Samsung Lions Veteran Choi Hyoung-woo Embraces Reduced Postseason Role
The 42-year-old slugger says he supports the Samsung Lions’ plan to prioritize defense and younger players in their postseason series against his former club, the Kia Tigers.
Samsung Lions veteran Choi Hyoung-woo is prepared to trade a starting role for a place on the bench as his club begins a best-of-five Korea Baseball Organization postseason series against the Kia Tigers.
The 42-year-old was among the league’s most productive hitters during the regular season, becoming one of only seven players to bat at least .300 while driving in 100 or more runs. Yet the Lions left him out of the starting lineup announced for Sunday’s series opener in Daegu, which was later postponed by rain and rescheduled for Monday.
The decision reflects a defensive calculation prompted by an injury elsewhere in the lineup. Left fielder Koo Ja-wook is returning from a hamstring problem and is expected to serve as the designated hitter while his mobility remains limited. That position is normally occupied by Choi, who made only six outfield appearances during the regular season.
Manager Park Jin-man instead chose 26-year-old Park Seung-kyu for left field, favoring the younger player’s range and defense in a high-stakes series. Park indicated that Choi could still appear in the outfield later in a game, particularly if the Lions want to keep his bat in the lineup after using him as a pinch hitter.
Choi said he believes the arrangement gives Samsung its best chance to win. He acknowledged that entering an outfield assignment midway through a game would make him nervous, but said he would take the field if asked. He expressed greater confidence about pinch-hitting, explaining that he can control his routine and approach at the plate even in a pressure situation.
The matchup carries added significance for Choi because it comes against the Tigers, where he played from 2017 through 2025. He returned last winter to the Lions, the organization that originally drafted him in 2001. Choi said he has remained in contact with former teammates but expects both sides to focus fully on winning once the series begins.
Samsung enters the round after receiving a bye for finishing second in the regular-season standings. Third-seeded Kia advanced by sweeping defending champion LG Twins in the previous round.
Choi’s willingness to accept a smaller role gives the Lions flexibility as they manage Koo’s recovery and seek stronger outfield defense. His bat nevertheless remains a significant late-game option, leaving Park with the choice of deploying one of the KBO’s most experienced hitters at a decisive moment or asking him to handle unfamiliar defensive duties.