"I'll be ready to defend when Na Sung-bum comes back"

He's 41 years old, but Choi Hyung-woo (KIA Tigers) doesn't feel like he's aged at all. "I don't think I've lost any strength yet," he says.

Choi's pace at the start of this season has been incredible. "I've never had such a good start in my baseball career," said Choi, who is 4-for-10 (.400) in three games and has homered in two straight games.

Choi Hyung-woo started in the No. 4 spot in the lineup against the Lotte Giants of the 2024 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on July 27, going 3-for-4 with one home run, one run scored and two RBIs in the team's 8-2 win.

Choi only had one hit on the day, but it was a nutritious one.

He launched the game-winning two-run arch with two outs in the bottom of the first inning, and Kia scored four more runs after the home run to take a six-run lead in the first inning alone. They took advantage of Lotte starter Na Gyun-an early and easily took control of the game.

Choi Hyung-woo commented on the home run, "The timing was good, but it was a little too high. I thought the ball was too high, but it went over," he explained.

With his back-to-back home runs following the previous day's game, Choi now has 375 career home runs, surpassing the retired Lee Dae-ho (374) for fourth place on the all-time home run list.

However, Choi said he doesn't care about the home run 토토 record.

"I've never been greedy for a home run in my career," he said, adding, "I don't think it's humility, I think it's a bonus. I think you just have to hit them when you get the chance, and over a long period of time, they accumulate."

The 41-year-old veteran's performance has helped the Kia to an early three-game winning streak. It's the first time in nine years that Kia has won its first three games since 2015 (six straight).

"We're off to a good start, both individually and as a team," Choi said with a smile, "I don't remember doing well in the beginning, but it feels good to be doing well with the team."

In particular, Kia is currently playing well even without its leading hitter Na Sung-beom, who is out with a hamstring injury. Choi Hyung-woo has been filling in well in the No. 4 spot.

"I don't think I'm filling the void of Na, but our lineup is fine," Choi explained, "I think the other juniors will do a good job as long as I do my job properly."

The veteran batsman wished Na a speedy return.

"The atmosphere could have collapsed without him, but the juniors are doing a good job," he said. "With the current atmosphere, I don't think we'll go downhill with steady performance, but if he comes back, we can be a better team."

Na is also willing to play defense if he returns. Na's hamstring injury may make it difficult for him to play defense for a while after his return.

"I've been practicing defense since a week ago," he said, adding, "I don't know if it will work or not, but if it's necessary, I'll do it. If it doesn't work out, I'll be the pinch-hitter and Sung-beom can go to the designated hitter."

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