SSG’s high school rookie infielder Park Ji-hwan made a big play. He hit a come-from-behind two-run triple in the ninth inning to seal the game in extra innings. The talent that caught the eye of SSG manager Lee Sung-yong since spring training is now shining through in the first team.
Park started at second base in the No. 9 spot against the Incheon Kia on Nov. 11 and went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, including the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 10th inning. He hit his first home run in his debut against Busan Lotte on Sept. 9, and his first game-winning hit on the same day.
Called up by SSG with the 10th pick in the first round of the 2024 Rookie Draft, Park was named to the opening day roster this year and has successfully broken into the first team. He started to get more playing time in mid-April and posted a .320 batting average.
However, his rise was halted by injury. On April 30, he was hit on the back of his left hand by a pitch from the opposing pitcher in a game against Hanwha. He was diagnosed with a microfracture and spent over a month rehabbing.
Upon his return, Park was still unable to hide his star power. He made his first-team debut in a doubleheader against Lotte on Sept. 9 and went 3-for-7 with a home run and three RBIs. Lee decided to use Park as the starting second baseman for the time being.
Park responded to Lee’s trust right away. His first two at-bats of the day were silent, but in the bottom of the sixth inning, he recorded his first hit with a double. Two batters later in the bottom of the eighth inning, with the team trailing 4-5, he roared a two-run triple off the opposing closer Jung Jung-young.
SSG gave up a run in the top of the ninth to tie the game at 6-6 and had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Lee Ji-young singled to left, scoring Guillermo Heredia from second base.
The game, which looked like it would end in a win for SSG, went into extra innings when the umpires ruled that Heredia did not touch home plate. A review of the broadcasters’ slow screen showed that Heredia’s hand had touched home plate, but SSG had 먹튀검증 exhausted its video review opportunities and had to accept the umpire’s call.
SSG’s disappointment was solved by their youngest player. In the bottom of the 10th inning, with runners on first and second, Park Ji-hwan hit a single to right-center field to bring home Oh Tae-gon from second base, and the game was over.
After the game, Lee praised the rookie, saying, “Ji-hwan saved the day.” “We were able to win the game thanks to his great performance,” Lee said.
“We were struggling in the early innings with a big lead, but our captain, Choo Shin-soo, reminded us of the importance of the game from the bench and gave us a lot of fighting spirit, so we played with confidence and I think we were able 안전놀이터 to win,” Park said.
“I felt like my timing was off in my first two at-bats, so I tried to hit a little bit earlier, and I think it paid off, especially in the bottom of the 10th inning, when I got my chance and I was able to hit the game-winning hit, which is something I’ve been dreaming about since I was in high school, and it was a dream come true for the team.”
“I would like to thank the fans for coming out on a weekday, even on a Tuesday, and I would like to say thank you again to the fans for giving me so much love even though I am a rookie,” Park said.
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