Now only one remains. The 500-home run milestone is in sight.
SSG Landers' Choi Jeong has one step left to reach the KBO League personal career 500-home run milestone.
On the 10th, Choi Jeong was named the designated hitter in the 3rd spot in the game against the KIA Tigers at Incheon SSG Landers Field.
He retired with a strikeout against KIA starting pitcher Ole in the 1st inning with 2 outs. In the 3rd inning, with 2 outs and a runner on 1st base, he was retired on a foul fly to the first baseman in his second at-bat. In the 5th inning, with 1 out and runners on 2nd base, he was retired on a groundout against Ole in the 3rd confrontation.
Choi Jeong faced the new pitcher Jo Sang-woo in the 7th inning with 2 outs and a runner on 2nd base with the score tied at 2-2. The preceding batter, Park Seong-han, tied the game with a 2-RBI double, creating an exciting atmosphere. Choi Jeong reached base by drawing a walk against Jo Sang-woo.
Choi Jeong hit a solo home run that cleared the left-center fence against Jung Hae-young in the 9th inning with 2 outs, trailing 3-5. It was his 4th of the season and his 499th career home run.
Jung Hae-young gave up a home run to Choi Jeong with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning of the April 16, 2024, game against SSG, while leading 4-3. He became the victim of Choi Jeong's record-tying 467th career home run. At that time, he became the losing pitcher after giving up back-to-back home runs to Han Yu-seom, but secured KIA's 5-4 victory that day.
Choi Jeong suffered a hamstring injury during spring training ahead of the 2025 season and underwent rehabilitation for over a month. He was registered to the first-team roster on the 2nd and started the season late.
In his first at-bat upon returning in the first game of the season on the 2nd against LG at Jamsil, Choi Jeong hit a home run. After that, he recorded 3 home runs in just 4 games into the season. On the 5th, he hit a 3-run home run in the 1st inning against Lotte in Sajik Stadium, marking his 498th career home run.
After a quiet stretch without hitting home runs in the game against Lotte on the 6th and 7th, Choi Jeong regained his home run swing at home in Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 10th. Now, he just needs one more to reach 500 home runs. Choi Jeong will challenge the 500-home run milestone in a doubleheader against KIA on the 11th.
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