Samsung Lions Veteran Choi Hyoung-woo Becomes First Player in KBO History to Reach 2,700 Career Hits

With one swing of the bat in the bottom of the eighth inning, Choi Hyoung-woo rewrote the record books of South Korean baseball. Facing the SSG Landers at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on Tuesday, the 42-year-old veteran launched a go-ahead solo home run over the right-field fence. As the ball cleared the wall, Choi broke into a rare, broad smile while rounding the bases, fully aware of the history he had just made.[1]

The 14th home run of his 2026 campaign was not just a clutch hit in a tight 1-1 game; it was the 2,700th hit of his career. With that swing, Choi became the first player in the 45-year history of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) to reach the 2,700-hit milestone. The blast also pushed him past the 4,600 total bases mark, another unprecedented achievement in the league.[1][4]

Choi currently holds a commanding lead atop the KBO's all-time hits leaderboard. His 2,700th hit put him 47 hits ahead of the Doosan Bears' Son Ah-seop, who sits in second place with 2,653. The milestone cements Choi's status as the most enduring and consistent offensive force the league has ever seen, particularly given his late-blooming career trajectory.[1]

Drafted by the Samsung Lions as a catcher in 2002, Choi's professional journey nearly ended before it began. He failed to record a single RBI in his first few seasons and was released by the Lions in 2005. Refusing to quit, he joined the Police Baseball Team in the KBO Futures League to complete his mandatory military service, where he successfully transitioned to the outfield and rebuilt his swing.[5]

When he rejoined Samsung in 2008, he immediately won the KBO Rookie of the Year award. Over the next decade, he blossomed into a premier slugger, winning multiple batting titles and RBI crowns. After a lucrative four-year stint with the Kia Tigers—where he signed the KBO's first-ever 10 billion won ($8.5 million) free-agent contract—Choi returned to his original club, the Lions, ahead of the 2026 season on a two-year deal.[5]

What makes his 2026 season truly remarkable is his sheer defiance of the athletic aging curve. At 42 years and 6 months old, he became the oldest player to ever start in a KBO All-Star Game this past July, surpassing legendary closer Oh Seung-hwan. Far from a ceremonial presence, Choi has maintained a batting average well over .310 while driving in more than 70 runs as the Lions' designated hitter.[4][6]

His path to 2,700 hits was not without recent friction. In early August, Choi endured an uncharacteristic 10-game slump, hitting just .171 and going 38 days without a home run. Recognizing the mechanical flaw, the veteran completely overhauled his batting practice routine on August 15. The adjustment paid immediate dividends: that same day, he crushed a 130-meter, three-run homer against the Hanwha Eagles to break the drought.[3]

While Tuesday's milestone game ended in a heartbreaking 5-4 loss for Samsung after a ninth-inning bullpen collapse, Choi ensured the celebration continued the following night. On Wednesday, he went a perfect 4-for-4 with three RBIs, fueling a massive 20-hit offensive explosion that saw the Lions obliterate the Landers 18-4 and keep their pennant hopes alive.[1][2]

With 2,700 hits secured, the South Korean baseball world is now looking toward a number that once seemed mathematically impossible in the 144-game KBO season: 3,000 hits. Choi sits exactly 300 hits away from the mythical threshold. If he can maintain his current production through the remainder of his two-year contract, the ultimate batting milestone may finally be within reach.[1][4]