'Korean Home Run King on the Operating Table' → '212-HR Hitter from the 2nd Division' Placed at No. 5, "Veterans Must Now Show Good Form": SSG Starting Lineup Changes [Incheon Field Report]

*This content was translated by AI.

With KBO home run legend Choi Jung (39) out for the season due to surgery, another power hitter with 212 career home runs, Han Yu-seom (37), has been called up to fill the void in SSG Landers' core batting order.

On the 25th, ahead of their 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game against NC Dinos at Incheon SSG Landers Field, SSG removed outfielder Ryu Hyo-seung () and registered Han Yu-seom ().

SSG set its starting lineup for the day as follows: Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), Park Sung-han (shortstop), Bly Madris (first baseman), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Han Yu-seom (right fielder), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Jo Hyung-woo (catcher), Im Geon-woo (left fielder), and An Sang-hyun (third baseman). Kim Geon-woo will start on the mound.

The most notable change is Han Yu-seom. Drafted in the 9th round of the 2012 rookie draft by SK Wyverns (the predecessor of SSG), Han began his professional career and established himself as a key hitter for the team, hitting 29 home runs in 2017 alone.

He helped make SSG a feared home run powerhouse alongside foreign hitters. Last season, he batted .273 with 15 home runs and 71 RBIs, but this season, over 35 games, his average dropped to .168 (95 at-bats, 16 hits), and he failed to hit a single home run—the very strength that defined his career.

Han started the season in the 2nd division, was called up twice but failed to deliver significant results before returning to the Futures League. Early last month, he went back to the 2nd division again and raised his Futures batting average to .317 (104 at-bats, 33 hits).

News of Choi Jung's surgery broke on the 24th, and Manager Lee immediately called up Han Yu-seom ahead of today's game. Although the starting rotation has been revitalized and the team is on a three-game winning streak, the absence left by Choi Jung remains significant. The hope is that Han will overcome his recent struggles and minimize the gap left by Choi Jung.

Manager Lee Seung-yong (55) told reporters before the game, "We called him up expecting him to fill that role. He spent over a month in the 2nd division, worked consistently hard, and we've received reports that he's been showing good form recently." He added, "After today, we can also utilize (former) Ui-san. Along with Kim Jae-hwan, I think those two veterans need to show their best form now. They know best what they're capable of."

He continued, "Veterans must also think coldly: if the team's performance is poor, they will suffer consequences too. It's natural that teams prefer to use more young players. That's why older players are focusing even harder and showing a desire to lead their younger teammates. I believe things will gradually improve."

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*This content was translated by AI.