‘Choi Jeong-home run four = win’ officially works
SSG’s home run hitter Choi Jung (37) fired a nutritious cannon.
Choi went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBIs and one run batted in as the No. 3 designated hitter against Samsung in the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, South Korea, on April 18. The highlight of his performance came in the top of the third inning with the score 1-2. Choi hit a three-pitch changeup high and out of the zone from starter Lee Seung-min for a three-run home run to left-center field. It was Choi’s 19th cannon of the season. Choi also extended his KBO career home run record to 477.
It was a valuable cannonball that turned the tide of the game early on. SSG added a run in the third inning on a bases-loaded walk, 4-2. Guillermo Heredia’s RBI double in the fourth, Park Ji-hwan’s solo arch in the seventh, and RBI singles by Choi Ji-hoon and Jeong Jun-jae in the ninth gave SSG the 8-3 victory. SSG, which won its fourth straight away from Daegu, secured its 37th win of the season (W-1 D-33).
Choi has been struggling with otosclerosis lately. It is a condition in which a substance called otoliths float inside a structure called the semicircular canal deep inside the ear, causing dizziness. The otosclerosis was detected during a medical checkup on March 13, and she was removed from the starting lineup for two days. He returned to the starting lineup on the 15th, but was removed in the fourth inning. On Friday, he returned to the lineup, but was replaced in the fourth inning. SSG manager Lee Sung-yong was more than happy to see Choi back in the lineup. After the game, Lee said, “Choi Jung came back and had a four-hit game. Especially, his home run in the third inning set the tone for the game.” Lee was pleased with Choi’s performance.
Choi’s home run production this year has been nutritious, and his home runs have become SSG’s winning formula. Up to this point, Choi has hit a home run in 17 games, and SSG has won 14 of those games (3 losses, 0.824 winning percentage). “I took three or four days off due to otosclerosis, and I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to come 먹튀검증 back. I feel like I’m not in my body yet. I feel a little seasick,” Choi said, adding, “I didn’t expect it today, but it turned out well.” He breathed a sigh of relief.
On the mound for SSG, foreign pitcher Drew Anderson was strong on the day. Anderson held the Samsung bats to two runs on five hits over six innings to pick up his third win of the season (1-1). He struck out six and lowered his ERA from 5.04 to 4.65.
“It feels great to get a win on the road, and I’m even more proud that it was a team effort. “My goal going forward is to help the team win more games than my individual performance. I want to keep the good momentum going,” said Lee.