*This content was translated by AI.
"When we lose a game or have an off day, I often feel like it's because of me — that I'm not helping at all."
This is the thought troubling Choi Jeong (39, SSG Landers), who has been playing exclusively as a designated hitter recently due to persistent hip pain. Yet the numbers tell a completely different story. Choi Jeong has delivered extraordinary performances that seem to defy time, playing a major role in breaking the team's losing streak.
On the 7th, Choi Jeong started as the designated hitter for the third time in the away game against the Doosan Bears at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium. He went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and two runs scored, including a go-ahead two-run home run, leading his team to a 4-2 victory.
Although they snapped a 13-game losing streak, the team soon fell into another five-game losing streak and then a nine-game losing streak. This was an unfamiliar pattern for Choi Jeong, who has won five championship rings. The situation was even more difficult given his ongoing injury struggles.
During this period, the team showed its worst form in both pitching and hitting, except for Choi Jeong. In 28 games, he posted a .378 batting average (98 at-bats, 37 hits), eight home runs, 25 RBIs, 20 runs scored, a .447 on-base percentage, a .704 slugging percentage, and an OPS of 1.151 — delivering the most dominant performance on the team. At least no one would argue that Choi Jeong's contribution to the losing streak was significant.
Even though rookie pitcher Kim Min-jun delivered a brilliant six-inning scoreless outing, the team remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning with one out and a runner on first base. Choi Jeong singled, then scored when Guillermo Heredia hit a two-RBI double. Later in the bottom of the eighth, he launched a go-ahead two-run home run that gave his team the momentum for victory.
In the top of the eighth, after giving up a solo home run to Jung Soobin and facing a crisis with one out and runners on second and third, Choi Jeong's two-run homer felt even more crucial. Although Yang Eui-ji sacrificed a fly ball to add another run, the team managed to hold onto its two-run lead. Had it not been for that home run, Kim Min-jun would have lost his win opportunity, and there would have been no guarantee they could avoid a 10-game losing streak.
Especially, the home run he hit in the bottom of the eighth with one out and runners on second base was a moment that truly showcased Choi Jeong's abilities. Although Lee Yong-chan's signature splitter moved toward the middle, Choi Jeong drove it over Jamsil's right-field fence. It was a 120-meter home run — a breathtaking shot that left spectators in awe.
After the game, Choi Jeong said, "I felt like I wasn't helping recently, and I'm sorry for that. Today, (Kim) Min-jun pitched very skillfully, which allowed the batters to focus better at the plate. The weather was quite humid, but the tempo was good. And Heredia's go-ahead two-RBI double was decisive. Thanks to him, we were able to secure the victory."
Due to his hip injury, Choi Jeong has been playing exclusively as a designated hitter recently. His body hasn't responded as expected, and he couldn't contribute defensively either, making his mind even heavier. He felt deeply troubled by falling into a losing streak unlike anything he had experienced before.
Choi Jeong said, "I'm feeling something I never felt even when we finished ninth with SK. As I continue playing as a designated hitter and the team's results aren't good, on off days I feel like I haven't done anything at all. It's an emotion and atmosphere I've never experienced in my baseball career. Personally, since I'm only playing as a designated hitter, when we lose and I can't perform well, I feel like it's because of me. I often feel like I'm not helping the team at all."
Although the numbers tell a different story, as a representative figure who demonstrates exemplary work ethic, his feelings must be different. Choi Jeong even admitted, "My mental state isn't normal these days."
Nevertheless, his home run pace remains exceptional. With 537 career home runs in the KBO League, he already leads all-time and has won the home run title three times. However, looking only at the first half of this season, his current pace — having already hit 19 home runs — is comparable to his outstanding seasons in 2017 (31 home runs) and 2018 (29 home runs), excluding those years.
Choi Jeong said, "If I hit 20 home runs in the first half, I'd probably feel proud that I reached 20, but I'm trying to think of it casually and not let it weigh on me."
Rather than focusing solely on statistics, he wants to spend the second half contributing defensively as well. Choi Jeong shared, "I've been constantly searching for a way to continue playing in the field without causing pain."
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*This content was translated by AI.
