Choi Jeong, who catches ‘national hitter’ Lee Seung-yeop, will become the king with the most home runs if he hits one more hit

by times news cr

2024-04-17 18:54:44

Double-digit home run record for 19 consecutive years is just around the corner.
Challenges for the fourth and oldest home run title

ⓒNewsis

Choi Jeong (37), SSG Landers’ main hitter, is getting closer to becoming the player with the most home runs in the KBO League.

Choi Jeong-eun played a decisive role in the team’s 6-4 win in the home game against KIA Tigers in the ‘2024 Shinhan Solbank KBO League’ held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 16th.

His true value came in the bottom of the 9th inning when the loss was heavy. In the bottom of the 9th inning, when the score was tied at 3-4, with no runners on base and two outs, he hit a tying solo shot (9th of the season) against KIA closer Jeong Hae-young.

SSG later achieved a comeback with Hanyu Seom’s walk-off two-run home run. SSG (13 wins, 8 losses), which has won three games in a row, is in fourth place.

Choi Jeong-eun, who hit a total of 467 home runs 20 years after his debut, stood shoulder to shoulder with Doosan Bears coach Lee Seung-yeop, the ‘national hitter’. Every time he hits a home run from now on, he will break the record for the most home runs. He is also looking at reaching his first-ever 500 home runs.

Choi Jeong-eun will attempt to set a record in the KIA match held at SSG Landers Field at 6:30 pm on the 17th. KIA’s starting pitcher is Will Crowe, who is strong against right-handed hitters like Choi Jeong.

If Choi Jeong reaches the 10-home run mark, he will have achieved double-digit home runs for an unprecedented 19 consecutive years. He also attempts to hit 20 home runs for the 9th consecutive season.

Choi Jeong-eun, who joined SK Wyverns as a first-round pick in 2005, hit only one home run in his first year of debut as he had few opportunities to play. However, after recording 12 the following year, he hit double-digit home runs every year for 18 seasons until last season, without missing a single year.

Choi Jeong-eun, who is ranked first in the home run category, will challenge for the fourth and oldest home run title following 2016, 2017, and 2021. To date, there has been no case where a player over the age of 37 became the home run king.

Choi Jeong (21 RBIs), who is tied for first place in RBIs with teammate Han Yu-seom, is also aiming for the RBI title for the first time since his debut. He also ranked first in slugging percentage (0.708).

After hitting a total of 467 home runs, Choi Jeong-eun said, “It’s a truly glorious record, but I don’t think I’ve really surpassed Coach Seung-yeop Lee.”

Lee Seung-yeop, who played in Japanese professional baseball during his prime, recorded a total of 626 home runs in Korea and Japan. Therefore, Choi Jeong humbled himself and said that he was not the true home run king even if he set the record for the most home runs.

[서울=뉴시스]

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2024-04-17 18:54:44

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