Choi Chae-heung (29) of the LG Twins has been confirmed to be transferred as compensation player after leaving the Samsung Lions. All the Samsung players, who have become old teammates, prayed earnestly for him to regain his reputation as an ace player with 11 wins in Seoul.
The LG Twins of the professional baseball team named left-hander Choi Chae-heung as a compensation player for Choi Won-tae, who transferred to the Samsung Lions after becoming a free agent (FA) on the afternoon of the 13th. LG decided to receive 200% (800 million won) in compensation with 20 protected players in addition to the compensation player (Choi Chae-heung) as the A-grade FA Choi Won-tae (400 million won in annual salary in the 2024 season) signed an FA contract with Samsung for up to 7 billion won for four years, not remaining in the original team.
Choi Chae-heung, a graduate of Daegu Sangwon-Hanyang University, was a left-hander who won the Samsung 1st nomination in the 2018 Rookie Draft. After tasting the first team with eight games in his first year of debut, he served as the team's native ace in the 2020 season after 28 games in the 2019 season with 6 wins, 6 losses, 2 holds, and an ERA of 4.81 and used a career high of 11 wins, 6 losses and an ERA of 3.58 in 146 innings in 26 games.
However, that was the last time he was honored. After finishing the 2021 season with a record of 5 wins, 9 losses and 2 holds and an ERA of 4.56, he joined Sangmu and set an opportunity to rebound with seven wins and no losses in 10 Futures League games in the 2022 season, but he failed to regain his form in the 2020 season after being discharged from the military in June 2023. He failed to contribute to his team with a record of 1 win, 7 losses and an ERA of 6.30 with no wins or losses in 15 games in the 2023 season, and the harsh reality of transfer following the exclusion of protected players came.
When nominating Choi Chae-heung as a compensation player for Choi Won-tae, LG said, "Choi Chae-heung has sufficient potential and is a player who proved his ability by winning 11 games as a starting pitcher in 2020," adding, "I expect to be able to find his career high in 2020, and if he finds himself, he will be able to take charge of the team's domestic starting position as a young player."
Samsung players, who attended the Golden Glove Awards on the 13th, all expressed their regret after hearing the news of Choi Chae-heung's transfer. At the same time, he hoped that Choi Chae-heung would regain his side as the first designated left-hander at LG.
Kang Min-ho (39), who joined Samsung in 2018, said, "Choi Chae-heung seems to have some sort of intertwined connection with Samsung. I hope he can solve it well and become a good player at LG."
Won Tae-in (24), 스포츠토토 who received the ace pitcher's baton after Choi Chae-heung, was also sad. "I feel sad because I was a pitcher who continued to rotate the starting lineup with me. But I also wish that I could do well at LG," he said.
Choi Chae-heung was named Samsung's first designated player in 2018, and Won Tae-in was named Samsung's first designated player in 2019. "Choi Chae-heung was a good stimulus to me. Back in 2020, Chae-heung was a native ace, and I tried harder to catch up to him. So I was able to grow up. I hope he does well at LG," Won said.