Seoul: On the surface, Choi Jeong, veteran slugger for the SSG Landers, is enjoying his typically productive season. The career leader in Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) history with 537 home runs, Choi has belted a team-leading 19 homers in 68 games so far in 2026, while driving in 54 runs. He is one dinger away from becoming the first player in league history to hit 20 or more homers in 11 consecutive seasons. At 39, Choi remains one of the most feared mashers in the KBO.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Choi admits he feels as if he has not helped his team much this year. That feeling of worthlessness, Choi explained Tuesday after a 4-2 win over the Doosan Bears in Seoul, stems from the fact that he has been largely confined to designated hitter (DH) duties. Injuries have kept him from playing third base as often as he would like.
"This really feels weird, something I have never experienced before," Choi told reporters after launching a two-run homer in the victory at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. "Personally, whenever we lose games when I only play as DH, I feel like I offer absolutely zero help and I am the reason for the loss. That feeling is even worse when I have a bad day at the plate. I am not used to this."
The Landers have been struggling, with Tuesday's victory snapping their losing streak at nine games. Earlier in the year, they suffered a franchise-worst 13 straight losses. They ranked as high as second at one point in the season but now find themselves in ninth place among 10 teams with a record of 31-50-3 (wins-losses-ties). They are closer to last place than they are to eighth place.
In 2025, assorted injuries limited Choi to 95 games and 406 plate appearances, both his lowest totals since 2015. Of those 406, 215 came as DH, the first time in his career that Choi made more than half of his plate appearances as DH. This season, through Tuesday's action, Choi has had 90 of his 199 plate appearances as DH. A left hip injury has kept him off the hot corner since June 4, and he expressed frustration with the mysterious nature of his condition.
"It still hurts, but I have yet to receive a clear guideline on how to treat this injury," Choi said. "I would obviously love a little more clarity. I am doing what I can so that I can start playing on the field again after the All-Star break (next week)."
Despite his self-criticism, Choi's numbers remain impressive. He is fifth in the league in home runs this year and has played the fewest games among the top 10 players in that category. He is also batting .311, nine years removed from his most recent .300 season. He ranks second in the KBO in on-base plus slugging (OPS) with 1.023, trailing only Austin Dean of the LG Twins. Choi and Dean are the only two players with at least a .300 batting average, a .400 on-base percentage, and a .600 slugging percentage.
As for being a home run away from a record, Choi said, "It feels pretty surreal." "I am just lucky that I have been able to post these numbers," he added. "I will keep trying to do my best in each and every trip to the plate."