"(Ham) Suho probably wouldn't have approached first, so I called him over, talked and worked out together." (Choi Hyung-woo)
"When you swing, if your legs drop too quickly your timing can be off. He told me to keep my balance longer. I'm working on that." (Ham Suho)
The generations are different, but they connected through baseball.
Ten years after putting on a Samsung Lions uniform again, Choi Hyung-woo is a living legend with 2,586 career hits and 419 home runs in the KBO. After his return he said he wanted to help the young players grow. The words became a promise, and the promise turned into action. One of the players who caught his eye was outfielder Ham Suho, born in 2006.
Choi Hyung-woo said he wanted to talk a lot with the players who are slightly below those already up, the 1.8 roster players who are just about to be promoted, adding, "Kim Young-woong and Lee Jay-hyun are players who have already made it." He added his characteristic joke: "I'm an easygoing hyung despite my appearance. I hope they approach me comfortably."
But he did not wait. He approached first. "I saw Suho mention me in an airport interview. I thought he probably wouldn't come up first, so I called him over, talked and worked out together."
It was the moment the legend reached out his hand.
To Ham Suho, Choi Hyung-woo was a player he had admired since elementary school. He said, "He's a senior I liked since elementary school. If I met him I wanted to ask about hitting." That wish became reality at the Guam camp. And the advice was specific.
"When you swing, if your legs drop too quickly your timing can be off. He told me to keep my balance longer. I'm working on that now." It was detailed coaching about hitting mechanics, not simple encouragement.
Surprised by the potential of the younger players, Choi Hyung-woo said, "I didn't know they were this talented. I'm honestly excited to see what kind of performances they'll put out this year. If team synergy is added, it could be a really fun season."
Ham Suho has changed too. "Last year I was overwhelmed trying to adapt, but this year I can focus only on baseball. I promised Jae-hoon we'd do 30 minutes of night swing practice every day."
Choi Hyung-woo said he is very shy. But this time he stepped forward. The expert know-how behind 419 home runs seeps into the swing of the promising player born in 2006. The legend helps the team with records. But the real value is in lighting the way so the next generation can surpass those records.
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