Choi Jeong Hits Record Breaking 468th Home Run, Surpasses Lee Seung-yeop in KBO History

SSG Choi Jeong hugs captain Choo Shin-soo after hitting his 468th home run, the most by an individual KBO, in an away game against Lotte held at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 24th. Busan | happy news

As SSG Choi Jeong (37) entered the batter’s box, people began to move to the left side of the Sajik Stadium pitch. The batted ball went over the fence in a long parabola. Cheers erupted from the home and away fans.

Choi Jeong, who was a ‘boy’, has now become a ‘home run king’. On the 24th, when Choi Jeong-eun was down 4-7 against Sajik Lotte with two outs in the 5th inning, he hit a 127km slider off Lotte Lee In-bok’s starter and over the left field fence . It was Choi Jeong’s 468th career home run. This is a new record, surpassing Doosan coach Lee Seung-yeop’s KBO League total of 467 home runs.

Choi Jeong-eun, who graduated from Yushin High School and entered the professional world as a first-round pick for SK (now SSG) in 2005, hit his first home run against Hyundai on May 21, 2005, the first year of its debut. . Choi Jeong, who hit double-digit home runs in the second season of his professional debut with 12 home runs the following year, rose to the top with his consistent performance in hitting double-digit home runs for 19 years in a row.

Choi Jeong-eun, who hit a home run in two games against Lotte on the 23rd and 24th, the two opening games of the season, when the record performance grew, said, “I want to achieve it quickly .” Injuries didn’t stop him either. On the 17th, in the game against KIA, he was hit on the side by a ball thrown by Will Crow. The first examination suspected a microfracture, but luckily, it was a bruise. Choi Jeong does not avoid the ball even if it comes to him. Choi Jeong’s 330 sand balls since his debut is the biggest record in Korea, the United States and Japan.

It doesn’t matter how many times he gets hit, he’s not hurt and he’ll hit a home run again. Choi Jeong, who returned from a short break against Sajik Lotte on the 23rd, showed good batting ability by hitting a double in his first at-bat, but due to rain, it was a game, and ended up hitting the biggest home run. run in the game against Lotte on the 24th.

SSG Choi Jeong watches the bat after hitting his 468th home run against Sajik Lotte on the 24th. Busan | happy news

Of the 468 home runs that Choi Jeong hit, 293 went over the left field fence. Fans who visited Sajik Stadium also gathered behind the left wall every time it was Choi Jeong’s turn. SSG offered great prizes for Choi Jeong’s new record home run ball, including a season ticket, an autographed bat, an E-Mart online gift certificate worth 1.4 million won, a free Starbucks drink voucher for one year, and stay at Chosun Hotel.

Choi Jeong-eun hit 168 home runs after two outings. On this day, he hit a home run with two outs. Choi Jeong, who liked the first pitch, set a record this time with her 130th home run, which she hit targeting the first pitch. It was Sajik Stadium’s 26th home run.

Teammate Choo Shin-soo also set a record of 2,000 career hits between Korea and the United States with his second hit in his second at-bat that day.

SSG’s batting lineup, revived by Choi Jeong’s home run, managed to come back in the 7th inning and won 12-7 against Lotte.

Meanwhile, Hanwha Ryu Hyun-jin, who was aiming for his 100th KBO League win, started against Suwon KT and didn’t get any defensive help, allowing 7 hits and 7 runs (5 earned) in 5 innings, suffering his 3rd loss (1). win) of the season. Hanwha lost 1-7 to KT. Leading KIA also defeated Kiwoom 6-4 and firmly held its first place. KIA closer Jeong Hae-young earned the save on this day, surpassing Lim Chang-yong’s previous record and becoming the youngest player ever (22 years, 8 months, 1 day) to make 100 saves. Samsung beat LG 6-0 in Daegu and won four games in a row. NC beat Doosan 3-1 in Jamsil.