SSG Landers rookie infielder Jung Jun-jae (21) had his first three-hit game in the KBO.
SSG won 7-3 against Samsung in the 2024 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on April 5. The win avenged a loss in the previous game. Jung Jun-jae started at second base in the No. 9 spot and went 3-for-4 with a home run, one RBI, one run scored, and two stolen bases.
With SSG trailing Samsung 0-2 in the bottom of the third inning, Jung singled to lead off the inning and stole second base to put runners in scoring position. Facing Samsung right-hander Denny Reyes, Jung took the last changeup of a nine-pitch at-bat for an RBI single. He then stole second base, but was unable to score as he was unable to follow through.
In the top of the fifth inning, Jung hit a hard line drive off Reyes that deflected off the pitcher for an infield single. Jung then stole second base to put runners on second and third with no outs. SSG tied the game with an infield single by Choi Ji-hoon and took the lead with an RBI single by Park Sung-hwan. 안전놀이터 추천 Choi then hit a two-run home run to make it 5-2. Jung Jun-jae completed his three-hit game in the top of the sixth inning with an RBI single off right-handed reliever Choi Ji-kwang.
“He had a great game (three hits, one RBI, one run scored, and two stolen bases) and was the lifeblood of our offense,” said SSG head coach Lee Sung-yong in the postgame interview. “I’m glad I was able to get a hit and help the team catch up when we were losing, and I was even more proud when the team scored a lot of runs,” Jung said after the game.
Jung, who was selected in the 2024 Rookie Draft as an early draft pick out of Gangneung High-Dongguk University, joined SSG as a fifth-round (50th) pick. He started the season in the Futures League, but showed promise with a 26-game hitting streak of 3-for-25 (77 at-bats) with eight runs, 10 RBIs, seven doubles and a .719 OPS, earning him a spot in the first team after injuries to Kim Sung-hyun and Park Ji-hwan and a slump in Ahn Sang-hyun left the second base spot open. In 16 games with the first team this season, Jung is batting 2-for-5 (9-for-35) with three runs, six RBI, two doubles and a .649 OPS.
After recording his first three-hit game, Jung said, “It’s good to continue my good hitting streak with my first three hits, and I’ve been stealing bases aggressively because the baseball coach has instilled confidence in me. Defensively, I still have some deficiencies, so I want to show a good performance with more practice, and I will make more efforts to meet the expectations of the fans,” he said, adding that he was as determined as he was happy with his three hits.
