SSG Landers’ Choi Ji-hoon (28) hit a leadoff home run, leading his team to victory.
On the 26th, Choi Ji-hoon started as the No. 1 center fielder in the game against the Lotte Giants at Incheon SSG Landers Field, recording 1 hit, 1 home run, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored in 4 at-bats.
In the bottom of the first inning, Choi Ji-hoon, leading off, hit a 141 km/h fastball on the second pitch from Lotte's left-handed starter Kim Jin-wook, smashing a solo home run that cleared the right field fence. This was his first home run of the season, traveling 110 meters. It was the league's first leadoff home run of the season and Choi's fourth career leadoff home run in the first inning. With Choi Ji-hoon's home run, SSG secured a 3-1 victory, balancing their three-game series with 1 win and 1 loss.
After the game, Choi Ji-hoon said, "Since we lost yesterday, I thought we needed to stop the losing streak. I’m glad to stack up wins again with today's victory. I feel good to win." He added, "Before the game, Manager Lee Seung-yong mentioned that I have been pulling the ball too much lately. So, I focused on my point and made a bold turn. I was watching the pitch that was close to my body."
After hitting his first home run in four games, Choi Ji-hoon noted, "After the home run, I made solid contact in the other three at-bats, but I was disappointed because I didn’t get hits. Still, I want to place importance on the fact that I hit a home run. It's just four games in, and there are 140 games left. I’ll take it slow. I don’t think I have the ability to specifically aim for home runs. But if I can maintain my balance like this, I think I could reasonably expect to hit double-digit home runs."
A total of 14,855 spectators attended the game. Choi Ji-hoon said, "Even though it’s a weekday, so many fans came out." He expressed gratitude, stating, "I always feel inadequate and strive to improve. If fans continue to support me like now, I will work hard to become a better player."
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