"I will go to a higher place"

Captain Jeon Jun-woo (39), who has been playing for the Lotte Giants in professional baseball for the 18th year, has finally achieved a great feat. On the 4th, Jeon Jun-woo completed the historic milestone of 2,000 hits, becoming the 20th player in KBO history.

Up until the game that day, Jeon Jun-woo had recorded 1,998 hits. As the designated hitter batting fourth, Jeon Jun-woo recorded his 1,999th hit with a single to left field in the third inning with one out and a runner on first base. Then, in the seventh inning with no outs and a runner on first base, trailing 3-6, he achieved the coveted 2,000th hit with a double over the left fielder against Lee Jun-woo. However, the team lost 6-9.

He became the third Lotte player to hit 2,000 hits, following Son Ah-seop (now with NC, 2,077 hits) and Lee Dae-ho (retired, 2,199 hits). Among right-handed batters, Jeon Jun-woo became the eighth player to achieve the 2,000-hit milestone after Hong Seong-hun, Jeong Seong-hoon, Kim Tae-kyun, Lee Dae-ho, Choi Jung, Hwang Jae-kyun, and Kang Min-ho.

Jeon Jun-woo, who graduated from Gyeongju High School and Kunkuk University, was selected by Lotte as the 15th pick in the second round of the 2008 rookie draft. He debuted on September 3, 2008, against LG and registered his first hit with a double in his first at-bat against Bong Jung-keun. Since then, he has consistently produced hits. On October 12, 2018, he recorded his 1,000th hit against KIA's Im Chang-yong, and on October 15, 2021, he reached 1,500 hits against LG's Kim Yoon-sik.

The reason why Jeon Jun-woo's 2,000 hit record is even more remarkable is that he started later than other players and still completed this historic milestone in his 18th year. Jeon Jun-woo is a college graduate. High school graduates generally debut about four years earlier and can build their careers more quickly. At the time of Jeon Jun-woo's debut, there were not so few college graduates, but now the majority are high school graduates.

Furthermore, Jeon Jun-woo did not receive military service benefits. While there were opportunities for military benefits during the Olympics and Asian Games, the timing did not align. He was always mentioned as a representative player with rare value as a right-handed outfielder known for speed. He wore the Taegeuk mark at the 2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC). However, he did not stand out during the season of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, which was a critical time for military benefits, and was overlooked by the national team. Ultimately, he served his military duty by joining the police baseball team in 2015 when he was 29 years old.

His late professional debut and having to serve his military duty with the police baseball team instead of joining the first squad during his prime time meant Jeon Jun-woo had to forgo approximately six years of his professional career.

Nevertheless, Jeon Jun-woo steadily and quietly built his career. Through thorough self-management, he showcased hitting skills equivalent to those of younger players. He became the hit king twice, recording 190 hits in 2018 and 192 hits in 2021.

A right-handed outfielder with notable hitting skills recognized in the league. He was a highly sought-after asset in the free agent market. However, Jeon Jun-woo did not consider other teams despite obtaining free agency status twice. After the 2019 season, he gained his first free agent status and signed a contract with Lotte for 3.4 billion won over four years. At that time, he was undervalued compared to his abilities in a cold market. After the 2023 season, he gained his second free agent status. This time, there was considerable interest in him in the market. Nonetheless, Jeon Jun-woo focused solely on Lotte and declared his intent to stay with “lifetime Lotte” by re-signing for a maximum of 4.7 billion won over four years.

Players like Lee Dae-ho, Son Ah-seop, Kang Min-ho, and Hwang Jae-kyun, who shared their prime years with Lotte, have either retired or left the team. However, Jeon Jun-woo has remained with Lotte until the end, making his mark on various pages of Lotte's history. If he adds 200 more hits, he can break the club's all-time hit record set by Lee Dae-ho. Jeon Jun-woo, who is also known as “Centum Choi Soo-jong,” a devoted husband who has fulfilled his duties as a family man while committing his career and loyalty to Lotte, has set significant milestones such as 200 home runs, 2,000 hits, and 1,000 RBIs. What remains now is achieving victory in the Korean Series and Lotte's postseason baseball. This year, they have consistently remained at the top, aiming for their first taste of postseason baseball and Korean Series since 2017.

After achieving 2,000 hits, Jeon Jun-woo said through the club, "First of all, I am disappointed that we couldn't win the game today despite my personal record. However, I am glad to have achieved the 2,000 hit record as a member of the Lotte Giants."

He continued, "I want to thank all the Lotte seniors who have supported me. I also have a grateful heart for all the coaches who have guided me over the 16 seasons we've spent together. I will prepare well for the remaining games this season and do my best to ensure the team reaches a higher position in the playoffs."

Lastly, he expressed his gratitude, saying, "I want to thank my beloved family."

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