December 15, 2025. Ten days before Christmas, Jung Hoon's retirement was announced. From the old guys saying, "I haven't watched Lotte since the Roister days," to the young fans who declare, "I just started watching baseball a year ago!" to the shy fans who secretly turn on TVING and pray for Lotte's championship while muttering, "Why do I watch this messed up Lotte team?" For all of them, the name 'Jung Hoon' is undeniably warm and familiar. Jung Hoon wasn't born a Giant. He was born as the offspring of a mythical beast, abandoned from his nest, and only reborn in the embrace of the Giants. But who could say he isn't a Giant now? Looking back at his baseball career, I want to give him a round of applause on his final path through this writing. 1. The Birth of the Baby Unicorn The Jung Hoon we imagine is definitely a Gyeongsang Province guy. But surprisingly, he was born not in Gyeongnam, but in Jeonnam. Born in Sin-ri, Sinji-myeon, Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do, he moved to Masan in his childhood, graduated from Yangdeok Elementary, Masan Dong Middle, and Masan Yongma High School before entering the pros. Fans who haven't watched baseball for long might find it hard to imagine Jung Hoon in another team's uniform, but in fact, Jung Hoon is not originally from Lotte.
Born in 1987, Jung Hoon participated in the 2006 draft but wasn't selected by any team. He eventually signed a contract as a walk-on player with Hyundai, who came looking for him. Despite his efforts, his start wasn't bright. Stuck in the minor league (2nd team), where he only faced pitching machines and never actual pitchers, Jung Hoon was released after just one year. Instead of looking for another team, he enlisted for active military duty. He served in the artillery, handling 81mm mortars, and was discharged in 2008. But he didn't immediately put on a professional uniform again; he worked as a coach at his alma mater, Yangdeok Elementary School, where his former mentor was. (On a side note, a friend of mine was on the Yangdeok Elementary baseball team when Jung Hoon coached there, so I heard a few stories about him from that time.) Up to this point, his story could have been the typical tale of a 'failed baseball player.' Though there are quite a few active pros serving today, back then, an active duty enlistment for a pro player often meant failure in baseball. Unlike today, there was the Police baseball team besides Sangmu, and excellent players had more chances for military exemption due to frequent international tournaments. But Jung Hoon never let go of baseball. Even though he spent a year coaching kids after his discharge, and no fan knew his name, Jung Hoon never gave up his challenge for the pros. And towards the end of 2009, his hometown team finally reached out to him.
2. The Second Walk-on Player, Finally Becoming a Giant. Why "hometown team"? Before NC was founded, for people from Masan, Lotte was the hometown team, as Lotte's home territory covered Busan and Gyeongnam back then. Anyway, after many twists and turns, Jung Hoon joined Lotte. His second professional uniform. What was Jung Hoon thinking then? Since he never gave the exact wording, itโs just speculation (mind-reading), but perhaps the Lotte uniform was his 'last chance.' It must have been his final opportunity to achieve his dream, leaving him with nothing but the fierce determination to succeed, no matter what. Moreover, Lotte's manager at the time was Jerry Roister, famous for visiting the minor league team often and giving chances to young players, so Jung Hoonโs motivation must have been burning bright. As proof, his opportunity arrived sooner than expected. The news he heard, which must have made him eager to step into the batter's box at Sajik Stadium even once as a formal player: Team captain and starting second baseman, Jo Sung-hwan, was injured. Of course, thinking of a senior teammate's injury as a good opportunity might be wrong. However, there must have been an unavoidable sentiment. Jo Sung-hwan felt like a mountain to Lotte's infield prospects. Even in the big league, there was Kim Min-sung, and Moon Gyu-hyun was also a highly anticipated resource. But Roister chose Jung Hoon. The reason was simple: "I liked his swing." That was Roisterโs direct reason for the call-up. Jung Hoon probably couldn't sleep that night after hearing the news. April 16th: Jung Hoon was called up for the first time. April 20th: He recorded his first career professional hit against Kia. April 27th: He hit his first career home run against Nexen off Go Won-jun. It felt like the birth of a shining star, but he wasn't labeled with only good tags. "This player's defense is bad." That was the general consensus. Sure, as a backup player, he must have been nervous. Since it was essentially his first pro season, people said they should wait and see. While some defended him, that was the prevailing image. It was a great chance, but not a long one. In 2010, he played a total of 26 games. His OPS was .452, and he recorded 18 strikeouts while only drawing 1 walk and 2 hit-by-pitches. Since 1 double and 1 home run were among his 7 hits, his slugging power was recognized, earning him a new nickname: "Ge-yu" (Power SS) An abbreviation for 'power-hitting shortstop.' But that was the end of his 2010 season, and Roister, who opened his professional career, also left the team.
