Incheon: With SSG Landers slugger Choi Jeong sitting just one home run away from making Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) history, NC Dinos manager Lee Ho-joon has confirmed that his team has no plans to pitch around the formidable hitter during their upcoming three-game series. "We will go after him. There's really nothing to it," Lee stated to reporters prior to the series opener at Incheon SSG Landers Field. He added, "We'll stick to the same game plan. But I only hope he will hit his home run when we have a big lead."
According to Yonhap News Agency, Choi Jeong is already the all-time home run leader in KBO history and is on the cusp of becoming the first player to enter the 500-home run club. Lee, once a teammate of Choi's from 2005 to 2012 with the SK Wyverns, expressed his surprise at Choi's evolution into a home run powerhouse. "I used to think he could be a guy who could hit .300 with maybe 20 home runs a season. And now he's about to get to 500," Lee recalled. He attributed Choi's success to his ability to develop his own swing, which has allowed him to remain productive over the years.
The NC Dinos have arrived in Incheon riding a season-high seven-game winning streak, which has propelled them from ninth place on May 1 to fourth place as of Tuesday. This success comes despite the team spending much of the season on the road, following the closure of their home stadium, Changwon NC Park, due to a tragic incident. Lee noted that his players have shown resilience and unity during this challenging period.
"When I look at the dugout during games, I can tell the guys have become tighter," Lee observed. "Early on, people used to feel sorry for us. Lately, though, the players have done a great job creating such a positive vibe. I would love it if we can keep this up for the whole season."
Lee acknowledged that challenges lie ahead, emphasizing the importance of quickly overcoming any setbacks. "Our winning streak will obviously end at some point and we will maybe lose a few games in a row," he said. "Our job as a coaching staff is to make sure to keep any slump as short as possible."