SSG Landers' Choi Jung hit a sizzling home run against LG Twins' Koen Wynn, who was making his KBO League debut.

On the 4th, Choi started as the designated hitter in the game against the LG Twins in the '2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League' held at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, recording 2 at-bats, 2 hits, 1 home run, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, and 1 walk.

Choi faced Wynn, who made his KBO League debut, in his first at-bat with 2 outs in the first inning. In a 1 ball, 2 strike situation, the fifth pitch, a 127 km/h curve, slightly drifted into the middle, and Choi did not miss this mistake pitch, launching it over the left-center field fence for a solo home run. This was his second home run of the season.

After conceding the first run to Choi, Wynn managed to keep the SSG hitters scoreless until the fifth inning. In the sixth inning, when LG was leading 9-1, he allowed a double to lead-off hitter Choi Ji-hoon. Following Jeong Jun-jae's advancing grounder, with 1 out and runners on 3rd base, Wynn allowed Choi Jung to hit a 1-RBI single, and after Han Yu-seom's double, he also conceded a 1-RBI groundout to McBroom, allowing 2 runs. However, Ko Myeong-jun was dealt with on a ground ball to the shortstop, achieving a quality start (6 innings, 3 earned runs or less), and he left the mound. LG won 12-3, and Wynn also recorded a victory in his debut.

Choi has a lifetime batting average of .288 over 2,296 games in the KBO League (7,901 at-bats, 2,272 hits), with 497 home runs, 1,565 RBIs, 1,464 runs, and 178 stolen bases, making him a leading home run hitter in the league. He set a new record for the most home runs in KBO League history last year and is aiming for his first career 500 home runs this year. Although his record achievement was delayed due to an injury sustained during training in the exhibition games, he showed his continued skill by hitting 2 home runs in 3 games since returning from injury. He now needs just 3 more home runs to reach 500.

Wynn noted in a post-game interview, "After giving up a home run to Choi, I actually felt calmer. I kept telling myself to think of it as 'Welcome to the KBO.' Choi is a legendary player in Korea with the power to hit home runs. My strategy was to target the strike zone, and Choi probably aimed to hit a strong ball to create a long hit. We both did what we had to do on the field. However, the disappointing part was that the pitches I threw on the mound did not go exactly where I wanted them to go." reflecting on the moment he allowed Choi the home run.

Having achieved 497 home runs, Choi will move to Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 5th to face the Lotte Giants in a three-game away series for Children’s Day. Sajik Stadium is also where Choi set his 468th career home run on April 24 last year, surpassing Doosan's Lee Seung-yeop (467 career home runs).

Choi, who is on the brink of reaching 500 home runs, has consistently expressed his desire to achieve the milestone at his home ground, SSG Landers Field. If he does not reach 500 home runs during the Busan series, he will aim for the milestone in the home three-game series against KIA starting on the 9th.

As a player with a legendary career that even respects foreign pitchers newly debuting in the KBO League, fans are interested to see whether Choi will achieve another historic feat in Busan or hit his 500th home run at his home ground as he desires.

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