"We brought home the gold, so we're treating you properly! SSG's national team trio gifts coffee and pizza as a 'thank-you treat,' even delivering a walk-off win right after their return..."

*This content was translated by AI.

The SSG Landers "national team trio," who returned with gold medals around their necks, opened their wallets this time. After collaborating on a walk-off victory immediately upon their return the previous day (September 30), they filled up the players' stomachs solidly on the first day of October.

SSG announced on the 1st, "Jo Byung-hyun, Jo Hyeong-woo, and Jeong Jun-jae, who won gold medals at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, gifted coffee and pizza to the players to commemorate the achievement."

The three players prepared the event themselves to express their gratitude to the players and front office staff who spared no support or encouragement during the tournament. Jo Hyeong-woo took charge of the coffee truck, while Jo Byung-hyun and Jeong Jun-jae arranged for pizza.

Jo Hyeong-woo said, "I wanted to convey my thanks with cool coffee to the club and players who supported me so I could play as a national team member." Jo Byung-hyun also stated, "Being able to wear the gold medal is thanks to my teammates who always sweated alongside me. I prepared pizza because I wanted to share good energy." Jeong Jun-jae likewise said, "I wanted to express my gratitude to the club officials who provide solid support from behind the scenes."

It was well-deserved. The three players returned from the Mo Du (CEO) team having truly "earned their keep." Starting catcher Jo Hyeong-woo performed with a .417 batting average (5 hits in 12 at-bats), 1 home run, 6 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 1.096 in five Asian Games matches. In particular, he guarded the home plate through the final against Japan, contributing to Korea's fifth consecutive Asian Games title. Backup infielder Jeong Jun-jae also made good use of his limited opportunities. He recorded a .571 batting average (4 hits in 7 at-bats), 3 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.285 in six games.

Jo Byung-hyun handled the biggest crisis in the final. In the final against Japan, he took the mound in the bottom of the 7th inning with a 1-1 tie and runners on first and second base, striking out the next two batters consecutively to maintain momentum. It was a decisive scene that led to Korea's 3-1 victory and gold medal.

Even within their home club, the three were already pillars of SSG. Before being called up to the national team, Jo Hyeong-woo had established himself as the starting catcher, recording a .257 batting average, 8 home runs, and 37 RBIs in 98 games this season. Jeong Jun-jae also covered various parts of the infield with a .271 batting average, 1 home run, 38 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases in 125 games. Closer Jo Byung-hyun guarded the back end with a record of 2 wins, 4 losses, and 20 saves in 52 games, along with an ERA of 2.50.

The good luck of the gold medal continued right after their return. After returning home on the 28th and resting for one day, Jo Hyeong-woo and Jeong Jun-jae played their comeback game against the LG Twins on the 30th of last month. SSG was trailing 0-3 through the top of the 9th inning.

In the bottom of the 9th, Jo Hyeong-woo hit a two-run left-field RBI single with bases loaded and one out, keeping the flame of pursuit alive. Later, with the score tied at 3-3 and runners on first and second base with two outs, Jeong Jun-jae hit a walk-off single to center-left field. Jo Hyeong-woo finished with 2 hits in 4 at-bats and 2 RBIs, while Jeong Jun-jae also had 2 hits in 4 at-bats and 1 RBI. The two players who returned from the national team directly created SSG's 4-3 comeback victory. Lee Seung-yong (55), SSG manager, praised them by saying, "I am proud to see that the two players who went through the national team have grown even more."

Jo Byung-hyun, who threw the most pitches for the national team, took a bit more rest and was added back to the first division roster on the 1st. The three players, who conveyed their thanks with coffee and pizza, now don SSG uniforms again as they head toward the end of the season.

Jo Hyeong-woo said, "I will help the team rise to a higher level next season by adding the valuable experience and energy gained from the big stage," while Jo Byung-hyun and Jeong Jun-jae also conveyed their determination to "do their best until the end in the remaining games."

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*This content was translated by AI.