“My legs shake when I go out to play defense”: 42-year-old Choi Hyoung-woo’s playful exaggeration hides the claws of a “pinch-hit killer”

[Financial News] Even amid the immense pressure of postseason baseball, the composure of a 42-year-old veteran can change the atmosphere throughout the dugout.
Though his name was missing from the starting lineup for Game 1 of the playoffs—the so-called “Choi Hyoung-woo Series”—Samsung Lions’ most senior player, Choi Hyoung-woo, anchored the team with humorous jokes and clear-eyed self-assessment instead of disappointment.
Just after Game 1 of the playoffs against the Kia Tigers, scheduled for the 25th at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, was canceled due to rain, Choi Hyoung-woo calmly shared his feelings about being left out of the starting lineup. With Koo Ja-wook taking the designated hitter spot because of lingering effects from a hamstring injury, Choi, who faced a heavy burden in the outfield, was pushed into a pinch-hitting role. But he expressed complete faith in his younger teammates, saying, “This isn’t the time for me to be the star. This is the right lineup, and this is how we have to play to win.”
The true class of a seasoned veteran shone through in his mock complaints, which playfully downplayed his own abilities. Asked about the possibility of playing outfield defense late in the game, he joked, “It’s hard enough just to start the game, and if I go out to play defense late, my legs start shaking. Is there really any need for me to go out and play defense?”—drawing laughter from the reporters.
But behind his mock complaints about defense was a fearsome confidence in his hitting. “I feel no pressure at all when I’m at the plate. The uncertainty I felt late in the season is gone, and now I’m in a position to make exactly the swing I want,” Choi said, promising a stellar performance as a “pinch-hit killer” who can decide the game in a crucial moment.
He also had praise for his former team, Kia, and his “junior” KIM Do-young. Praising KIM, who dominated the semi-playoffs, he said, “I used to nag him that the important thing was not getting injured, but now he’s staying healthy and playing well—he’s absolutely perfect.” Even amid the major blow of closer Kim Jaeyoon’s injury-related departure, Choi staved off concern, saying, “The young pitchers will more than make up for it.”
Though he won’t take the field from the start in Game 1, Choi’s unseen charisma, commanding the dugout, is proving to be Samsung’s most powerful weapon.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter