Like a "solver," he made a new history as a "one-shot"
It was his 21st season in 11 games since the match against Samsung on the 27th of last month. SSG, which suffered the humiliation of "Youngbong Loss" in the previous two consecutive games, escaped from its losing streak by beating NC 2-1 with Choi Jung's one shot.
Choi Jung carved his name on a page of league history with this home run. Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop is the only batter who hit more than 450 home runs in professional baseball, which was launched in 1982. Coach Lee hit 467 home runs in his career, holding the record for the most in this category.
Choi Jung is the second player to achieve 450 home runs after Lee, and Choi Jung is the first right-handed batter except for Lee, a left-handed batter. Choi Jung-eun said, "I am proud that I achieved 450 home runs for the first time as a right-handed hitter in Korean baseball history, which is not short."
Choi Jeong, the epitome of "steadyness," broke home run-related records several times this year. Choi Jung-eun, who joined SK (SSG predecessor) for the first time in the KBO League rookie draft in 2005, hit double-digit home runs for 18 consecutive seasons until this year, starting with 12 home runs in 2006, his second year as a professional player. Since 2016, he has continued to record 20 home runs for eight consecutive seasons.
Choi Jung, one of the best big guns in the KBO League, always aims to hit double-digit home runs early in the season. After hitting 10 home runs in the season, he is said to be considered a "bonus." Whenever he has an interview after breaking personal records such as home runs, he shows humility, saying, "It's because I've played many games since I was young."
Choi Jung-eun is now looking to win the league's most home runs title. Choi Jung, who is close to Lee's 467 home runs with his 450th home run, is likely to reach a new record in the career home run category within next season at the latest. If Choi Jung adds 50 home runs before his retirement, he can reach the 500 home runs mark that no one has climbed in professional baseball history.