In a moment of crisis, there was no need to look far for a savior. The 38-year-old veteran Jeong Hoon of the Lotte Giants, in his 16th year in professional baseball, is proving that his time is still not over.

On the 5th, Jeong Hoon started as the designated hitter in a regular-season matchup against Doosan Bears at Sajik Stadium in Busan, contributing to a team victory with 3 hits from 4 at-bats, 1 RBI, and 1 run in a 6-1 win. It was his first multi-hit game of the season and a 3-hit game.

He struck out in his first at-bat in the 1st inning but got a single in the 3rd inning from his second at-bat. There were no subsequent hits. After a solo home run by Yoo Gang-nam put the team 1 run ahead in the 4th inning, Jeong Hoon played a key role in adding another run in the 5th inning. Coming to bat with no outs and nobody on base in the 5th, Jeong Hoon hit a sharp line drive toward left field for a double. Doosan's left fielder Kim In-tae attempted a sliding catch but failed to retrieve the ball, allowing Jeong Hoon to sprint to second base. After advancing to third base on a groundout by Na Seung-yeop, Jeong Hoon scored on a timely hit from Reyes. In the 6th inning, he directly contributed to a crucial run. In a 1-out, 2nd base opportunity created by lead-off hitter Jeon Min-jae's infield single and Jang Du-seong's sacrifice bunt, he hit a deep timely single to left field. It was a 3-hit game and a timely hit that extended the lead to 5-0. Jeong Hoon was then replaced by Han Tae-yang to finish the game.

Lotte suffered a devastating 3-15 loss in the previous game on the 4th. The batting lineup still struggled to find a breakthrough. However, with Jeong Hoon breaking the ice, they were able to rebound from the shock of that loss. Not only in this game but whenever Lotte has faced a crisis this year, Jeong Hoon has consistently appeared as a savior.

The season started anxiously with a record of 1 win and 5 losses in the first six games, showing a trend no different from last year. However, on March 29 in the Sajik game against KT, Jeong Hoon propelled the team to victory with a decisive double. He created an opportunity by hitting a double to right field as the lead-off hitter in the 5th inning with the game tied 1-1, and later scored the decisive run on a double by Jeon Jun-woo. He helped break a three-game losing streak and led the team to its second victory of the season. The next day, on the 30th against KT, he lifted the team from the depths of defeat. In the 9th inning, facing a bleak situation trailing 2-3, Jeong Hoon came to bat as a pinch hitter in a 1-out, 2nd base opportunity created by Kim Min-seong's walk and Jeong Bo-geun's sacrifice bunt. Against KT's hard-throwing closer Park Young-hyeon, Jeong Hoon capitalized on a mistake pitch to hit a tying timely double down the left-center, bringing the score to 3-3. Although the team ended up in a 4-4 tie after 11 innings, Jeong Hoon managed to prevent a loss.

And on the 2nd against Hanwha, he delivered a decisive blow, leading the team to a winning streak. Jeong Hoon reinforced his image as a savior once again as he propelled the team to victory in moments of crisis.

Last year, Jeong Hoon sacrificed for the team by not only playing his original position as a first baseman but also stepping in as left fielder and even as a third baseman, a position he had rarely played before, due to injuries depleting the outfield. Thanks to Jeong Hoon's sacrifices, the vacant positions were filled without issues, and the team was able to rebound after May, allowing them to compete for the fall baseball. This season, Lotte has once again faced injuries with players like Ko Seung-min, Son Ho-young, and Hwang Sung-bin currently out of the first team. However, Jeong Hoon is laying the groundwork for recovery by supporting the team both in the dugout and on the field, continuing to play as an indispensable presence. In January 2022, he signed a free-agent contract for a total of 1.8 billion won over 3 years, and he will acquire free-agent status again at the end of this season. He is showing that his time is still not over.

After the game on the 5th, Jeong Hoon said, “I’m glad I could contribute to the team’s victory after a weekend series of consecutive losses. As a veteran, I am trying to communicate with the team while fulfilling my role and responsibilities. I will continue to work hard to better fulfill my veteran role. Finally, I want to thank the coach for believing in me and putting me in the game until the end.”

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