3. The Hour of Dawn Roister left, but Jung Hoon's hope didn't vanish. His 2010 minor league performance was excellent, and 2011 was the same. Thanks to this, another opportunity came knocking. Before 2011, he started as the major league shortstop, taking the place of the designated starter, Moon Gyu-hyun. However, this was a time of hope, opportunity, and rebuke. Even in the minor leagues, he played more second base than shortstop, but he was deployed at short to back up Moon Gyu-hyun. Naturally, he showed defensive instability in the majors and was reprimanded by manager Yang Seung-ho, who emphasized defense. But that didn't end Jung Hoon's 2011. Although he played three fewer games than the previous season, Jung Hoon's hitting shone. Despite short appearances, he posted a .300 batting average and an OPS over .9. He hit three home runs, one of which was an inside-the-park home run. As the season progressed, Kim Joo-chan and Moon Gyu-hyun returned, and fellow backup Son Yong-seok showed stable play covering more positions, so Jung Hoon was sent down. But he was never discouraged. The following year, 2012. Jung Hoon finally became a definite major league member. He appeared in 78 games in 2012. The performance of starter Jo Sung-hwan was declining following consecutive headshots in 2009 and 2010, and his playing time began to decrease. Consequently, Jung Hoon, who performed well in the minors, was called up to the majors to prepare for the succession. However, the scene Jung Hoon left etched in people's minds in 2012 was not entirely positive either.
In 137 plate appearances, he posted an OPS of .513, suffering 42 strikeouts while drawing only 3 walks. But that wasn't the critical part. When Lee Yong-hoon, who had achieved perfection in the minors and was attempting it in the majors, took the mound in the 8th inning, he got one out, but the ball hit by Choi Dong-soo passed right beside Jung Hoon. He quickly dove but couldn't snag it, shattering the perfect game. No one blamed Jung Hoon, but could a player standing at the precipice of such a massive record avoid blaming himself? He made the postseason roster but struggled, going 0-for-4, and had to watch his team get eliminated. For him, 2012 became a chilling, cold dawn. That cold dawn.
4. 'Spring' Before the 2013 season opened, Jo Sung-hwan was the undisputed starting second baseman, but only briefly. As if he couldn't hide his age, Jo Sung-hwan slumped severely, and the new manager, Kim Si-jin, immediately began utilizing Jung Hoon. 2013 was also a period when many new faces emerged. Kim Joo-chan and Hong Sung-hun transferred before the season, Lee Dae-ho was entering his second season in Japan, and backup catcher Jang Sung-woo and homegrown ace Jang Won-jun were still playing for the Police team. New left fielders Kim Dae-woo, Kim Moon-ho, and Jo Hong-seok appeared. Shin Bon-gi, a college graduate shortstop in his second year, made occasional appearances. Kim Sang-ho debuted at first base and performed well, and on the mound, Kim Sa-yul started showing good form as a starter, and Kim Seung-hwe, who transferred as a compensation player, performed well. But his spot was not entirely hopeful.
2013 wasn't just Jung Hoon's breakout season. Park Jun-seo ('Park Pink'), a player who symbolized 'Lotte's Autumn' in 2012 alongside Yong Duk-han, newly emerged. As if his autumn heroics were no fluke, he was called 'the greatest pinch hitter ever' throughout the 2013 season, putting on a crazy performance. His position also happened to be second base. He was six years older than Jung Hoon but five years younger than Jo Sung-hwan. Since his immediate hitting performance was far superior to Jung Hoon's, imagine Jung Hoonโs anxiety. Fortunately for Jung Hoon, Park Jun-seo's performance as a primary starter wasn't stellar. Thanks to this, Jung Hoon's 2013 season didn't repeat the past.
He played in 113 games, matching the total appearances of his previous three seasons combined. His OPS was .692, and for the first time, his WAR exceeded 1. What was most notable was his walk-to-strikeout ratio (BB/K). 30 walks, 54 strikeouts. In the early 2010s, on-base percentage and BB/K ratio weren't as crucial as they are today, but Jung Hoon's ratio until 2012 was terrible. That completely flipped in his first year as a starter. However, this part isn't entirely surprising; if you look at Jung Hoon's minor league stats, he was consistently a batter with a good BB/K ratio. In other words, his 2013 ratio should not be seen as a 'fluke' but rather the result of a previously anxious and rushed hitter finding stability and finally performing to his ability. Now, we can't avoid pointing out the bad stuff again. He was the undisputed starting second baseman in 2013. But he had a clear weakness.
