It took 17 years after his professional debut. Choi Joo-hwan (35, SSG Landers)’s 100th home run was more meaningful because it was a record obtained after a long wait.
Choi Joo-hwan started as the second hitter and second baseman in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League Kiwoom Heroes game held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 6th, and played an active part with 3 hits in 4 at-bats (1 home run), 1 run and 1 RBI, and the team won 2-1 led
Choi Joo-hwan, who faced Kiwoom An Woo-jin, struck out in the first at-bat in the first inning, but hit a right-handed hit in the 4th inning and hit a solo home run over the right fence in the 6th inning. This home run was an extra point to make the score 2-0, and it was also the 100th arch of Choi Ju-hwan’s personal career.
Choi Joo-hwan, who made his debut at Doosan in 2006, was evaluated as an up-and-coming player, but he seldom got a chance. After returning from military service in Sangmu, he started to take up the position in 2012, but it was a backup role such as a pinch hitter. It wasn’t until 2017, 11 years after his pro debut, that he got his starting spot.
Afterwards, Choi Joo-hwan, who fully exploded his potential by hitting 26 homers in 2018, obtained free agent status after the 2020 season and signed a large contract with SSG for 4 years and 4.2 billion won and transferred.
He met expectations by hitting 18 homers in his first season at SSG, but last year he swallowed regret by hitting 9 homers and 41 RBIs with a batting average of 0.211. His personal career 100th home run also had to pass the year.
And in the new season, in the 26th game, he hit his 5th home run of the season, finally completing the 100th home run (103rd in league history). It is a valuable record after 17 years and 1160 games since debuting on the first team stage in 2006.
Choi Joo-hwan said, “It may be considered late, but it is more valuable because it is a record that I have accumulated step by step since 2017 as the starting player.”토토사이트
The ‘sorrow’ in the 2nd group was also the basis for Choi Joo-hwan. Choi Joo-hwan played a whopping 2214 at-bats in the 2nd group alone.
He said, “I went through ups and downs in the 2nd Army for a long time, but I was able to overcome it with hard work and training silently.” It seems to be back,” he said.