment he claimed the second spot in professional baseball hitting, following 삼성 라이온즈 (Samsung Lions) Kim Seong-yun, who has a batting average of .340.

Choi Hyung-woo's performance this season at age 42 is truly remarkable. With a batting average of .336 over 44 games, including 51 hits, 8 home runs, 31 RBIs, and 22 runs scored, he leads the Tigers' offense with a slugging percentage of .605, an on-base percentage of .430, and an OPS of 1.035. He has outperformed many younger players, topping various hitting metrics such as OPS, on-base percentage, second in batting average, tied for eighth in hits, tied for eighth in RBIs, and tied for ninth in home runs. True to his nickname as the KIA solution provider, his batting average with runners in scoring position is .375.

While the KIA lineup is suffering from injuries and prolonged slumps, Choi Hyung-woo consistently carries his share in the lineup, rain or shine. Following the matches on the 20th and 21st, it was noted that 'KIA is playing baseball with only Choi Hyung-woo.'

Coincidentally, Choi Hyung-woo is swinging the bat as fiercely as in his prime in his preliminary free agent season. With the current momentum, a third free agent jackpot seems assured. At the age of 42, he is showing signs of hitting a jackpot as an active player, even at an age when retirement would be understandable.

Ahead of the 2017 season, Choi Hyung-woo signed his first free agent contract with KIA for a total of 10 billion won over four years. Then, in December 2020, he exercised his second free agent right and remained with KIA for a total of 4.7 billion won over three years. After proving his consistency, he even secured a multi-year contract last January worth 2.2 billion won over 1+1 years. Last year, he hit 22 home runs, successfully extending his option contract.

Interest is focused on whether Choi Hyung-woo, who is continuously breaking the oldest record in the institutional sector, will be recognized for the dignity of being the oldest player in a third free agent contract.

[OSEN]