Lotte Giants Jeong Hoon (36) spoke about the difficulties of being the most senior player and remembered Lotte legend Lee Dae-ho, who retired last year.
Jung Hoon started as first baseman No. 5 in the game against Kiwoom Heroes in the 메이저사이트‘2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League’ held at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 15th, and played with 2 hits in 3 at-bats, 1 RBI, and 2 runs, helping Lotte to a 5-4 walk-off victory. contributed to
Jeong Hoon, who surpassed 1,000 hits on the 5th, has a batting average of .274, 68 home runs, 468 RBIs, and an OPS of .748 in 1,273 games (1,008 hits in 3,679 at bats). On this day, an award ceremony was held for his 1,000th career hit.
“I don’t know what other players think, but for me, it’s like a medal,” said Jeong Hoon. “I think it’s a good medal that I earned after enduring hard times. “I don’t know how much more I can hit, but I hope this continues and not the end,” he said, explaining the meaning of 1,000 hits.
Jung Hoon said, “I reflected a lot while watching the awards ceremony video,” and added, “When I saw myself in the video, I saw that I was working really hard. While watching it, I felt like I had lost my original intention and I reflected on it. At that time, I went crazy after seeing just one ball in a real baseball stadium, but as I got older and became a veteran, I learned about baseball and it seems to have changed. “I think that a veteran can be a good example to younger players by focusing on one ball and playing baseball like crazy,” he said.
Lotte’s franchise star Dae-ho Lee retired from active duty at the end of last season. Now, Jeong Hoon is leading the juniors as the most senior player on the team, along with Jeon Jun-woo (37) and Shin Jeong-rak (36).
Jeong Hoon said, “It seems like a very difficult position. Fans may think that since he is now a senior, he doesn’t have to do anything odd and he is comfortable like a sergeant in his later years in the military. However, when I became the most senior person, I often thought, ‘How lonely (Lee) Dae-ho must have been.’ Even though I am the most senior, I am a professional here, so I have to have a certain level of performance to serve as a standard for my juniors and lead the team. “In that respect, it doesn’t seem like an easy position.”
Jeong Hoon admired, “I think Daeho, who has been good at this position for a long time, is truly amazing,” and added, “Now that I am the most senior person, I miss Daeho, but at the same time, I am also amazing. Anyway, I think this year is the year I miss Daeho a lot,” he said with a smile.