“It's not a player who gets angry…”
SSG Landers slugger Choi Jeong was left out of the starting lineup for the game against the Lotte Giants on the 30th at Sajik Stadium in Busan. Choi Jeong will rest due to the effects of being hit by a pitch during the NC game on the previous day (29th).
Choi Jeong started as the designated hitter in the NC game on the previous day. However, in the 3rd inning, he was hit in the shoulder by a 146 km/h fastball from NC starter Logan Allen. It seemed like Choi Jeong, who gets hit by many pitches, was not taking it seriously, but he was furious. He did not hide his intense emotions while yelling at Logan. Even after reaching first base, Choi Jeong could not calm down. NC's Logan immediately made a gesture of apology toward Choi Jeong, preventing the situation from escalating into a bench-clearing incident.
However, Choi Jeong had to take a day off after this at-bat. He handled the base running play but was replaced by Oh Tae-gon starting from the 3rd at-bat in the 5th inning, finishing the game early. SSG explained the reason for the substitution, stating, “Choi Jeong was replaced for player protection due to pain in the left scapula area where he was hit by a pitch. There are no plans for a hospital examination.”
However, Choi Jeong had to rest for a day. Manager Lee Seung-yong did not push him too hard. Before the game against Lotte on the 30th, the manager said, “Today, he will rest completely. I plan not to use him even as a pinch hitter unless absolutely necessary.” He added, “This year, Choi has been having a hard time. The area he was hit is a painful spot. He is not a player who usually complains about pain or gets angry, but since he got angry, I thought we should have the trainer check him quickly. That’s why we took him out early.”
He continued, “The batter can feel when the pitch is coming toward him. The batter knows. It’s frustrating, but the pitcher says it’s not.…” He added, “First of all, he should not be in pain. I plan to let him rest today.”
SSG set the starting lineup with Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Ahn Sang-hyun (third baseman), Lee Ji-young (designated hitter), Ko Myung-jun (first baseman), Park Seong-han (shortstop), Jo Hyung-woo (catcher), Oh Tae-gon (right fielder), Chae Hyun-woo (left fielder), and Seok Jeong-woo (second baseman). Han Yoo-seom was also left out of the starting lineup. The manager said, “Han Yoo-seom will be prepared depending on the situation later.”
For now, SSG ace Mitch White will take the mound, but Lotte's ace Tucker Davidson is also on the mound. With Choi Jeong and Han Yoo-seom absent, right-handed batters Ahn Sang-hyun, Oh Tae-gon, Chae Hyun-woo, and Seok Jeong-woo are heavily represented in the starting lineup.
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