Choi Jeong-Hwan Choi Joo-Hwan 4 homers-5 RBIs joint venture… SSG’s first victory

The relay home run show of the major hitters and newcomers, the owner who applauded in the audience from start to finish, the crowd in front of Starbucks, and the first victory… . It was a day that couldn’t be better than this. SSG Landers, a new member of professional baseball this season, took a powerful first step with a victory report.

SSG defeated the Lotte Giants 5-3 in the first game of the regular season of the 2021 KBO League held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 4th. It is the first historic victory in the first match since its foundation. Coach Won-hyung Kim, who took the SSG baton this year, also reported his first victory in the professional command tower.

SSG swept all 5 points as home runs, like the’Home Run Corps’ of the past. The center hitters Choi Jeong and Choi Ju-hwan passed the batted ball out of the fence twice. Choo Shin-soo, a major league hitter who played his first KBO league game, recorded 3 at-bats without hits, 1 walk and 1 stolen base in 4 at-bats.

SSG Landersfield, ahead of the opening game, was full of pleasant energy from the morning. Two hours before the start of the game, when the owner Jung Yong-jin (53), vice chairman of Shinsegae Group, visited the baseball field, the heat rose even more. Vice-Chairman Jung inspected facilities in the baseball field in turn under the guidance of SSG Landers CEO Min Gyeong-sam and Shinsegae Group executives.

SSG Landersfield is the only baseball stadium in Korea where Starbucks has entered. In accordance with the instructions of Vice Chairman Chung, special menus and goods that can only be ordered at stores in the baseball field were also made. After saying hello to the team, Vice Chairman Jung grabbed Starbucks coffee and sat at an outdoor table. He shared the excitement of his first departure while taking pictures of the stretch with his smartphone camera.

The day’s greatest interest was definitely’super star’ Choo Shin-soo. Choo Shin-soo, who played as the nominated hitter No. 3, struck out against Lotte Starter Dan Strayley in the first at-bat in the first inning. He played a full-count close-up, but he flipped the bat on the sixth ball and went back to Dougout.

Still, the atmosphere did not subside. Chee Jeong, the sign of Incheon Baseball, rolled up his arm. As the lead hitter in the second inning, he kicked Straley’s third straight ball and crossed the right fence. It was SSG’s first home run and the first arch after the opening of a new stadium. With Choi Jeong’s founding celebration, SSG took a 1-0 lead.

When Choi Jung broke the home run, Choi Joo-hwan, who hit the fifth time, came out. In the fourth inning, which allowed Lotte to pursue a 1-1, he hit a home run with two points of superiority against Strayley again. It was his first home run in his career in SSG uniform.

Joo-Hwan Choi, a former Doosan Bears, signed with SK Wyverns after becoming a free agent (FA) after last season. As soon as the transfer, Shinsegae Group took over the baseball team and started anew as a member of SSG. He proved his worth by drawing a large arch from the first game of the regular season played by the new team.

It wasn’t the end here. The bats of Choi Jeong and Choi Joo-hwan fired eight times in turn. The two made their first consecutive hitter home run this season against Choi Jun-yong, a Lotte bullpen. It gave a foreboding to the birth of the’best duo’ that will take the center of the SSG hitting line this season. Thanks to these, SSG escaped from the lead on the thin ice plate by 1 point and decided to win the victory.

In the beginning of the ninth episode, two companies were full. SSG finisher Kim Sang-soo took the last batter, Son A-seop, as second baseman grounder. It was the last outcount to confirm SSG’s first victory. Choo Shin-soo, who was watching with his breath, came out of Dougout with cheers. The protagonists of SSG’s first history shared high fives and celebrated their victory.

Choo Shin-soo, who made his debut in the meaningful KBO League, said, “Although I struck out two, I was satisfied with each at-bat leaving the result.” He said, “I was amazed by the enthusiastic support of the fans. It felt like I was playing a major league postseason. I was happy just being on the ground.”

Reporter Bae Youngeun [email protected]