2024-04-25 13:16:32
On the 24th, Lotte Jeonseo No. 468… A new record for most home runs in a career
Choi Jeong (37), the SSG Landers’ leading hitter who wrote a new history in the KBO League, has the record he is most eager for. ‘Double-digit home runs in consecutive seasons’ is a symbol of consistency.
Choi Jeong-eun hit his 468th home run in his career in a game against the Lotte Giants in the 2024 Shinhan Solbank KBO League held at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 24th.
In the top of the 5th inning, when SSG was down 4-7, and with no runners on base and two outs, he aimed for Lotte starter Lee In-bok’s first-pitch slider and drew a solo arch that went over the left wall. When Lee In-bok’s slider ended up being a stray throw in the middle of the strike zone, Choi Jeong pulled it in without missing it and turned it into a home run.
This is the moment when a new history of the KBO League was written. Jeong-eun Choi, who hit her 468th home run in her career, set a new record for the most home runs in her career, surpassing Doosan Bears coach Seung-yeop Lee, who hit 467 home runs in the KBO League.
Choi Jeong’s new record for the most home runs in his career is a great record that shows his consistency.
Choi Jeong, now in his 20th year as a professional, has not often won the prestigious title of home run king. Choi Jeong has been crowned home run king only three times (2016, 2017, and 2021).
Choi Jeong’s 468th home run of his career was also his 10th home run of the season. He has hit double-digit home runs for 19 consecutive seasons from 2006 to this year.
Choi Jeong is the only player in KBO League history to hit double-digit home runs in 19 consecutive seasons. The second-place record in this category is the 16 consecutive seasons (2008-2023) recorded by Choi Hyeong-woo of the KIA Tigers.
From 2010, when he first hit 20 home runs in a single season, to last year, the only seasons in which Choi Jeong did not hit 20 home runs were the 2014 and 2015 seasons, when he failed to complete 100 games due to injury.
Choi Jeong hit more than 20 home runs every year from 2016 to last year, hitting 20 home runs for eight consecutive seasons.
Double-digit home runs in consecutive seasons is the record that Jeong Choi pays the most attention to every year. He emphasizes that his season goal every year is 10 home runs.
Choi Jeong-eun, who started the 2024 season with 458 home runs until last year, 10 away from setting the record, said ahead of the opening, “It’s a burden because the record is tied to the 10 home runs we aim for every year. He also complained, “I’m worried that I’ll get caught in the nines after hitting nine home runs.”
Choi Jeong attached great significance to achieving double-digit home runs even after setting a record. “It was his goal to play baseball consistently since he was young, so he set his goal of hitting double-digit home runs every year. “It feels great to break my record of double-digit home runs in consecutive seasons every year,” he emphasized.
Choi Jeong, who always appears humble, is rarely greedy for titles.
Although he ranks second in home runs this season, he said, “I will not set the goal of becoming the home run king this season. “We achieved the double-digit number of home runs we aim for every year, so the remaining home runs are bonuses,” he said.
Choi Jeong’s eyes sparkled when he heard the story of double-digit home runs in consecutive seasons.
Choi Jeong-eun said, “The only record that I hope will not be broken is double-digit home runs in consecutive seasons. “I don’t even think about hitting 20 or more home runs for 9 consecutive seasons,” he said. “My goal is to break the record I achieved by the time I retire.”
The prevailing view is that Choi Jeong, who is still in good shape, will be able to continue his career as a player even after passing the age of nine. SSG coach Lee Soong-yong said, “Choi Jeong still has superior competitiveness. He also said, “If there are no injuries in the future, he will be able to play for another four years.”
If Choi Jeong continues to hit double-digit home runs every season as he has aimed for until his retirement, this could also become an ‘immortal record’ that will be difficult to break.
Choi Jeong-eun, who hit her 468th home run in her career, not only achieved double-digit home runs in consecutive seasons, but also set a new goal. This is the first 500 home runs in KBO League history.
If Choi Jeong hits 32 more home runs, he will open a new era in the KBO League.
Choi Jeong, who rarely sets goals, has set a goal of reaching 500 home runs in his career, showing his determination to continue being consistent.
Choi Jeong-eun said, “It seems difficult to hit 600 home runs in my personal career, but I am greedy for 500 home runs. I think I can do enough. “I’m trying to give myself a goal and change my mindset,” he explained. “I thought I could manage it better and play baseball for a long time, so I set a goal of 500 home runs.”
[부산=뉴시스]
2024-04-25 13:16:32