Choi Jung's younger brother Choi Hang, living alone in Lotte
Choi Hang was selected by Lotte in the second draft held on the 22nd. He was excluded from SSG's 35-member protection list and was selected by Lotte, which needed to strengthen the infield in the third round of the second draft.
Choi Jeong, Choi Hang's brother, is a legend of SSG. He hit a total of 458 home runs while going through SK and SSG. It has been reborn as a living legend from a boy's business. He ranks second in terms of most home runs in his career. Now, with just 10 more home runs, he can surpass Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop's record of 467 home runs and become the No. 1 overall home run player.
Choi Hang's side was this Choi Jeong. Choi Hang dreamed of becoming a baseball player while watching his brother Choi Jung and was nominated by SK, where his brother was playing, with the 70th overall ranking in the 8th round in the 2012 Rookie Draft. It was only in 2017 that brothers would play together on the first team stage.
While his older brother Choi Jung made a mark in the history of home runs in the KBO League, his younger brother Choi Hang did not fully show his skills. As long as he played well, he couldn't play due to injury. He hit 273 runs (192 hits in 704 at-bats) in 304 games with 11 homers and 94 RBIs in OPS.725.
Choi Hang is now making a fresh start at Lotte. It is the first time to go solo without Choi Jung. Choi Hang attended the delivery ceremony held at Sangdong Stadium in Gimhae on the 25th. He joined Oh Sun-jin, who was selected together in the second draft, and met with Lotte teammates for the first time.
Choi Hang said, "I didn't think I would be selected in the second draft, but I was proud that you picked me," adding, "I think it will be an opportunity for something to change."
I was curious about Choi Jeong's reaction. Choi Hang said, "My brother liked me more than I did. He went to Lotte and asked me to do as well as I did. "I think I'm cheering and worrying about things that I'm not worried about," he explained.
Choi Jeong was a support to Choi Hang. He said, "It's the first time I'm going to play baseball apart from my brother. I think I'll feel it when I try it, but I don't have a special feeling, he said. "But I still had a strong feeling, but as I got older, I only remembered what I had to do."
Now Choi Hang has to survive by performing well what Lotte club and head coach Kim Tae-hyung want. We have to show something special for the infield competition, including Oh Sun-jin, who moved together.
Choi Hang said, "I will try to be more helpful from the infield side by doing detailed things," and emphasized, "I want to play a role as a grouk who can play his role in any place, whether it's a main game or a backup."
A new start in the city of Busan is also expected. Choi Hang said, "Actually, not long ago, I signed a house without knowing that I would be selected in the second draft. So I'm looking into it again. "I can't even cancel my contract," he explained, "I liked coming to Busan." I did go around Busan a lot," he laughed.
The determination is bold. He said, "I think it's going to be fun for now. Rather than deciding which position I will stand in, I will try to become a player who tries first in any position," he vowed.