Invested 10.8 Billion Won in Choi Won-joon, Kim Hyun-soo, and Han Seung-taek; Silencing Pre-Season Doubts

The professional baseball team KT Wiz has captured its first regular-season pennant in five years, driven by the phenomenal success of their free-agent (FA) acquisitions.

On October 5, KT secured a commanding 9-0 victory over the Lotte Giants in their home game at Suwon KT Wiz Park.

With this win, KT finished with an impressive record of 86 wins, 5 ties, and 49 losses (a .637 winning percentage). Sitting 4.5 games ahead of the second-place Samsung 라이온즈 (82 wins, 3 ties, 54 losses, .603), they locked up the pennant race regardless of the remaining games.

This championship marks the greatest season in franchise history. KT's previous record for most wins and highest winning percentage was set in 2021 with 81 wins and a .566 winning percentage. Having already shattered the franchise record with 86 wins, KT has secured its first-ever 60%-plus winning season. If they win their remaining four games, they could reach the milestone of 90 wins in a regular season for the first time in 8 years, a feat last accomplished by the Doosan Bears in 2018.

Pre-Season Doubts Erased by 10.8 Billion Won Investment

Before the opening of the season, KT was not widely considered a championship favorite.

After finishing 6th last season and missing the postseason, the stove league dealt a major blow when the core hitter Kang Baek-ho transferred to the Hanwha Eagles, alongside the retirements of veterans Hwang Jae-gyun and Oh Jae-il, leaving significant gaps in the lineup.

To fill these voids, KT invested approximately 10.8 billion won to recruit Choi Won-joon, Kim Hyun-soo, and Han Seung-taek. At the time, however, questions surrounded each signing.

Born in 1988, Kim Hyun-soo faced concerns over an "aging curve," while Choi Won-joon struggled with a .242 batting average the previous year. Han Seung-taek was also widely viewed merely as a backup catcher resource.

However, all three players proved their worth, heavily contributing to KT's championship run.

The Ultimate 'Buy-Low' Success Story: Choi Won-joon

Choi Won-joon stands out as a prime example of a successful "buy-low" acquisition. Ahead of this season, he signed a four-year FA contract with KT worth up to 4.8 billion won.

Choi enjoyed a career-high season, recording a .352 batting average (199 hits in 565 at-bats), 9 home runs, 72 RBIs, 120 runs, 27 stolen bases, and an OPS of 0.912 across 136 games. He ranks 3rd in the league in batting average and on-base percentage, while sharing the lead in most hits with Victor Reyes of Lotte.

Needing just one more hit to reach his first-ever 200-hit season, he is also within striking distance of breaking the KBO single-season most hits record (202 hits) set by Reyes in 2024.

Veterans Lead the Charge: Kim Hyun-soo and Han Seung-taek

Kim Hyun-soo, who won the Korean Series MVP with the LG Twins last year, joined KT on a three-year contract worth up to 5 billion won.

Playing as the starting first baseman this season, Kim showcased his unyielding skills with a .285 batting average (156 hits in 548 at-bats), 13 home runs, 93 RBIs, 67 runs, and an OPS of .768 across 139 games.

Han Seung-taek, who signed a four-year contract worth up to 1 billion won, firmly established himself as the starting catcher. In 125 games, he recorded a .232 batting average (71 hits in 306 at-bats), 3 home runs, 36 RBIs, 39 runs, and an OPS of .598. Defensively, he anchored the home plate by logging 831 innings, throwing out 18 base stealers, and achieving a 25.7% caught-stealing rate.

Foreign and Domestic Synergy, Fueled by Passionate Fans

Beyond FA signings, stellar performances from foreign and domestic players supercharged the title run.

Foreign hitter Sam Hilliard tallied a .303 batting average (165 hits in 545 at-bats), 41 home runs, and 128 RBIs across 138 games. He became the first KT foreign hitter to simultaneously achieve 40 home runs and 100 RBIs in a single season since Mel Rojas Jr. in 2020.

In the pitching staff, after original foreign pitchers Matt Sauer and Caleb Boushley struggled with injuries and slumps, KT made mid-season replacements by bringing in Logan Allen and Davis Daniel to stabilize the second-half rotation. Japanese pitcher Sugimoto, who joined through the Asian quota, topped the league with 24 holds out of the bullpen.

Domestic pitchers Ko Young-pyo and So Hyung-jun reliably anchored the starting rotation, while closer Park Young-hyun maintained steady performances to nail down victories.

Fans warmly rewarded KT's stellar run.

The 롯데 game on the 5th sold out all 18,700 seats just one hour before game time. Cumulative home attendance reached 1,004,272, breaking the previous franchise record of 970,941 set last year. KT achieved sellouts in 28 out of 70 home games, proving fans' fiery passion.

Meanwhile, the Korean Series, featuring KT against the winner of the playoff round, is scheduled to kick off on November 1.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]