SSG Landers veteran Choi Jeong is eager to return to third base after being limited to designated hitter duties by a left hip injury. He voiced frustration Tuesday after a win over the Doosan Bears.
Choi Jeong leads the SSG Landers with 19 home runs and 54 RBIs in 68 games this season. The 39-year-old holds the KBO career record with 537 home runs and needs one more to extend his streak of 20-homer seasons to 11.
A left hip injury has kept him off third base since June 4. Through Tuesday he had served as designated hitter in 90 of 199 plate appearances. "This really feels weird, something I have never experienced before," Choi said after hitting a two-run homer in a 4-2 win over the Doosan Bears.
The Landers improved to 31-50-3 and sit in ninth place after snapping a nine-game losing streak. Choi said he hopes for clearer treatment guidance and aims to return to the field after next week’s All-Star break.
He is batting .311 with a 1.023 OPS and remains among the league leaders despite missing time. "I will keep trying to do my best in each and every trip to the plate," he added.
