I can't believe I was a second baseman with such a shoulder… Desperate 8 years after debut → A great deal of both outdoor and professional? I won't shrink anymore

Mar 17, 2025

SSG 신준우. Reporter Kim Young-rok

SSG 최준우. Sports Chosun DB

'I can't believe I was second baseman with my shoulders like that...' Desperate challenge in the 8th year of debut → Is the outdoor side job a stroke of genius? "I won't shrink anymore." A short outfield fly and a bullet-like home pitch. The third baseman did not even take proper action. It was a great outfield transformation report for Choi Jun-woo, who played second base until last year.

SSG Landers Choi Jun-woo will challenge for the outfield double job starting this year. The team's leadership believes that while the infield with Choi Jeong and Park Sung-han and Jung Joon-jae are full, the outfield is relatively relaxed. In addition to Choi Jun-woo, Park Ji-hwan also prepared for both domestic and foreign jobs.

Will the exhibition game against the LG Twins on the 16th be Choi Jun-woo's turning point. On this day, Choi Jun-woo was suddenly replaced by Herredia, who was hit in the head by a fielder's throw in the bottom of the third inning.

He got a walk in his first at-bat in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh inning, SSG Seo Jin-yong added two hits and a walk, putting him on the verge of a full base with no outs.

LG Shin Min-jae's ball here is a short fly to left field. As soon as Choi Jun-woo caught the ball, he sprayed it toward the home. With the ball flying, the third baseman could hardly take off his feet. Ahn Ik-hoon's ball, the next batter of LG, bounced in front of the third baseman after being hit by pitcher Kim Min, leading to a lucky double play and finishing the inning without a run.

SSG Choi Jun-woo, who used to play second baseman. Sports Chosun DB

With the 1-1 balance in place, SSG had a chance to load the bases with one out at the bottom of the seventh inning. Choi Jun-woo hit LG Woo Kang-hoon's second 149km fastball and hit a two-run double that separated the right-center field. It was the final shot of the day. In his last at-bat, he also got a walk and recorded three bases in three at-bats.

Choi Jun-woo, who met after the game, said, `I feel good because I contributed to the team's victory. It was a tight situation, but I thought I could win if I overcome an important crisis (one out in the top of the seventh inning)," he said with a big smile.

On this day, Choi Jun-woo said 'Eredia could be replaced early due to cold weather' was waiting to be told. Fortunately, neither Herredia nor Kim Min, who was hit by the ball, had any major problems. When asked when Kim Min was struck down by a ball, he recalled "I thought he was hit in the face, so I ran because I was so surprised."

"Woo Kang-hoon is a confident pitcher in his fastball, so he tried to hit it with timing in front of him. The batting coach's advice. "I said I was glad it was outfield at the moment I got hit, but the course was better."," he said with a big smile.

SSG 최준우. Sports Chosun DB

This day's game is the first outfield appearance. Choi Jun-woo said "Coach Yoon Jae-guk taught me well from the basics. I did what I practiced, and I came out with a good look. When the weather gets warmer, I'll show you a better performance," he said, giving credit to the coaching staff one after another.

"For me, the exhibition game is like a season. If you think about it, I lacked confidence and was passive. Even if I make a mistake this year, I will not shrink. If there's a hole in our team, I'll fill it right away."

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.