It was funny at first, but his defense was seriously bad. While his range was wider than Jo Sung-hwan's, his fielding errors were far too frequent. How many times did he let an ordinary grounder go right through his legs (al-kkagi)? Furthermore, the 2014 FA market saw the emergence of an FA who could completely erase Jung Hoon. The Devil of the Wyverns. The symbol of their dynasty. Jung Keun-woo was nearing FA. Since he was a Busan High graduate, every Lotte fan wanted Jung Keun-woo. The season ended, and after declaring 'Can't not save Kang Min-ho' and securing him, negotiations with other teams began. That midnight must have been agonizing for Jung Hoon. But.
4 years, 7 billion KRW. Jung Keun-woo's destination was Daejeon, not Lotte. The amount surpassed Shim Jung-soo's 4-year, 6 billion KRW record by 1 billionโa salary that was practically the 'ceiling' for baseball players before Kang Min-ho broke it and before Lee Dae-ho received his offer. This was an enormous relief for Jung Hoon. But if we had settled for relief then, perhaps we wouldn't have loved Jung Hoon as much. The following year, 2014, Jung Hoon played 124 games and broke the 100 wRC+ barrier. In 2015, he played 135 games and recorded similar hitting stats. His defensive instability was severe, but no one could imagine a Lotte second baseman other than Jung Hoon. His career seemed full of hope.
5. The Brutally Hot 'Summer' If only it had stayed warm. Summer arrived for Jung Hoon. A season that was too hot and suffocating. His hitting plummeted, rendering his hitting performance over the previous two seasons meaningless. His plate appearances decreased by more than 100 compared to 2015, and his offensive production was lower than in 2013. The biggest problem was his defense.
I assume many people have seen the clip of Josh Lindblom getting mad at Jung Hoon's defense. This was the period when Jung Hoon's defense was at its worst. Lotte's front office, seeing this, must have thought similarly: 'Jung Hoon is no longer a second baseman.' It was the season that confirmed the position he had guarded was no longer his. First in errors among second basemen, and the evaluation suggested that his skills had completely deteriorated, not just simple mistakes. As 2016 passed, the Lotte front office decided not to use Jung Hoon as a starter anymore, and a new foreign player was signed.
'You useless front office, you brought in an American Lee Woo-min and succeeded, so now you're bringing in an American Shin Bon-gi?' That was the initial reaction when Burns joined the team. A batter who barely hit .275 in the minors. They said his 'defense was MLB-level,' but does that even make sense? How can a foreign hitter not be able to hit? To prove this point, Burns' salary was only $650,000. While high by Korean standards, it was quite low considering most foreign players approached $1 million. Everyone thought it was a front office mistake and that he would be sent home before the season ended. Jung Hoon might have felt the same way. He gave up on second base, but he practiced third base and bought a first baseman's mitt. He even bought an outfielder's glove, never giving up hope of becoming a starter again. Jung Hoon played 68 games and recovered his hitting stats. But the chance to start again never came.
Although people said Burns had good defense, he displayed 'no way this is happening' level defense. He existed at second base, at shortstop where Moon Gyu-hyun was, and at first base where Lee Dae-ho was. He even played center and right field where Jeon Jun-woo and Son Ah-seop were. The moniker 'God of Defense' was fitting. Since his hitting was also decent, the call for Burnsโ removal quickly disappeared, and people started demanding his re-signing. It might have been at this point that Jung Hoon let go of his last hope for second base. In 2018, he fully committed himself to the outfield. He wore a long glove instead of his usual short one and got used to long sprints instead of quick lateral movements. With Min Byung-hun joining the team as the center fielder, there was still no guaranteed spot for him. Still, he vowed to survive the competition with his closest teammate, Kim Moon-ho, and avoid being sent back to the minors. He even changed his uniform number. Jung Hoon's original number was 33, but after receiving a recommendation from veteran Lee Dae-ho that 'numbers with 0 in them are good,' he chose 9 (he wanted 8, but that belonged to Jeon Jun-woo...). His determined 2018 seemed to find the light again.
In reality, regardless of his expectations, fans had none for him. His defense was already a lost cause, and his 2017 was merely a backup role with not many appearances. He was just a decent backup. No one expected him to play center field. It's easy to say 'switch to the outfield,' but how easy is that? However, his resolve was far from shallow.
