SSG Landers' starting center fielder Choi Ji-hoon and starting shortstop Park Seong-han were selected to the Hangzhou Asian Games national team. The two are currently key offensive and defensive players on their team. In defense, he plays the most important positions in the outfield and infield, and is number 2 and number 5 in the batting lineup. These are players who must play a key role in leading to scores.
I had a lot of worries after I was selected as the final entry for the national team. Of course, there were players to replace. However, losing one or two key players at the end of the season is a fatal blow. In particular, SSG was already going through a difficult time as the team's performance dropped in the second half of the season. In the midst of all this, the starting shortstop and center fielder were out of action for 15 days.
The national team players were called up on the 23rd after playing the game on September 22nd, and returned home on the 8th after completing all Asian Games schedules until the finals on the 7th. It was a golden homecoming because the goal of winning a gold medal was achieved.
Meanwhile, SSG succeeded in turning things around, contrary to expectations. During the period in which Choi Ji-hoon and Park Seong-han were absent, SSG recorded an incredible record of 9 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses, and a winning percentage of 0.750 in 13 games. It ranks first in winning percentage among 10 clubs during the period. Higher winning percentage than the LG Twins (0.615), who won the regular season championship. The best pace since the start of this season came during this period.
In fact, Choi Ji-hoon and Park Seong-han are not the only ones missing. Choi Jeong-do was unable to play for about a week due to back pain, and Kirk McCarty was also out of the regular season, having last appeared on September 23 due to an injury. Despite this, his grades rose sharply.
The tired bullpen is gaining strength again as the weather gets cooler. Bullpen pitchers including Min-Jun Choi, Hyo-Jun Ko, and Hyo-Jun Noh have returned to normal condition. Closer Seo Jin-yong is also alive and well. Here, the performances of fielders such as Song Young-jin, who is serving as a replacement starter, and Oh Tae-gon, Kim Seong-hyeon, and Ha Jae-hoon, who are taking turns filling in the gaps in the inside and outfield, stand out. The presence of Hanyu Island, which succeeded in breaking out of the slump since September, cannot be left out.
Coach Kim Won-hyeong said, "The performance has been at the bottom, but the players are showing strength toward the end of the season. The victory has become a driving force, so the players are looking upward once again. It feels like the players are relieved of the burden little by little. Everyone is going through a difficult time. “They are doing well,” he said.
The team that tasted victory last year. I know the ‘taste of winning.’ It must be such a pity that I lost my mind this season. This is why I lit up my eyes for the last spurt. The two center line players who returned from Hangzhou are expected to join Zumaga's side.
As SSG came back to life, the competition for 3rd to 5th places fell into the fog. SSG, which has risen to 4th place without any rides, can also aim for 3rd place. The end is visible, but it is not over yet.