▲ KIA Tigers' Park Jae-hyun celebrates after hitting an RBI single with one out and the bases loaded in the top of the 2nd inning during Game 3 of the 2026 professional baseball postseason semi-playoff against the LG Twins at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on October 20.
The professional baseball playoff series (best-of-five) between the Samsung Lions and the KIA Tigers, clashing on the autumn stage for the first time in two years, is widely known as the "Choi Hyoung-woo Derby."
Having spent his career continuously with Samsung, Choi Hyoung-woo acquired free agent (FA) status and transferred to KIA in 2017, contributing to the team's two combined championships that year and in 2024.
Having played for KIA for nine years until last year, Choi returned to Samsung following the 2025 season.
Leaving KIA in tears after failing to reach an agreement on contract terms, Choi recorded a 0.301 batting average, 18 homers, and 106 RBIs with Samsung this year, receiving enduring love from fans through his unchanged stellar performance.
Samsung advanced directly to the playoffs as the second seed in the regular league, fronted by its 100-RBI trio of Lewin Díaz (129 RBIs), Choi Hyoung-woo, and Koo Ja-wook (102 RBIs).
Choi's unrivaled presence has remained unchanged, whether before leaving Samsung or after returning.
While Choi's departure was initially expected to deal a considerable blow to KIA's offense this season, the team suffered no noticeable setbacks, finishing second in team home runs (174) and fourth in team runs (769) in the regular league.
This was thanks to Park Jae-hyun and Park Jung-woo, who seized opportunities created by Choi's transfer, leaping into regular roles and injecting vitality into the squad.
With Choi moving to another team, KIA gained flexibility in operating its designated hitter and outfield positions.
Park Jae-hyun, a second-year professional who earned playing opportunities, became the Tigers' biggest breakout hit of the year, while Park Jung-woo, once a reliable backup, stepped up to become an everyday starter.
Park Jae-hyun, who served as an energy pump for KIA with his bouncy charm, posted a 0.293 batting average, 19 home runs, and 21 stolen bases in the regular league.
He fell just one home run shy of a 20-20 (20 home runs and 20 stolen bases) season.
Combining speed and power, he secured one of KIA's outfield spots.
Park Jung-woo, who was drafted by KIA in 2017, joined in 2021, and played in no more than 66 games in a single year through last year, appeared in 110 games this year, capturing attention with a 0.292 batting average and two triples.
Fans particularly went wild for his tenacious attitude in the batter's box, choking up on the bat.
The two also gained a feel for playing in high-stakes games during the semi-playoff series against the LG Twins.
Although their batting averages hovered in the low .200s, they mastered how to thoroughly enjoy the festival atmosphere by driving in runs and stealing bases.
Park Jae-hyun particularly batted .444 with three home runs in Daegu, leading expectations that Samsung will regard him as a primary target of caution alongside Kim Do-young.
The playoff showdown between the great hitter Choi Hyoung-woo and Park Jae-hyun and Park Jung-woo, who seized their opportunities after his departure, serves as a fresh viewing point for the playoffs.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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