"'Overwhelming league defensive innings No. 1' Still, the SSG national team outfielder runs"Let's be thankful that we can run"
Jul 13, 2024
|
Jihoon Choi, the main center fielder of the SSG Landers, is the No. 1 player in the KBO League's defensive innings this season. It's the unrivaled first place. As of the 12th, Jihoon Choi played 732 innings in center field. Following Jihoon Choi, the second-ranked player in the league's defensive innings is also a member of SSG. It's shortstop Park Sung-han. Park Sung-han played 716 innings, ranking first among the league's shortstop. The second-ranked center fielder is Park Hae-min of the LG Twins, who played 700 innings until the 12th.
As a result, there are times when people are concerned. In the fifth season of playing full-time, I am worried that the physical burden may soon affect the performance itself. Every time, the Jihoon Choi says "That's all right" The club, the coaching staff, and the players themselves are definitely pushing harder toward goals and heights that they want to take one step further. During the last All-Star break, he took a short break during the season for the first time in a long time, but he couldn't rest fully. Jihoon Choi, which received a special military service exemption for the gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games, is busy volunteering in the off-season or during breaks. This time, I used my rest day to do volunteer work in the school baseball team. The Jihoon Choi is "It's actually hard. But that's what I do, and I think I'm getting paid to do that. I'm sick here and there, but I'm holding out with a sense of responsibility and appreciation that I can go out like this," he said, holding himself together.
Jihoon Choi, who was worried about hitting in the first half of the year, started off feeling good by hitting a home run in his first game and first at-bat in the second half. "I think it was good. Maybe it's because I rested a little bit, but the older brothers also 'Ji-hoon, it's definitely different from when you're having a hard time. Still, he is still young, so he must be able to recover if he takes a few days off. But I think it was good," he said with a smile.
He is 7 for 17 in 4 games since the start of the second half. He also had a home run and a triple. Four of the last five games have been multi-hit. It's not a bad start to July.
|
Jihoon Choi continued to see Hwang Dong-ha's ball today. I thought I gave 2S too easily in my second at-bat, so I thought I'd just hit it if it was similar, but it hit the center well. I feel like I've been warmed up since that at-bat. The second hit in the third inning was accurately determined and went in."
Coach Lee Sung-yong decided that SSG needs to change ahead of this season, so he ordered baseball to play actively. It was a green light that the coach would take responsibility even if he was out like that, but he could always judge with the running coach and try to run.
Jihoon Choi also has 27 stolen bases this year. No. 1 player in the team. Since there are not many players with speed, his baserunning is important. Jihoon Choi said "I'm not the type to steal a steal. If it's a team with many fast players like LG, the next batter can play even if he runs and dies, but our team breaks the flow if I die. Still, the steal pace seems to be the best since his debut. (Joe)Coach Donghwa always helps me a lot, so I'm taking a good flow," he said, thanking Coach Cho Dong-hwa.
|
The team's fall baseball comes first, but if there's only one individual performance greed. It's 150 hits. Jihoon Choi said "As the number of times at bat increases, it will not be easy to make 30% this year.(Bat. 0.272 as of the 12th) Still, my personal goal is to hit more than 150 hits. Like ABS, there are some difficulties because there are a lot of hitters this year, but that's how my personal goal is set," he said with a smile.
youll@sportschosun.com
