Will the tryout held a year ago become a stroke of genius? Another discharge myth is showing signs of emerging in the pitching kingdom of KT Wiz.

The right-handed rookie Choi Yong-jun (24) of the professional baseball KT Wiz made a relief appearance in an away game against the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League Kia Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 19th, pitching 1⅔ innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 2 without allowing any runs, extending his streak of no runs allowed to 6 games since his call-up to the first team on the 3rd.

Choi Yong-jun took the mound after the starting pitcher Bae Je-seong with one out and runners on second and third in the bottom of the fourth inning with a 0-1 deficit. The start was shaky. He faced the first batter, Oh Seon-woo, and allowed a 1-RBI double, and then walked Choi Won-jun after allowing a single to Kim Ho-ryeong, creating a bases-loaded situation with one out. However, Choi Yong-jun managed to end the inning without allowing further runs by forcing Kim Tae-gun into a second baseman's infield fly and Kim Kyu-sung into a third baseman's fly ball. It was a moment that highlighted his crisis management ability.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, while trailing 0-2, he allowed a single to Lee Chang-jin, but after Lee Chang-jin's failed stolen base attempt, he struck out Park Chan-ho and Patrick Wisdom consecutively with swings and misses. End of inning.

Choi Yong-jun handed over the baton to left-handed pitcher Jeon Yong-joo and finished the game while still trailing 0-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning. He threw 27 pitches and confidently accounted for 5 outs without any runs, maintaining a season ERA of 0 (8 innings, no runs allowed).

Choi Yong-jun has a lot of backstory. He graduated from Busan Technical High School and achieved his dream of going pro by being picked 96th in the 10th round of the 2020 rookie draft by Kia, but he experienced the high wall of the first team with a record of 0 wins and 1 loss and an ERA of 14.21 in 3 games during the 2021 season. Choi Yong-jun, who only appeared in 8 games in the second team during the 2022 season, felt the pain of being released at the end of the season.

Choi Yong-jun did not give up and aimed for re-entry into the professional scene by heading to the independent league Paju Challengers. In April 2024, the opportunity for the KT tryout came, and he proudly received the acceptance notice, marking his return to the KBO League after two years.

Having recorded 2 wins and 1 loss with an ERA of 5.40 in 12 games in the Futures League last year, Choi Yong-jun was recognized for his potential and gained experience by accompanying the first team through KT's systematic training program 'Big Tory Tour' in the early part of this season.

On the 3rd, Choi Yong-jun was finally called up by Manager Lee Kang-cheol and was named to the first-team roster. That day, he made a relief appearance in the game against the Hanwha Eagles, pitching 1⅔ innings, allowing 2 hits, striking out 1, and recording a strong impression without allowing any runs. It was a successful return to the first team after approximately four years since the game against KT on October 15, 2021.

Choi Yong-jun's season record stands at an ERA of 0 over 6 games. He has pitched 8 innings, recorded 5 strikeouts, and only allowed 1 walk. Coincidentally, he exhibited stability by not allowing any runs against the hottest teams in professional baseball as of June, including Hanwha (on the 3rd and 5th), Lotte Giants (on the 10th and 12th), and Kia (on the 17th and 19th).

Choi Yong-jun is expected to fill the gap left by the injured Son Dong-hyun and Kim Min-soo in winning situations in the future. Manager Lee Kang-cheol noted, "I will use Choi Yong-jun in crucial situations. He’s the best. His slider and changeup are good, and his command has stabilized. He is tall, has great velocity, and a calm personality. Even when we were behind by one run, he handled it well," which hints at the birth of another discharge myth.

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