SSG Landers, which emphasized "remodeling" after the end of the 2023 season, gave young players many opportunities this season. Rookie infielder Jung Joon-jae was one of them.
After going through Sangcheon Elementary School, Dongcheon Middle School, Gangneung High School and Dongkuk University (early draft), Jung joined the SSG as the 50th player in the fifth round of the 2024 KBO Rookie Draft. Standing 165 centimeters tall and weighing 68 kilograms, he is not physically large. However, Jung has received high evaluation within his team for his excellent athletic ability, contact ability and explosive flagship skill.
Jung Joon-jae was called up to the first team on May 1. He was excluded from the roster two weeks later, but was called up to the first team again on May 25. After the second call-up, he survived the competition without losing a single game. He quickly adapted to the first team by banking on his strengths, defense and base running, and continued to contribute to his team until the end of the season. His final record for the season was .307, 66 at-bats for 215 hits in 88 games, 0.307, one homer, 23 RBIs, and 16 steals, or OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) 0.776.
Jung Joon-jae said, "I think I did better than I thought. I realized it a little later. I thought, 'My skills are not like this' but I thought, 'You're doing okay' because I'm doing well. I thought it was more comfortable when I get used to it," and looked back on the season, saying, "I did well, but there are many things I need to supplement."
"In the beginning, I couldn't go out much and was only on the bench, so I thought, 'If there's nothing certain, it's hard to go out a lot.' I thought I should maximize my strengths and show them clearly," he said. "In the case of hitting, it comes out naturally when you get used to seeing the ball, so the ball was familiar to you when you got the opportunity. I have my own zone, and the ball that I should hit and the ball that I should not hit were distinguished. I think there was a good part of hitting as well."
Jung Joon-jae thinks the biggest achievement this season is defense. "Hitting and running are important, but I think defense should support us to create more opportunities," Jung said. "I think I can do other things more comfortably only when I show stable performance in defense."
Jeong was primarily a second baseman (384 ⅔ innings), but he also played as a third baseman (85 ⅔ innings) depending on team conditions. He played five ⅔ innings as a shortstop. "There is a definite difference (as second and third basemen) are in opposite positions. It also feels a bit awkward (when playing third basemen). I am always confident, but I think I need to practice a lot."
Jung mentioned the game against the Doosan Bears in Munhak on July 27 as his most memorable game. Jung, who started the game as a second batter and second baseman, hit his first professional debut home run against Doosan starter Choi Won-joon in the bottom of the fourth inning with one out when his team was losing 0-1. SSG, which set a turning point with this home run, came from behind to win 4-3. 메이저놀이터
Jung Joon-jae said, "The score was 0-1, but the flow was not good. It was my first home run since my debut, but it was the most memorable because it was a home run that could change the atmosphere," adding, "People around me congratulated me a lot. After hitting the home run, I ran with a smile."