SSG Choi Ji-hoon’s Bold Goal for this Season is “230 Hits”
Choo Shin-soo appeared as the number 1 hitter due to injury and hit a batting average of 0.310 in 10 games.
In 2014, Seo Geon-chang (now KIA Tigers), a former Nexen (now Kiwoom) Heroes player, hit 201 hits and is the only KBO League player to exceed 200 hits in a single season.
Seo Geon-chang's 201 hits, created in a 128-game season at the time, is a record that no one can surpass even now that the 144-game system has become available.
SSG Landers outfielder Choi Ji-hoon declared after the Doosan Bears game held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 3rd, “My goal this year is 230 hits.”
If Seo Geon-chang's pace of 201 hits in 128 games is applied to the 144-game system, the figure is 226 hits in one season. 카지노사이트
This does not mean that Choi Ji-hoon seriously intends to achieve 230 hits this season.
This is the homework given to Choi Ji-hoon by Coach Kang Byeong-sik, who took over as SSG hitting coach this season.
Coach Kang, who worked as a coach at Heroes from 2012 to last year, watched Seo Geon-chang's great records on the same team.
Choi Ji-hoon said, “Coach Kang Byeong-sik told me to aim for 230 hits.
Normally, I'm not the type to set goals.
“The coach said, ‘You have to set your goals high and chase after them,’” he explained.
It's a good start.
Choi Ji-hoon got off to a good start this season with a batting average of 0.310 (13 hits in 42 at-bats), 3 RBIs, and 9 runs in 10 games.
In the game against Doosan on the 3rd, he hit a timely hit in the 7th inning with the score tied 3-3, becoming the game-winning hitter.
On this day, Choi Ji-hoon played an active role with 2 hits in 3 at-bats, 1 walk, 1 RBI, and 1 run, leading the team to a 5-3 victory.
SSG, who had won 5 games in a row, was in 3rd place in the league with 7 wins and 3 losses.
Choi Ji-hoon said, "I don't want to show it off, but the team atmosphere is very good.
Our team's strength is to prevent the atmosphere from being biased to one side."
He maintained his composure and said, "If a young player gets excited, the veteran seniors will take care of it."
He said he would continue.
At the beginning of the season, SSG formed the highest level of table setters among the 10 clubs, including No. 1 hitter Choi Ji-hoon and No. 2 hitter Park Seong-han.
Park Seong-han boasts a better hitting feel than Choi Ji-hoon, with a batting average of 0.351 (13 hits in 37 at-bats) and an on-base percentage of 0.486.
Choi Ji-hoon said, "Seonghan is hitting so well that it's a burden.
I feel like I have to get on base, and when he goes out, I have to steal base."
He added, "Because Seonghan plays well at number 2, the team can win even on days when I can't get on base. “
I am grateful,” he said.
SSG now has Choi Ji-hoon and Park Seong-han establishing themselves as key players on the team.
Choi Ji-hoon said, "I think Seonghan and I should be the main players," and expressed his thoughts,
"Generation change occurs when younger players perform better than older players.
It is not something that is forced."
Prior to the opening, many baseball experts predicted SSG to be in the bottom tier, which was a stimulus to the SSG players.
Choi Ji-hoon said, "Comparing the members to last year and the year before, they are the same, but I don't know why they suddenly ranked at the bottom.
I heard people say, 'You just have to do well' to the point where my ears were scratching.
If I really do well, our team will rise to a much higher level."
He showed confidence.
As the interview was ending, a child fan in the audience loudly called out Choi Ji-hoon's name.
Choi Ji-hoon, who responded to the call in a friendly manner, was the first to sign an autograph for a child fan after the interview and left the ground.