Choi Jeong Becomes First KBO Player to Reach 1,500 Runs as SSG Landers Reclaim Third Place

Choi Jeong has etched his name in KBO League history by becoming the first player ever to score 1,500 career runs, leading SSG Landers to an important victory.

On August 20, at Suwon KT Wiz Park, Choi took the field as the third batter and third baseman against kt wiz. He crossed home plate twice, thanks to timely hits by Han Yoo-seom in the first and fifth innings.

With Choi scoring twice, the SSG Landers edged out kt wiz 5-3, reclaiming their third-place position in the league standings.

Choi contributed to the victory by going 2-for-4 at the plate, adding one walk and two runs scored to his stat line.

Historically, SSG has thrived in games where Choi contributes on the scoreboard. According to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), SSG has won 758 out of the 1,096 regular season games in which Choi has scored, posting a stellar .704 winning percentage. That figure rises to .810 in games where he scores two or more runs, but drops to .417 when he fails to score.

With this game, Choi surpassed the 1,500-run milestone after sitting at 1,499 runs prior to the matchup. Since the inception of Korean professional baseball in 1982, Choi stands as the only player to reach this remarkable feat.

Following the game, Choi downplayed his individual achievement, crediting his teammates: “Scoring runs is a record that requires teammates to bring you in, so this is a number my teammates helped make.” He added, “It is said that our team’s win rate is higher when I score, so I’ll do my best to keep contributing for as long as I continue playing.”

Choi’s 2025 season was hampered in its early stages by a hamstring injury that delayed his return, leading to a slow start with a batting average of just .220. However, his form has been on the rebound in August, recording a .283 average over the last 12 games. He has hit safely in four out of SSG’s last five games, signaling a steady resurgence.

“My hamstring is finally at a point where I don’t really have to worry about it,” Choi said, promising to maintain his focus and performance through the rest of the season.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Yonhap News, SSG Landers SNS