Incheon: Choi Jeong of the SSG Landers became the first player in South Korean baseball history with 500 career home runs Tuesday. Choi launched a two-run shot for his milestone homer off Riley Thompson of the NC Dinos at Incheon SSG Landers Field in Incheon, just west of Seoul, marking a significant moment in Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) history.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Choi, 38, is already the KBO’s career home run leader. He surpassed former Samsung Lions great Lee Seung-yuop by hitting his 468th home run on April 24 last year. Entering this season, Choi was just five home runs shy of reaching the 500 mark. However, a hamstring injury delayed this achievement, causing him to miss the start of the season.
Choi returned to action and homered in his season debut on May 2, subsequently hitting home runs on May 4 and 5. He moved within one of the milestone with a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth inning during a game against the Kia Tigers, setting the stage for his historic achievement on Tuesday.
Choi began his career with just one home run as an 18-year-old rookie in 2005, with that first homer occurring almost exactly 20 years ago, on May 21, 2005. Since then, he has reached double figures in home runs every season, a streak unmatched in KBO history, and is now on the verge of extending it to 20 seasons.
Choi has hit at least 20 home runs in nine consecutive seasons, from 2016 to 2024, and with the Landers having 106 games left, this streak could continue. Choi, a three-time home run king, has achieved 12 seasons with 20 or more home runs, tying with Lee Seung-yuop for the most in the KBO. He has consistently ranked among the top home run hitters, finishing in the top 10 on 10 occasions and within the top five every year since 2019.