Last year, just coming as a trade contributed to his win. However, not this year. He has to throw as a real third starter and ace in Korea. As a team member to win the title for two consecutive years, as well as become a free agent at the end of this season, Choi must display the best performance ever. This is the story of Choi Won-tae (27) of the LG Twins.
Choi’s 2023 season was all over the place. After pitching well as a domestic ace for the Kiwoom Heroes, he moved to LG in a 3-1 trade on July 29. LG needed a domestic starter at the time, and Choi won the first round nomination for batters Lee Ju-hyung, pitcher Kim Dong-gyu, and 2024 rookie players. LG bet their victory on bringing in three promising players.
Choi Won-tae, who had a remarkable record of 6-4 with a 3.25 ERA in 17 games before the trade, made his first appearance since moving to the Doosan Bears on July 30, a day after coming to LG, and elevated the team’s mood by becoming the winning pitcher with two hits and no runs in six innings. With Choi Won-tae coming, LG gained a steep rise as it won seven consecutive games.
Choi, however, has shown poor performance since then. He became a losing pitcher by allowing six runs in five innings in the match against Samsung in Daegu on August 5, and Choi was the winning pitcher by allowing two runs in five innings in the match against Kiwoom, his former home on August 12, before continuing his good pitching by allowing four runs in seven innings in the match against SSG in Icheon on August 18, but continued to show poor performance, including against NC (four innings, 11 runs in four innings), against KT (two runs in three innings), and against KIA (seven runs in two ⅔) on September 10. He rebounded by allowing one run in seven innings in the match against Hanwha in Jamsil on September 24, but became the losing pitcher again by allowing two runs in four ⅔ in the match against Doosan on September 30. Afterwards, his team confirmed his regular league title, and Choi was immediately excluded from the first team to manage and prepare for the Korean Series. His performance in LG was clearly different from that of Kiwoom with nine games, three wins, three losses and a 6.70 ERA.
Although foreign pitcher Adam Plutko failed to take the mound in the Korean Series due to a pelvic bone bruise, LG was able to prepare for the Korean Series stably as Choi Won-tae started as the second starter. 온라인경마
However, Choi failed to overcome the burden of starting the second game. As he suffered upset loss in the first game, Choi took the lead in the second game and gave up four runs in the top of the first inning with only one out count, two hits and two walks. Choi’s performance was overshadowed by LG’s powerful bullpen session, but he didn’t even want to think about it back then as he blocked the team without losing a point and turned the tables with Park’s two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning. Choi took the mound in the top of the ninth inning with a big lead of 15-3 in the fourth game, but allowed two walks and one run, showing signs of nervousness.
Although LG won the Korean Series dramatically, Choi Won-tae could not just laugh. Although Choi Won-tae did not show his skills properly when he came to LG, it was true that he was of great help just by coming and giving his team psychological stability.
He needs help with his skills in 2024. This year, LG will have to strengthen its starters. LG has four starters, newly recruited Detrick N.S., Casey Kelly, Choi Won-tae, and Im Chan-gyu. The fifth starters will be Kim Yoon-sik and Son Joo-young. The bullpen, which played a big role in winning the title last year, inevitably needs to change. Built-in closer Ko Woo-seok moved to the San Diego Padres through posting, and manager Yeom Kyung-yeop pointed Yoo Young-chan as the new closer. Until the bullpen recovers its stability, the starting pitchers and batters should play their roles. The roles of Kelly and Choi Won-tae and Im Chan-gyu are important because it is uncertain whether the new foreign pitcher N.S. will pitch as expected.
Choi Won-tae played full-time last year, completing seven FA seasons. There are 100 days left to register in 2016, so even if you register 45 days this season, you will be eligible for FA status.
Of course, Choi must achieve good results and prove his health to win a better contract as a free agent. In fact, it is definitely a better opportunity for Choi than when he was at Kiwoom. This is because LG, which is aiming at winning the title for two consecutive years, is better than Kiwoom, which entered the rebuilding process as a young prospect. Choi is likely to perform well if he pitches as much as his team hits and defense are good.