'AG Gold Medal Stepping Up' SSG's Jung Jun-jae Out for Season Due to Ankle Injury... "Recovery Expected to Take 3 to 4 Weeks"

*This content was translated by AI.

Jung Jun-jae (23, SSG Landers), who had his best year yet, was unable to see the season through to the end and had to conclude his campaign early.

On the 6th, SSG announced, "Jung Jun-jae received a diagnosis of partial damage to the ligaments in his right ankle following a detailed examination." The team added, "He is scheduled to begin a recovery program starting tomorrow. It is expected to take approximately 3 to 4 weeks for him to return to full condition."

SSG has four games remaining on its schedule, including a match against the Daejeon Hanwha Eagles today. The final game of the season will be held on the 10th against the Gwangju KIA Tigers. Jung Jun-jae was ruled out for the remainder of the season with four games left to play.

After progressing through Incheon Elementary School, Dong-Incheon Middle School, Gangneung High School, and Dongguk University, Jung Jun-jae was selected by SSG in the 5th round (50th overall pick) of the early 2024 rookie draft. He made a strong impact in his debut year, appearing in 88 games and posting a .307 batting average. Despite high expectations, he struggled significantly last year, playing in 132 games but managing only a .245 batting average.

However, this season, he recorded a .274 batting average, a .351 on-base percentage, a .340 slugging percentage, an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .691, and 19 stolen bases in 129 games, serving as a reliable table setter alongside Park Sung-han. His batting average with runners in scoring position reached .330, and he also represented the team at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, returning with a gold medal.

Fortunately, the injury is not severe, and as it occurred near the end of the season, the plan is to use this time for early rest and preparation for the new season.

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*This content was translated by AI.