Choi Jeong (39), the star hitter for the SSG Landers who set a major record of 11 consecutive seasons with 20 home runs just yesterday, has been removed from the first-team roster due to pain in his left hip area.

The SSG club announced today (July 17), "Despite continuous treatment and management of his left hip, the pain has not subsided, leading to his removal from the roster today." The team added, "We are currently in multi-faceted discussions with domestic and international specialized medical institutions to seek more detailed diagnoses and treatment options."

Choi first felt pain in his left hip during a game against the kt wiz on June 5 and has been playing through the discomfort for over a month.

During that time, he was unable to find a clear treatment method, and as the pain appeared irregularly, he had been managing it with painkillers and supplementary exercises.

This season, Choi has recorded a batting average of .306 (78 hits in 255 at-bats), 20 home runs, 45 runs, 57 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 1.012.

Although he achieved the milestone of 11 consecutive seasons with 20 home runs yesterday, his sudden removal from the lineup creates uncertainty regarding his pursuit of 550 career home runs.

(Photo: Yonhap News)