Choi Hyoung-woo Makes KBO History: First Player to Reach 4,500 Total Bases and 550 Doubles
History Made in Changwon
Samsung Lions legend Choi Hyoung-woo rewrites the KBO record books — again.
In 44 years of Korean professional baseball, no batter has ever done what Choi Hyoung-woo did this past weekend. The Samsung Lions' veteran designated hitter etched his name into the history books twice, becoming the first and only KBO player to surpass 4,500 career total bases and record 550 career doubles.
The milestone was reached during an away game against the NC Dinos at Changwon NC Park in the 2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League. Batting third as the designated hitter, Choi collected the necessary hits within his first two at-bats by the 2nd inning, crossing the 4,500 total bases threshold in his 25th professional season — a record no other player in the league's history had ever touched.
(KBO First Ever)
(New KBO Record)
(as of May 9)
2026 Season
2026 Season
Since 2002
From Obscurity to Living Legend
Choi Hyoung-woo first put on a Samsung Lions uniform in 2002. Like many great careers, his path was not immediately smooth — years of quiet dedication built the foundation for what would become a legendary run. His ascent accelerated when he hit 1,000 career total bases in 2012, and the numbers have climbed ever since.
Today he is widely regarded as the most accomplished position player in KBO history, holding top rankings in virtually every major offensive category — including the all-time hits record. Yet even with that resume, the milestones keep coming.
Total bases measure a batter's offensive output through hits: single = 1, double = 2, triple = 3, home run = 4. Reaching 4,500 means Choi has produced 4,500 bases worth of hit value over his career — a number no KBO player in 44 years of league history had ever reached before him.
Age 40+? His Bat Says Otherwise
What makes Choi's story particularly remarkable in 2026 is not just the career totals — it is that he is still performing at an elite level well past the age of 40. Through the early weeks of the season, he ranks among the league's best across all major batting categories:
- Batting Average: .364 — among the league leaders
- Home Runs: 7 — a strong pace for any player, remarkable for his age
- RBIs: 27 — among the top run producers in the KBO
For Samsung Lions fans, these numbers are both thrilling and validating. After Choi signed a two-year contract worth approximately 2.6 billion Korean won at the end of 2025, there were questions about whether an aging legend could still justify that investment. So far in 2026, he has answered emphatically.
Why These Records Matter
Records in professional baseball carry a special weight because they are accumulated over time — they cannot be manufactured in a single season. The fact that Choi is still actively writing his own record book, not just holding records set in his prime, speaks to his physical condition, his preparation, and his enduring love for the game.
The KBO has seen many great hitters across its 44-year history. But a player who simultaneously holds the record for total bases and doubles while posting a .364 average in his 25th season is something the league has genuinely never seen. Every step Choi Hyoung-woo takes in 2026 is, quite literally, new ground.
What to Watch Going Forward
With the season still in its early stages and Choi showing no signs of slowing down, Samsung Lions fans have plenty to look forward to. More records could fall as the year progresses, and the veteran's continued presence in the lineup gives the team one of the most dangerous bats in the league.
For now, Korean baseball pauses to appreciate a moment decades in the making: a 40-something slugger, in his 25th year in the game, still making history — one swing at a time.
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