The Trade That Changed Everything
Choi Won-joon, Lee Woo-sung, Hong Jong-pyo, Kim Si-hoon, Han Jae-seung, and Jung Hyun-chang were involved in a significant trade between the KIA Tigers and the NC Dinos. This 3-3 mega trade has proven to be a win-win situation for both teams. It is clear that the NC Dinos are not losing out financially, as the deal seems to have been beneficial for all parties involved.
Choi Won-joon, once considered one of KIA’s top players and a national outfielder, had high expectations this year as a key player for KIA’s integrated victory from the previous season. His performance was expected to be even better, given the opportunity to qualify for free agency for the first time in his career. However, the results were unexpected. He struggled significantly, with his offensive and defensive performances falling below expectations. His sluggish play led to mistakes that were uncharacteristic of a professional athlete, and he even found himself on the second tier twice in May alone.
This poor performance prompted KIA to put Choi up for sale, indicating that they were unwilling to offer him a large contract as a free agent after the season. For Choi, this could have been an opportunity to re-evaluate his career and potentially change his mindset. The trade presented a chance to start fresh, which might have helped him regain his form.
NC manager Lee Ho-joon was determined to acquire Choi, recognizing the need for a strong center fielder. Although NC had sufficient resources in the corner outfield, their center field position was weak, and there were few players who could consistently set the table. For Lee, Choi represented the perfect fit, based on his past performance.
Director Lee's decision proved to be correct. Manager Lee Ho-joon believed in Choi's abilities and placed him as a second-center fielder. Choi has since shown impressive results, including eight hits with one home run in four games during a series against the Kiwoom Heroes. On May 7, he hit a dramatic equalizer in the ninth inning against Kiwoom. His batting average has been 293 in 10 games since the trade, showing a clear improvement.
Coach Lee expressed satisfaction with Choi's performance, stating, “This is what Choi was originally like.” He added, “I didn’t come here and change my form or anything in particular. It’s just that he keeps playing in the game and helps him do well.” When looking at the batting order, Choi performed best when batting second, which is why he was placed in that position.
Psychological challenges, rather than technical issues, seemed to have affected Choi more than anything else. Manager Lee noted, “He makes defense exciting, too. I heard he was a quiet, introverted player, so I tried to deal with him accordingly, but when I saw him in the dugout, he talked a lot.” This shift in behavior suggests that Choi has fully adapted to his new environment at NC.
KIA manager Lee Bum-ho also left the team, but he ensured that his players were taken care of until the end. Coach Lee Ho-joon reached out to Lee Bum-ho after the trade, expressing admiration for the players’ hard work. He was right—his players were indeed working hard. However, he added with a laugh, “Hong Jong-pyo needs to work harder. I’m imaginative,” highlighting the ongoing commitment to improvement.
Other Notable News
In addition to the baseball trade, several other stories have made headlines. A 21-year-old new actor has been making waves, reportedly taking on a top star role after undergoing plastic surgery. Meanwhile, Han Sung-joo has been seen in public with Kim Yu-na, marking a rare appearance in 14 years. Uhm Jung-hwa recently faced some confusion over her clothing choices, while Kim Min-kyung and Yoo Min-sang were caught in a motel incident.
Heo Sung-tae has been dealing with panic disorder due to his rising popularity, and 52 members of his fan cafe have shared their experiences. Lee Ha-nee has refused to expose her upper body, claiming she has taken off a lot. Lastly, Noh Hong-chul was involved in a motorcycle accident that left him in a wheelchair, but he has since returned home after emergency treatment.