Doosan Bears second-year right-hander Choi Min-seok earned his first win of the season. Fans cheered for his performance.
Choi Min-seok started for the home game against the Kiwoom Heroes in the 2026 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League at Jamsil Stadium on the 8th and delivered 5 2/3 innings, allowing 3 hits, striking out 6, walking 5 and giving up no runs, securing his first win of the season. Doosan won 7-3.
After meeting reporters, Choi Min-seok reflected, "The previous game and this game had good results, but I brought trouble on myself by issuing walks. I think if I correct that well, there will be good results."
In his first appearance of the season against the Samsung Lions on the 2nd, he pitched well with 6 innings, allowing 2 hits, striking out 4 and giving up 1 run (unearned), but he issued 5 walks. He also issued 5 walks in this game.
In the top of the first, Choi Min-seok struck out the leadoff hitter Brooks. He then retired An Chi-hong on a shortstop fly and got Lee Ju-hyung to ground out to the second baseman. In the second, he gave up a center-field hit to leadoff batter Choi Joo-hwan. But he struck out Park Chan-hyuk on three pitches and induced Park Joo-hong to ground out to the second baseman for a double play.
He issued a walk to Park Han-gyeol after two outs in the third. He then walked Brooks. However, he recorded a groundout to the pitcher against An Chi-hong to continue his scoreless outing. In the fourth, he gave up a center single to leadoff batter Lee Ju-hyung, but then retired Choi Joo-hwan on a center-field fly, Park Chan-hyuk on a right-field fly and Park Joo-hong on a third-base fly.
The fifth inning had a crisis. With two outs and no runners, he allowed a double to Park Han-gyeol and was hit by a pitch by Brooks. He then gave a walk to An Chi-hong, creating bases-loaded danger, but he took a breather by striking out Lee Ju-hyung.
He took the mound in the sixth as well and handed the mound over to Lee Byung-hun with two outs and a runner at first. Lee Byung-hun struck out Oh Joon-se on a swing-and-miss to continue the scoreless stretch. As Choi Min-seok left the mound, fans in the stands who had been cheering shouted "Choi Min-seok, Choi Min-seok" even louder and went wild.
Choi Min-seok said, "I'm so happy. It's a scene I've imagined and dreamed about since I was young, so it will remain in my memory."
He added, "Coach Chung Jae-hoon always says when preparing starters that a starting pitcher is the face of the team, a banner, and that you must take responsibility for that one game, which made me feel more responsible."
After the game, manager Kim Won-hyung praised, "Choi Min-seok followed up on his previous outing by fulfilling his role as a starter and delivered a win for the team."
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