‘Choi Jeong-jeong is the best.’ Solvers explode again.
SSG won the seventh game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League against the Samsung Lions 6-0 at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on Wednesday. Choi Jung, who started at third base and batted third, went 2-for-3 with two home runs, three RBIs and two runs scored.
Speaking to the media after the game, Choi said, “I was preparing for Baek Jung-hyun because I didn’t have a good performance when he pitched. I was late with my fastball since the game against Jamsil Doosan, so I tried not to be late, and the result was good.”
Together with ‘ace’ Kim Kwang-hyun, who pitched seven scoreless innings, he led the team to its fourth straight win. “Today’s game was won thanks to the great performance of Living Legend Duyo’s Choi “Ace” Kim Kwang-hyun,” said coach Kim Won-hyung after the game.
“The leadoff home run by (Choo) Shin-soo and the back-to-back home runs by Chung gave us an early lead,” Kim reiterated.
After Choo Shin-soo’s leadoff homer in the first inning, Choi hit a two-run shot over the left-center field fence after a walk by Choi Ji-hoon. With his 17th home run of the season, Choi reached 3,800 career RBIs. He became the fourth player in KBO history, the youngest (36 years, 4 months, 4 days), and the first right-handed hitter.
The previous records were set by Yang Jun-hyuk on June 25, 2009 (age 40), Lee Seung-yeop on September 14, 2016 (age 40), and Choi Hyung-woo on May 10, 2023 (age 40).
Choi said, “I say it every time I get a record like this, but it’s all thanks to the coaches who gave me opportunities from a young age. I am grateful. I’m grateful that I was able to play injury-free despite the sand dunes. I don’t have any record goals. The only goal is double-digit home runs every year. Nevertheless, when the record comes out and I go home and see the article, I feel proud.”
Choi hit one more in her second at-bat of the second inning. Choi’s home run was the ninth of the season, the second of the SSG, the 1155th of his career, and the 25th of his career. Choi now has the second-most pinch-hit home runs of all time behind Lee Seung-yeop (28). Park Byung-ho is third with 24.
Choi said it takes a long, healthy career to accumulate such a record. “I always try to keep my wits about me. I run a lot of short distances before a game. I’m sure other players do the same,” he said, adding, “I want to keep my position until I retire.”
He also pays attention to his weight. “I started losing weight last year,” he says, “but I didn’t want to lose any more because I didn’t think I would have the strength. Even with this much weight, I feel lighter. My stolen bases have also increased,” he laughed. 메이저사이트
He also focused more on his ace Kim Kwang-hyun. “There is a part of me that cares about him so that he doesn’t collapse,” Choi said. Choi’s attitude and ability to solve problems recently drew praise from head coach Kim Won-hyung and junior Park Sung-eun, who said, “After all, Choi is Choi.”
With her two home runs, Choi now has 447 career home runs since her debut in 2005. He needs just 20 more to tie Doosan Bears manager Lee Seung-yeop, the “national hitter,” and one more to become the most prolific home run hitter in Korean baseball history.