SSG Landers Star Choi Jeong to Undergo Surgery, Season Ends Early

Choi Jeong, a prominent slugger for the SSG Landers, is set to undergo surgery, bringing his 2026 season to an early close. The team announced on the 24th that the 39-year-old infielder was diagnosed with femoroacetabular impingement, a condition characterized by pain stemming from a bone spur in his hip joint.

Despite persistent pain, Choi had been playing through the discomfort. He recently hit his 20th home run of the season, marking the 538th of his career, during a game against the KIA Tigers on the 16th. This milestone extended his personal record to 11 consecutive seasons with at least 20 home runs, a remarkable feat in professional baseball.

However, the ongoing pain eventually led to his removal from the active roster the following day. The surgery is scheduled for July 11th in Colorado, USA, with an estimated recovery period of approximately six months. Before his season-ending surgery, Choi had appeared in 71 games, posting a .306 batting average with 20 home runs, 57 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.013.