[Sports Seoul | Reporter Kim Dong-young] “If he can replicate his performance from last fall, that would be ideal.”
Samsung is in full swing preparing for the 2026 season, with their sights set on a championship. The team has significantly bolstered its roster. One name that keeps coming up in discussions is Choi Won-tae (29), a starting pitcher acquired for a substantial sum. After a somewhat disappointing debut season, Choi is determined to step up his game.
Choi inked a free agent (FA) deal with Samsung before the 2025 season, worth a total of 70 billion KRW (52.5 million USD). This hefty investment raised expectations for a more formidable starting rotation.
The regular season proved to be a challenge. Choi appeared in 27 games, pitching 124.1 innings with an 8-7 record and a 4.92 ERA. He fell short of qualifying innings and double-digit wins, while his ERA was on the higher side.
However, Choi found his groove in the postseason. In a semifinal game, he earned a win with 6 shutout innings and 8 strikeouts. He followed that up in his playoff debut with an impressive 7-inning, 1-run performance for another victory. Though he stumbled in his second playoff start (3.1 innings, 5 runs, 3 earned), his earlier outings were undeniably impressive.
With his first season under his belt, Choi has acclimated to his new surroundings. Now, it’s time to shine in his sophomore campaign. Manager Park Jin-man emphasized, “We need Choi Won-tae to step up this year. If he can pitch like he did in last year’s playoffs, that would be fantastic. I’m confident he’ll deliver, given how hard he’s working.”
The rotation looks promising with proven ace Ariel Jurado and former top MLB prospect Matt Manning joining the squad. Won Tae-in leads the homegrown talent. Choi Won-tae knows he needs to provide strong support as the fourth starter. While the fifth spot remains up for grabs, a solid four-man rotation should suffice.
Choi is well aware of the expectations. Currently at spring training, he shared, “I’ve been building up my arm in warm weather locations since the offseason. Right now, I’m focused on increasing my pitch count and refining my changeup.”
He added, “I understand the importance of my role this year. If I can pitch well alongside our foreign players and Tae-in, we can string together winning streaks. I’m preparing diligently, fully aware of my responsibilities.”
Choi has set a clear goal for the season: innings pitched. “Staying healthy and maintaining my spot in the rotation is crucial. To help the team, I need to eat up as many quality innings as possible. The manager has stressed this, and I’m aiming to pitch 150 innings this season without any injuries,” he emphasized.
The last time Choi reached the 150-inning mark was in 2019, when he threw 157.1 innings with an 11-5 record and a 3.38 ERA. He’s determined to recapture that form. If he succeeds, Samsung’s championship aspirations will be within reach. raining99@sportsseoul.com
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