Choi Hyoung-woo Sets KBO Postseason Age Records as Samsung Ties Playoff

Choi Hyoung-woo became the oldest player in KBO postseason history to homer as the Samsung Lions beat the KIA Tigers 8-3 on Tuesday, October 27, at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. The Game 2 victory tied the best-of-five playoff series at 1-1 before it moves to Gwangju.

At 42 years, 10 months and 11 days, Choi rewrote the KBO postseason age records for an appearance, a hit, a home run and an RBI. His seventh-inning solo shot supplied the defining moment of a Samsung response built on a four-run third inning and a resilient start from Ariel Jurado.

Samsung answers immediately after KIA scores first

KIA took a 1-0 lead in the third when Lee Ho-yeon lifted a sacrifice fly with runners at the corners. Samsung answered before the inning ended.

Park Seung-gyu tied the game with a two-out double down the left-field line. Captain Koo Ja-wook followed with the go-ahead RBI single, and Lewin Díaz drove a two-run home run over the right-center-field wall to make it 4-1.

The Lions added a bases-loaded walk in the fifth and two more runs in the sixth. Choi then drove a solo home run into the right-field seats in the seventh, extending the lead to 8-2 and giving the veteran another place in the KBO record book.

Choi finished 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs. His bases-loaded walk and home run made him the oldest player to record an RBI in a KBO postseason game as well as the oldest to go deep.

Jurado carries Samsung deep into Game 2

Jurado threw 108 pitches over 6⅔ innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks. His performance earned the right-hander the game’s Daily MVP award and protected Samsung after its lineup had been held to two hits in the series opener.

KIA starter Adam Oller allowed five runs on five hits in 4⅔ innings. The Tigers finished with six hits and saw their six-game postseason winning streak, dating to the 2024 Korean Series, come to an end.

Samsung used regular starter Won Tae-in to finish the ninth. He struck out two in a perfect inning, closing a win that sent the series to Gwangju level.

Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday, October 29, at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field. Samsung has named Choi Won-tae as its starter, while KIA will counter with Keisho Shirakawa.