Professional baseball player Ko Myung-jun (23) of SSG Landers is raising expectations as a key hitter for the team this season.

Ko Myung-jun made a substitute appearance in a practice game against Hanwha Eagles at Kochinda Stadium in Okinawa, Japan on the 2nd, recording 1 at-bat, 1 hit, and 1 RBI. In the 7th inning, with no outs and a runner on second base, he hit a timely single against Hanwha's ace Ryu Hyun-jin. SSG exploded offensively, achieving a 10-0 victory, including Ko Myung-jun.

Drafted in the second round (18th overall) of the 2021 rookie draft by SK (now SSG), Ko Myung-jun was anticipated as a promising slugger. However, his growth has been slower than expected, and he has yet to deliver satisfactory performances. By 2023, he had only participated in 5 games in the first team. In 2022, he suffered a rupture of the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, missing the entire season and finishing his time in the Futures League with a batting average of .270 over 110 games (345 at-bats, 93 hits), 9 home runs, 49 RBIs, 51 runs, 2 stolen bases, and an OPS of .724.

However, he started to show potential last season when he received more opportunities in the first team. Ko Myung-jun recorded a batting average of .250 over 106 games last year (340 at-bats, 85 hits), with 11 home runs, 45 RBIs, 33 runs, 3 stolen bases, and an OPS of .688. While the results were still disappointing, he proved that he can exceed 10 home runs for the first time since his debut, indicating potential for power-hitting.

Ko Myung-jun, who showed promising performances during the first spring camp held in Vero Beach, Florida, is gradually raising his hitting pace in the Okinawa camp practice games. In the first practice game against Samsung on the 25th of last month, he recorded 0 hits and 1 walk in 3 at-bats. However, in the game against Hanwha on the 27th, he recorded 1 hit and 1 walk in 2 at-bats, and on the 28th against KT, he collected 4 hits, including 2 doubles. In this game, he hit another timely single and is boasting a batting average of .545 over 4 practice games (11 at-bats, 6 hits), with 3 RBIs and 2 walks.

In an interview on the 28th of last month, Ko Myung-jun stated, "In the first 2 games, I had a lot of late timing, so today I tried to take my time right from the practice. During the games, I focused on the process rather than the results, and I'm glad that good results came out. I always think that I won't be late to fastballs, and I was personally satisfied that I wasn't late today."

After hitting a double to right center in his second at-bat against KT, Ko Myung-jun said, "I prefer hitting to the opposite field rather than pulling the ball, so I was surprised that I hit it like that." Responding to a question about whether he feels he will get more hits in the future, he stated, "That's not something I can control. When I step into the game, I need to approach my at-bats with the same mindset every time."

Having gained significant experience in the first team last season, Ko Myung-jun noted, "It definitely seems helpful," adding, "Last year, I rated my season at one point, but I still think it’s one point now. The season hasn’t started yet. I believe all players, no matter how well they are performing now, won't feel satisfied. There are always parts that leave something to be desired. I feel that way too."

SSG manager Lee Seung-yong emphasized Ko Myung-jun's role, saying, "If Ko Myung-jun's hitting sense rises and he can take on the 4th and 5th batting positions, we can form an ideal batting order. It's best when Choi Ji-hoon, Jung Jun-jae, and Park Ji-hwan are quickly stealing bases in the 1st, 2nd, and 9th spots, with solutions coming from a strong middle order."

Ko Myung-jun expressed strong ambitions, stating, "Since I got injured last year, I am always thinking about avoiding injuries. I want to complete the season without injuries this year. And I believe that first basemen should hit 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. I want to achieve such goals once."

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