Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo [Yonhap]
Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo [Yonhap]

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo criticized Samsung Lions pitcher Choi Won-tae for his poor performance in the Korean Series.

Hong, known as a Samsung Lions fan, wrote on his Facebook page Wednesday that "Samsung Lions can only survive by dropping Choi Won-tae," adding, "He's getting 7 billion won ($5.22 million) and still pitching like that — play next year without him."

"Choi Won-tae has always been like this. I've seen him pitch well exactly once. What a waste of money," Hong wrote.

Hong did not stop there. "The Samsung front office was truly foolish to spend 7 billion won on a journeyman," he wrote. "If he was hanging around PC bang before a crucial game, that player has no business being a professional. He should be cut."

"A player who cannot repay his manager's trust has no value as a professional," Hong added. "Samsung's loss in Game 1 of the Korean Series on Tuesday was 100 percent Choi Won-tae's fault."

Choi started Game 1 of the 2026 Korean Baseball Organization Korean Series against KT Corp Wiz at Suwon KT Wiz Park on Tuesday but was pulled in the third inning after surrendering five runs on five hits, one walk and one home run over two innings, with his team trailing 0-5.

The Samsung Lions lost to KT Corp Wiz 8-7 that day.

Choi had also struggled in Game 3 of the playoff series on Thursday, giving up three hits, one walk and two runs in 1⅓ innings before being removed from the mound.

Choi signed a four-year free-agent contract with Samsung in 2024 worth a total of 7 billion won.


min3654@heraldcorp.com