Infielder Choi Jeong during the KBO League game between Hanwha Eagles and SK Wyverns at the Incheon SK Happy Dream Park on May 29, 2020 in Incheon, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
SSG Landers third baseman Choi Jeong made history in KBO, tying the record for the most home runs with 467 against the Kia Tigers on April 16. He tied former Samsung Lions first baseman Lee Seung-Youp for the all-time KBO home run lead.
Jeong’s home run came at a crucial time in the game for the SGS Landers. He tied the game in the ninth inning with his solo shot against Kia Tigers right-handed pitcher Jung-Hai Young. The crowd of 12,742 erupted at Incheon SSG Landers Field in South Korea. The home run gave the SSG Landers a much-needed boost in their 6-4 win over the Kia Tigers.
Jeong leads the KBO this season with nine home runs and 21 RBI. He has three stolen bases, a batting average of .292, and an OPS of 1.047 in 67 at-bats.
He has led the KBO in home runs twice, in 2016 and 2017, with 40 and 46 home runs, respectively. He has also won six gold gloves and the Korean Series MVP in 2008.
The SSG Landers have won five championships with Jeong, the most recent coming against the Kiwoom Heros in 2022.
Jeong, 37, has played with the SSG Landers since 2005. His career numbers include 467 home runs, 1,475 RBI, 176 stolen bases, and an OPS of .919. His slash line is .287/.390/.529 in 7,491 at-bats.
Jeong started his international career in 2004. He won the bronze medal with Korea in the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup.
Jeong also played for South Korea in the World Baseball Classic in 2009 when they were the runner-up to Japan after a 5-3 loss. He won the Asian Games with South Korea in 2010. South Korea went 5-0 and beat Chinese Taipei 9-3 in the final game.
In 2019, Jeong won a silver medal in the Premier 12 with Korea.
The Kia Tigers defeated the SSG Landers 11-3 on April 17. Jeong only got one at-bat, was hit by a pitch, and left the game in the first inning.
According to Yonhap News, Jeong suffered a broken rib, and Kia Tigers pitcher Will Crowe apologized for hitting him.
“I want to say I’m sorry to Jeong. I know he’s going for the home run record, which was my intention. I never wanted to do that”, Crowe told Yonhap News.
The SSG Landers 13-9 will play the Kia Tigers 15-5 at home again on April 18 at 5:30 a.m. EST.