Baseball
Baseball
SSG Star Choi Jeong Undergoes Hip Surgery, Ends Season Early
SSG Landers slugger Choi Jeong will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after undergoing hip surgery. The veteran third baseman received a diagnosis of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, a condition caused by an abnormal bone growth in his hip joint, which has been the source of persistent pain.
The SSG organization confirmed that Choi underwent comprehensive medical evaluations both domestically and internationally. After conservative treatments failed to alleviate his symptoms, he is scheduled for surgery in Colorado, USA, on July 11. His anticipated recovery period is approximately six months.
Despite playing through discomfort, the 39-year-old had a productive season, appearing in 71 games. He posted a .306 batting average with 78 hits in 255 at-bats, accumulating 20 home runs, 57 RBIs, and an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.013. His 20th home run of the season, and 538th career, came on June 16 in a home game against KIA.
This historic achievement marked Choi Jeong as the first player in professional baseball to record 20 or more home runs for 11 consecutive seasons. However, the ongoing pain led to his removal from the active roster the day after his milestone home run, ultimately necessitating the season-ending surgical procedure.
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