You even hit a home run? Miracle made by a rookie, 165cm short. It's a waste to send the army

Jul 28, 2024

A game between the Hanwha Eagles and SSG Landers at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on the 14th. SSG Jung Joon-jae is running base. Daejeon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.06.14/

Miracle created by rookie of 1m65 height. It gives a boost to the entire team.

SSG Landers infielder Jung Joon-jae is a rookie who joined this year. After graduating from Gangneung High School, he went to Dongguk University because he did not receive a professional nomination, and after completing his second year, he applied for a 'University Early Draft' according to the changed regulations. And he was a fifth-round pick by SSG in the 2024 rookie draft held last year.

Since the nomination, it has not been in the spotlight. Park Ji-hwan, the No. 1 rookie for fielders designated by SSG in the first round, was expected to be a former member of the youth national team, and Lee Seung-min, a second-round rookie and second-round fielder, was also attracting attention as the son of coach Lee Byung-kyu and a prospect with long-shot power since he was in high school.

However, Jung Joon-jae is the rookie who is performing the most well in the first division with Park Ji-hwan this year. As of the 27th, he has a batting average of 315 (28 hits in 89 at-bats) in 44 games, and his biggest strength is revealed in both offense and defense. He is calm at bat and has good pioneering eyes, so he calmly picks the ball in any situation. When the ball comes, he boldly leaves the bat. His confidence without being frozen even in chances is also a reversal point.

KIA-SSG match held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 13th. Jung Joon-jae is making a surprise bunt in the bottom of the fifth inning with no outs. Incheon = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.6.13/

On the 27th, he hit his first home run against the Doosan Bears in Incheon. He hit a tiebreaking solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning when SSG was trailing 0-1 against Doosan starter Choi Won-joon. It was a tie score that broke the team's hitless silence and his first home run since his professional debut was crucial. SSG, which had not let go of hope with Jung Joon-jae's home run as a catalyst, won 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning with a reversal. Jung Joon-jae's emotional first home run, which had little memory of hitting a home run properly even in his amateur days, broke out at a meaningful moment.

He is 65 meters tall and weighs 68 kilograms. He is a very small size among professional athletes. Similar players are representative short players such as Kim Sun-bin (KIA) and Kim Ji-chan (Samsung). Even with batting talent, he was considered a subordinate in the draft due to his small size, and SSG selected him in a faster-than-expected round.

A game between the Hanwha Eagles and SSG Landers at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on the 14th. SSG Jung Joon-jae is defending. Daejeon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.06.14/

And he has been playing the most stable since his first year as a member. Although he graduated from Gangneung High School, the Incheon native said, `I was a little surprised at first because I was given the opportunity to play in the first team faster than I thought, but now I am playing with confidence with the idea of not making mistakesHe is playing with pleasure with a pledge of ". Not only offense, but also baserunning and defense are also fundamental. In the second base, he is competing in good faith with Park Ji-hwan, his colleague, and he can even defend shortstop and third base.

Jung Joon-jae, along with senior team members such as Jeon Eui-san and Cho Hyung-woo, has applied to the Sangmu Baseball Team and is waiting for the final notification of acceptance/failure. I consulted with the club and applied in a little hurry. If you pass, it is good to be able to resolve military service quickly as you are actually a third-year high school rookie, not a pure high school graduate, and even if you fail, you will be able to prepare for next season with a good pace in the first team.

Chung Joon-jae's potential this year is regrettable for the team to send troops right away.

youll@sportschosun.com

You even hit a home run? Miracle made by a rookie, 165cm short. It's a waste to send the army

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