The 23-year-old SSG Landers infielder Jeong Jun-jae spoke with greater resolve than ever. Excitement and determination crossed his face as he discussed his selection for Korea’s final baseball roster for next month’s Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Jeong earned praise for his talent during his days at Gangneung High School, but was never picked for a youth national team. Instead, he had to wait for his chance on a national team at the senior level.
There was a nerve-wracking mix-up when the roster was announced. Cho Kye-hyun, head of the national baseball team’s power enhancement committee that oversees national team roster selections and player evaluation, accidentally skipped over Jeong’s name while reading out the Asian Games squad.
“I watched the announcement live with some expectations, but when I didn’t hear my name, I thought I hadn’t made it,” Jeong said.
He soon realized, however, that Cho had named only six infielders when seven were supposed to be selected.
“I wondered who had been left out, and when I checked the full roster, my name was there,” Jeong said with a laugh.
SSG Landers infielder Jeong Jun-jaeSSG LANDERS
At 1.65 meters (5 feet, 5 inches) tall, Jeong is one of the shortest players in the KBO, taller only than Samsung Lions infielders Kim Ji-chan and Kim Seong-yoon, who both stand at 1.63 meters. His small frame worked against him when he sought to turn professional in his final year of high school. After going undrafted, he enrolled at Dongguk University.
But rather than dwelling on that disadvantage, Jeong focused on turning his distinctive qualities into strengths. He entered the draft after his sophomore year and was selected by his hometown club, SSG, becoming the first position player to turn professional through the early draft system.
“I thought it would be better to develop my strengths than spend time feeling discouraged,” Jeong said. “I trained with the determination not to lose to anyone when it came to speed and making consistent contact.”
That did not mean giving up on power. Jeong has hit only two home runs in his career, but his totals for doubles and triples have increased each year.
He has proved himself on the field. Jeong drew attention with 37 stolen bases last year and has added 16 this season. He uses his speed intelligently, taking the opposing battery’s tendencies into account, and has been caught stealing only once.
SSG Landers infielder Jeong Jun-jaeSSG LANDERS
Jeong is batting .272 this season, but his average jumps to .330 with runners in scoring position. Against the LG Twins at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in southern Seoul on Sunday, he delivered a game-winning two-run single off Carlos Carrasco.
SSG fans have nicknamed him the “flying squirrel” for his speed, compact hitting and steady defense.
Japan, Korea’s archrival for the Asian Games gold medal, has its own “speed star” in Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks outfielder Ukyo Shuto. A former track athlete, Shuto combines exceptional speed with solid defense. In international tournaments, he has repeatedly unsettled opposing batteries as a backup infielder, pinch hitter and pinch runner. He also displayed sharper hitting at the most recent World Baseball Classic.
Jeong will be expected to perform a similar role for Korea under manager Ryu Ji-hyun. His job will be to disrupt defenses as a late-inning pinch-runner and provide reliable infield coverage off the bench.
“I also want to use my strengths to help the team in international competition,” he said. “I’m confident in my baserunning and defense.”
BY KIM HYO-KYOUNG [kim.hayoon1@joongang.co.kr]
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
