Gear flung in pursuit of the hit crown... Choi Won-jun’s disappointing day as he undercut his own historic “204-hit” feat

[Financial News]  A fierce pursuit of records is part of a professional athlete’s fate. But the moment that determination crosses the line, even the sweat shed over an entire season can lose its shine in an instant.
The KT Wiz and Samsung Lions faced off at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 11th. In the top of the third, a moment during KT’s at-bat made baseball fans wince. It happened as KT leadoff hitter Choi Won-jun worked a walk by laying off pitches from opposing starter Hurado and reached first base.
After a tenacious battle with the pitcher, Choi Won-jun reached base, but his expression remained icy. As he headed for first, he suddenly ripped off his batting gear and hurled it onto the field. The gear he threw happened to fly toward the ball boys approaching to help him. It was a moment that could have looked as though he was taking his frustration out on the ball boys for no reason. Even after Choi reached first, Samsung first baseman Ryu Ji-hyeok came over to console him, but Choi’s expression barely softened.
The reason is clear: impatience fueled by a nerve-racking “title race.” Before the game that day, Choi had 204 hits and was locked in a fierce battle for the hit title with Lotte’s Víctor Reyes, who had 206. But when Choi walked, the pressure that had been weighing on him burst out in an inappropriate display of emotion. A peculiar pitch in his previous at-bat had also left him on edge, and the atmosphere on the field froze in an instant.
The situation did not escalate further thanks to captain Jang Seong-woo’s quick intervention and Choi Won-jun’s prompt apology. Jang gathered the players in the dugout to steady the mood and cleared up a misunderstanding with Kang Min-ho. After the game, Choi went straight to the ball boy. He openly admitted that his actions were wrong and bowed his head. A heartfelt apology brought the incident to a close. 
Still, the bitter aftertaste is not easily erased. Choi Won-jun’s performance this season, capped by reaching the “200-hit” mark, has been dazzling enough to go down in league history. He is a prime example of a model free agent. But his failure to control his emotions on the field that day put a self-inflicted blemish on that shining achievement.
Baseball fans no longer want a “machine” who is simply good at hitting. 
A player who is the face of the league must also show the character and sense of responsibility befitting such a great record. It is time to remember that a true superstar’s value is defined not by the numbers on the scoreboard, but by the “dignity of a star” shown on the field.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter