After achieving his first win at 1 victory and 16 games, Choi Won-jun (Doosan Bears) was offered a transition to the bullpen during the All-Star break. While frequent position changes during the preliminary free agent season are generally not desirable, Choi Won-jun gladly accepted it for the team.
Doosan Bears acting manager Jo Seong-hwan, reflecting on the All-Star break, made the decision to transition Choi Won-jun, who dedicated himself as a starter in the first half, to the bullpen while planning the second half starting rotation. He selected rookie Choi Min-seok as Choi Won-jun's substitute and built a new starting lineup comprising Ko Eobin, Kwak Bin, Jack Log, Choi Seung-yong, and Choi Min-seok. This rotation will be implemented starting from the first game of the second half against the Incheon SSG Landers on the 17th.
The reason for replacing Choi Won-jun with Choi Min-seok was the judgment that Choi Won-jun would maximize his performance in the bullpen while Choi Min-seok would excel as a starter. Choi Won-jun struggled in the first half with a record of 1 win and 6 losses over 16 games and an earned run average (ERA) of 4.57. In contrast, Choi Min-seok, despite being in his debut season, made a strong impact with a record of 1 win and 2 losses in 8 games and an ERA of 3.63. Unlike typical high school graduates, he confidently showcased his pitches against seasoned veterans, successfully catching the acting manager Jo's attention. Gaining experience as a starter aligns with the rebuilding principles of Jo Seong-hwan's team.
Choi Won-jun, who was selected by Doosan with the first pick in the 2017 rookie draft, is experiencing the preliminary free agent season this year. Shortly before the season began, he was eliminated from the competition for the fifth starter position against Kim Yu-seong and Choi Jun-ho but had the fortune of being assigned as the third starter due to the injury of the native ace Kwak Bin. However, he suffered from unfortunate win-loss records, managing only 1 victory despite 5 quality starts across 16 games in the first half. In the final game of the first half against KT Wiz on July 5, he tasted his much-anticipated first win, throwing 6 innings while allowing just 1 run.
Choi Won-jun, who finally secured his first win after much hardship, was removed from the first team on the 6th, marking a satisfactory end to the first half. Initially expected to lead Doosan's comeback in collaboration with Kwak Bin and Choi Seung-yong to form a local trio, he unexpectedly received notice of his transition to the bullpen. Acting manager Jo Seong-hwan attempted to persuade Choi Won-jun, who had ambitions to remain a starter, and it is reported that Choi Won-jun accepted the manager's request to 'provide strength in the bullpen.'
From the perspective of being a preliminary free agent, Choi Won-jun's performance in the first half can be deemed close to failing. With his transition to the bullpen in the second half now confirmed, a drastic change in his current record seems unlikely. The reality is that he cannot dream of a big free agency delight when exercising his free agency rights after this season. He may have to reconsider his future after opting for another chance at free agency.
Nevertheless, if he applies for free agency, his character and team-first mentality must be reflected in his contract. Choi Won-jun is someone who has never blamed his teammates despite the winless misfortune in the first half. He took full responsibility for the reasons behind his lack of wins and quietly participated in all 16 games. Additionally, he played a significant role as a mental support for Doosan's pitching staff by offering advice to younger teammates who performed better than him.
On June 5, Choi Won-jun approached the acting manager, who was contemplating making a pitching change during the game against KIA Tigers, and said he could be replaced, impressing the acting manager.
The acting manager said, 'When Choi Won-jun was preparing for the 6th inning at the end of the 5th, he told me, ‘If you want to win the game, you can change me.’ This allowed me to boldly replace him with Ko Hyo-jun.' He added, 'Choi Won-jun’s one statement became a tremendous source of strength. How one speaks can indeed be a crucial part of team play, and Choi Won-jun reminded me of that.' He praised Choi Won-jun's character.
Starting from the 17th, Choi Won-jun will move to the bullpen, taking on one of the roles in the back end. Although it is not the starting role he desired, today's baseball allows him to showcase his presence in the bullpen as well. Let’s hope for performances from Choi Won-jun in the second half that demonstrate team-first quality, leaving behind the misfortune of the first half.
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