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🇰🇷 South Korea /Sports

Close race for KBO batting title as Gu Ja-wook, Reyes, and Choi Won-joon vie for first-time crown

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Three players, Gu Ja-wook (Samsung Lions), Victor Reyes (Lotte Giants), and Choi Won-joon (KT Wiz), are in a close race for the KBO batting title, with only three "ri" (0.001) separating them.
  • Gu Ja-wook has recently shown exceptional form, climbing to first place, while Reyes is challenging for an unprecedented third consecutive batting title.
  • Park Sung-han (SSG Landers) is also making a late surge, and Harold Castro (Kia Tigers), despite not being ranked due to insufficient plate appearances, is a dark horse contender.

The race for the KBO League batting title has intensified as the regular season nears its end, with Samsung Lions' Gu Ja-wook, Lotte Giants' Victor Reyes, and KT Wiz's Choi Won-joon locked in a fierce competition. The current standings show a razor-thin margin, with Gu Ja-wook leading at .357, Reyes second at .354, and Choi Won-joon third at .351 – a difference of just three "ri" (0.001) between each position.

Gu Ja-wook has been on a remarkable hitting streak, recently climbing to the top spot after a stellar performance in games against the Hanwha Eagles. His crucial hits, leading the league in game-winning RBIs (14) and ranking third in batting average with runners in scoring position (.406), highlight his value to the Lions. As he is set to become a free agent after this season, his motivation is exceptionally high.

Victor Reyes is also in hot form, driving his pursuit of an unprecedented achievement: becoming the first player in KBO history to win the batting title three years in a row. He has already set a league record for hits in a single season (202) and led the league again in 2025 with 187 hits. His consistent performance and recent surge in batting average make him a formidable contender.

Choi Won-joon, who led the league in batting average (.363) at the end of the first half, experienced a slight dip in the second half but has recently regained his form. He is also a strong contender in other offensive categories, ranking second in runs scored (86) and hits (143), and third in on-base percentage (.427), potentially aiming for a quadruple crown.

Adding to the excitement, SSG Landers' Park Sung-han is making a late comeback, boasting an impressive .528 batting average over his last 10 games. Harold Castro of the Kia Tigers, despite not currently ranking due to insufficient plate appearances, remains a dark horse. With all top contenders yet to win a batting title, the remaining games promise thrilling competition.

Gu Ja-wook hits, and the team wins.

— Unnamed sourceA saying reflecting Gu Ja-wook's impact on his team's performance.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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