Can he succeed in achieving 3,000 hits and 2,000 RBIs?

KIA Tigers' Choi Hyung-woo is regarded as a batting genius by his teammates. Despite being well past 40, he is performing at the top level of the league because of it. In particular, when a chance is given, he impressively connects it to runs with his consolidation ability, which has left many in awe. Oh Seon-woo, who mimics his batting stance, has even expressed admiration, saying, 'It’s like he is a god.'

Looking at the performance naturally makes one nod. He has a batting average of .335 (3rd), 37 RBIs, and 10 home runs, a batting average of .346 with runners in scoring position, a slugging percentage of .579, and an on-base percentage of .434. He proudly ranks 1st in OPS (1.013). He is achieving the best results in the league, surpassing the team's top hitter. It’s hard to believe that he will turn 42 this December.

He has also received another monumental award. On the 9th, he was selected as the May monthly MVP for the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League. This marked his 6th award since May 2017, setting a personal record for the most awards. He received a total score of 37.14 points, with 19 votes (54.3%) from the press and 121,124 votes (20%) from fans among 605,631 votes. He surpassed Hanwha's Cody Ponce, who recorded a 1.91 earned run average with a 3-win, no-loss record in May.

He recorded a May batting average of .470, a slugging percentage of .721, and an on-base percentage of .550. His OPS also ranked 1st at an overwhelming 1.226. Additionally, he ranked 3rd in hits with 35 and 5th in RBIs with 23. He played in 25 games, recording 10 multi-hit games and a streak of hits in 16 consecutive games. His seasonal batting average stands at .335, ranking 3rd in the league.

Notably, he became the first player over the age of 40 to win a monthly MVP, breaking the record for the oldest recipient. As of June 9, at 41 years, 5 months, and 24 days old, Choi Hyung-woo surpassed the previous record held by NC manager Lee Ho-jun, who was 39 years, 3 months, and 26 days old during May 2015 (according to the announcement date of June 3, 2015). He can be seen as a player who is defying time.

Despite starting players like Na Sung-bum, Kim Do-young, Kim Sun-bin, and Park Chan-ho being sidelined by injuries or experiencing a period of vacancy, Choi Hyung-woo is solidly holding the center. This has garnered even more admiration, with his juniors revering him. He explains that it is 'thanks to the healthy body passed down from my parents,' but his significant efforts make his results shine even brighter.

It is necessary to watch whether he can continue the current trend. The players are entering the grueling summer season, during which their batting pace may drop. However, considering his unique indestructible hardware, it may not impact him significantly. He is expected to navigate through it wisely while managing his stamina.

At the end of the season, he will acquire his third free agency qualification. If he achieves excellent results, he may secure another significant contract. At the same time, the possibility of his dreams of 3,000 hits and 2,000 RBIs is also drawing attention. As of the 9th, he has recorded 2,512 hits and 1,688 RBIs. He needs to reach 488 hits and 312 RBIs. It would be possible if he plays full-time for about three years starting next year. Although the figures still seem unattainable, there is a glimmer of hope for a player who appears to have time flowing in reverse.

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