SSG rookie Park Ji-hwan cheers after hitting a comeback hit in the 8th inning against the KIA Tigers held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 11th.
SSG Landers’ ‘bold rookie’ infielder Park Ji-hwan (19) is keeping the team spirit alive after returning from injury. As soon as he returned, he jumped over the high wall of Sajik Stadium and showed his presence when he hit a walk-off hit against the KIA Tigers at home.
Park Ji-hwan, a graduate of Se-Gwang High School, is an infielder who was selected by SSG as the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 KBO rookie draft.
SSG, which won the championship in 2022, was pushed to the last place in last year’s draft, and all the good pitchers in the previous order passed out and chose a fielder. For the SSG club, it was the first time in 19 years since Choi Jeong in 2005 (SK Wyverns at the time) that they selected a fielder in the first round.
Park Ji-hwan captured the heart of coach Lee Soong-yong with his active play from spring training.
In the early days of the opening, he was unable to play because he was pushed out by veteran Kim Seong-hyun, but he got his chance on April 21 when Kim Seong-hyun was hit by a dead ball and left out. However, on April 30, when he was slowly settling in, he collapsed after being hit on the back of his hand by Jang Ji-su’s ball in a match against the Hanwha Eagles. The subsequent diagnosis was metacarpal microfracture.
Park Ji-hwan, who was briefly frustrated, immediately began treatment and rehabilitation. He waited for his condition to heal by consuming large amounts of safflower seeds, which are said to be good for strengthening bones. Meanwhile, as college graduate rookie Jeong Jun-jae played an active role at second base and came up, Park Ji-hwan’s heart became anxious. 스포츠 토토사이트
Park Ji-hwan, who met at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 11th, said, “I knew from the beginning that (Jeong) Jun-jae was a good player. “He has enough skills to be successful in the first team,” he said. “But when I saw my friend doing well, it was a great motivation for me.” “I wanted to recover as quickly as possible and compete together,” he confessed.
Park Ji-hwan returned to the Sajik Lotte Giants game on the 9th and led the team to victory with 2 hits in 4 at-bats and 1 home run. He pushed Lotte ace Park Se-woong’s fastball over Sajik’s high wall.
His performance against the KIA Tigers held at home on the 11th was even more remarkable. He hit a come-from-behind, 2-RBI triple with 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd base in the 8th inning when the team was losing 4-5, and then hit a walk-off hit with 1 out and 2nd bases in the 10th inning when the score was 6-6. It was a very impressive performance upon his return.
Park Ji-hwan said, “Actually, I didn’t feel good when I went to the hospital after being hit by a sand dune. He was very sad because he was just settling down. However, he did not think about it anymore and only focused on rehabilitation,” he said. “I was nervous because I returned to the first team a little earlier than I thought, but I was relieved when I hit a hit from the first at-bat.”
He continued, “I’ve been good at pushing the ball since middle school, but I never thought I’d be able to push the ball over at Sajik. He was dazed, but he felt really good. “He also received a lot of praise from his seniors,” he explained. Park Ji-hwan’s presence is a great strength for SSG both inside and outside the dugout. He plays fearlessly with the confident spirit of a rookie. When he hits a hit in a clutch situation, he doesn’t hesitate to celebrate loudly. Park Ji-hwan said, “My personality is not suited to being quiet. “Especially because I’m a rookie, I’m trying to stay active like a rookie,” he said with a smile. “Now, I want to hit a home run at home, but for now, rather than focusing on home runs, I’ll work hard with the goal of getting on base.” 성인웹툰