Choi Jeong, who opened a new history with ‘468 home runs’, “I can’t believe I surpassed Coach Lee Seung-yeop.”

Sajik solo home run in the 5th inning against Lotte on the 24th… A new record for most home runs in a career

If you hit 33 more, you will reach 500 home runs for the first time in the KBO League… “I’m greedy.”

[부산=뉴시스] Reporter Kim Hee-jun = Choi Jeong (37, SSG Landers), who set a new record for the most home runs in the KBO League, surpassing Doosan Bears coach Lee Seung-yeop, the ‘national hitter’, was dumbfounded, saying, “It doesn’t feel real yet.”

In addition, he expressed his desire to become the first player in the KBO League to reach 500 home runs.

Choi Jeong-eun said at a press conference after hitting his 468th home run in his career against the Lotte Giants in the 2024 Shinhan Solbank KBO League game held at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 24th, “I am so relieved. I have set a goal of 10 home runs every year before the opening of the season and the most home runs in my career. “I was very worried that the new record would affect my overall performance, but it came out faster than I expected,” he said.

He said, “I would like to give credit to all the hitting coaches who have coached me since I was young. I would like to thank everyone who showed interest in and supported my home run record.”

Choi Jeong-eun, who started as the third baseman and batted third, was retired by a fly ball to shortstop in the top of the first inning and a fly ball to left field in the top of the second, but hit a home run in her third at-bat in the top of the fifth.

In the top of the 5th inning, when SSG was down 4-7, with no runners on and 2 outs, Choi Jeong-eun aimed for opposing starter Lee In-bok’s first-pitch slider and led to a solo home run to left. When the slider became a miss in the middle of the strike zone, he did not miss it.

Choi Jeong-eun, who hit her 468th home run in her career, set a new record for the most home runs in her career, surpassing coach Seung-yeop Lee, who hit 467 home runs in the KBO League.

Choi Jeong said, “I am so honored to have surpassed Coach Lee Seung-yeop’s record. It is my family’s honor,” and added, “I have never once thought in baseball that I would set such a great record. It doesn’t feel real to have achieved it. I asked myself, ‘I did that?’ “I’m proud of myself for doing it,” he emphasized.

Regarding the home run situation, Choi Jeong said, “The fence at Sajik Stadium was high, so I wasn’t sure it would go over right after I hit it. I was running fast in case it hit the fence and bounced out.” After seeing the batted ball go over, I thought about the ceremony that the club had told me about in advance. “I looked back and thought it was a little disappointing that it was an away stadium.”

SSG followed up with consecutive home runs by Choi Jeong and Han Yu-seom in the 5th inning, then scored 4 runs in the 7th and 2 runs in the 9th to achieve a 12-7 comeback win.

Choi Jeong, who expressed his desire to do it in a winning situation in a home game ahead of setting a new record for the most home runs in his career, said, “It was the opposite of what I said earlier. After the ceremony, I thought I would like to win,” and “I am very happy that the team achieved a comeback victory.” “I feel fortunate,” he said.

Choi Jeong-eun, who hit two home runs against the Suwon KT Wiz on the 14th and came within two inches of achieving a new record, hit his 467th career home run against the Incheon KIA Tigers on the 16th, putting him on par with manager Lee Seung-yeop.

However, on the 17th, he suffered a bruise on his side after being hit by a pitch from KIA foreign pitcher Will Crowe, and was unable to play since.

Choi Jeong, who returned to the starting lineup from the game against Lotte on the 23rd due to rain, succeeded in setting a record that day.

Choi Jeong said, “Ever since I left two in the new record, I wasn’t comfortable when I was at bat. Every time I went to bat, I had to change the ball, so I couldn’t concentrate well. I felt like I was floating,” and “I played baseball in a weird mood. “I feel relieved to have achieved this, and I feel like I can now play the season with greater peace of mind.”

Before this day’s game, SSG coach Lee Soong-yong said, “I think the best record will come out today. I have a good instinct,” and the prediction came true.

Choi Jeong-eun said, “Yesterday the weather was cold, and it was my first time playing in the world since returning from injury, so I felt like the bat didn’t spin well. But today the bat spun well.” He added, “I didn’t feel good in the first and second at-bats, but I hit 3 “A home run came out in the second at-bat,” he explained.

Consistency is cited as the driving force behind Choi Jeong’s rise to the top spot for the most home runs in his career. Jeong Choi, who is now in his 20th year as a professional, has been crowned home run king only three times (2016, 2017, and 2021).

By hitting his 10th home run of the season on this day, Choi Jeong achieved double-digit home runs for 19 consecutive seasons. This is the first time in KBO League history. The second-place record in this category is the 16 consecutive seasons (2008-2023) recorded by Choi Hyeong-woo of the KIA Tigers.

Choi Jeong said humbly, “I am a lucky person. I had a lot of balls hit my body, but I didn’t have any major injuries that cost me the entire season. I am thankful to my parents,” and added, “I can only say I was lucky.”

Choi Jeong, who was very happy to have achieved double-digit home runs for 19 consecutive seasons, said, “This is the only record I don’t want to break. My goal has been to do it consistently since I was young, so I set a goal of achieving 10 home runs every year.” He added, “I will continue to break the record I set. “It feels good,” he said, adding, “I want to hit double-digit home runs until my retirement season.”

Choi Jeong, who described herself as a ‘hard-working type’ rather than a ‘genius type’, said, “Don’t all players work hard?” and “I also worked very hard to improve my skills. I chose the techniques that suited me well.” “It’s a style that tries to find fun, and if you get immersed in it, it’s the end.”

Choi Jeong chose the home run that led to a change in the hitting mechanism in 2012 as the most memorable home run among the 468 home runs.

At that time, Choi Jeong changed his batting stance to an upper swing, kicking up from the bottom, and one home run gave him enlightenment. This is a home run hit against Kang Yun-gu (name changed to Kang Ri-ho) in the 3rd inning of the Incheon Nexen Heroes (now Kiwoom) game on September 9, 2012.

Choi Jeong explained, “It was the year that I changed my hitting mechanism. At that time, I hit a home run against Kang Yun-gu, and it was a feeling I had never felt before. I tried hard not to forget the feeling at that time. I still remember that feeling when I hit it.”

Choi Jeong, who also remembers his first career home run against the Incheon Hyundai Unicorns on May 21, 2005, recalled, “I still remember it vividly. At that time, I hit a home run into the prize money home run zone and received a prize of 1 million won.”

Choi Jeong, who ranks second in home runs this season, said, “I will not aim to become the home run king this year. I have achieved the 10 home runs I aim for every year, so the remaining home runs are bonuses,” but expressed his desire to hit 500 home runs in his personal career.

If Choi Jeong hits 33 more home runs, he will open a new era in the KBO League.

Choi Jeong said, “It will be difficult to reach 600 home runs, but I am greedy for 500 home runs. I think I can do it. I plan to set a big goal for total home runs. That way, I can manage it well and play baseball for a long time.”

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