This is a coupon fans made at the time. They said he needed to collect 20, and this image came out in May. He had already performed this well in just one month. Of course, when he played second base, he still showed his poor defensive skills, and when deployed as a starter, his performance was disappointing. But overall, his 2018 proved that he was far from finished. He recorded career-high rate stats. Especially against left-handed pitchers, his OPS exceeded 1.2, screaming that he deserved a guaranteed spot in the major league roster. His center field defense, in particular, was highly praised, earning him the comment, 'He's good at defense everywhere except second base,' because he excelled at first base and center field. But in 2019. He sank again. He played fewer games but got more plate appearances. However, his hitting stats were destroyed, and the public sentiment he had just recovered began to fade again. Team performance and his results crumbled, mocking his efforts to fully commit to the outfield. He truly thought he was completely finished now. Lotte was full of veterans. Fans viewed Jung Hoon as just another veteran who needed to be 'cleared out.'
6. A New 'Autumn' Last place for the first time in 15 years since 2004. The team decided to change. The general manager and manager left mid-season, replaced by the new duo of Sung Min-gyu and Huh Moon-hoe.
The two, who supposedly got along well and laughed together all the way to Australia, were expected to rebuild. Naturally, it seemed there would be no place for Jung Hoon. Chae Tae-in transferred in the second draft, and Lee Byung-kyu hasn't been heard from since his injury. The catcher position, vacant since Kang Min-ho left, was filled by Ji Si-wan. Moon Gyu-hyun also decided to retire after meeting with GM Sung Min-gyu. The second base position, previously filled by Asuaje and Wilson after Burns left, was now filled by Ahn Chi-hong, and third base became Han Dong-hee's job. Lee Dae-ho, Jeon Jun-woo, Min Byung-hun, and Son Ah-seop remained, but it seemed like only spots for young players were left on the team. But Manager Huh Moon-hoe chose Jung Hoon.
(Though fans didn't want to see it), Huh Moon-hoe was a new 'mentor' for Jung Hoon. He ordered Jung Hoon to wear a first baseman's mitt and consistently used him at first base, sometimes center field. Min Byung-hun was sidelined mid-season due to a cerebral aneurysm, giving Jung Hoon even more opportunities. Returning as a starter, he played 111 games, accumulating a massive 476 plate appearances. It was a new 'spring' and a new 'autumn' that returned to him. His hitting also improved dramatically. His previous career-high wRC+ was 104, but this season he recorded 110. Most notably, his defense shone, even though everyone had stopped expecting it. Given that Lotte's previous first basemen were Park Jong-yoon, Lee Dae-ho, and Chae Tae-in, Lotte fansโ standards for first base defense were the highest among the 10 teams, yet Jung Hoon's play satisfied themโa remarkable point. Furthermore, the 2021 season saw even greater improvement.
The 2021 season started with him recovering his salary to 100 million KRW, after it had been cut down to 64 million. He appeared in 135 out of 144 games, accumulating 561 plate appearances. His wRC+ exceeded 120, making it an undeniable 'career-high' season. In this season, the team had many underperforming players. Son Ah-seop, in his second FA year, struggled below expectations, and the center field position was a constant rotation with no suitable player found. And what about the catchers? Kim Jun-tae was traded mid-season, and the catching position, handled by Ji Si-wan and Ahn Joong-yeol, had hitting that exceeded expectations, but only based on their own low expectations. Their defense was highly unstable. Even Lee Dae-ho posted career-low level performance. One could say that Jung Hoon, along with Jeon Jun-woo and Ahn Chi-hong, carried the team's offense. And after the season, Jung Hoon finally reached FA. His younger teammate, Son Ah-seop, left the team, and his own contract negotiation dragged on. But eventually: 3 years, 1.8 billion KRW. It was the moment when his determination to only have Lotte in his major league career was not betrayed.
7. 'Winter' His FA contract also signified his end. Now at an advanced age, fans no longer had 'expectations' or 'disappointments' for him. He had already become a 'franchise star' deeply loved by the fans. Everyone hoped his ending would be beautiful. But baseball did not allow it. In his first FA season, 2022. He crashed again. He played only 91 games. Of those, 77 were at first base, with 74 starts. The remaining 70 games were split among other players, and his offensive production plummeted into hell. wRC+ 71. This was one of the worst performances among starting first basemen and was comparable to Park Jong-yoon's in team history. His defense was still decent, but the hitting collapse in his first FA year was nothing short of shock and horror for the fans. Moreover, the team situation wasn't bright for him either. Jeon Jun-woo and Ahn Chi-hong started playing first base mid-season. They weren't known for great defense at their own positions either. Furthermore, there was growing talk that third baseman Han Dong-hee should move to first base. Among them, only Jeon Jun-woo was older than Jung Hoon. In the meantime, Manager Larry Sutton designated a new first baseman for the 2023 season.
"Fans are sharing bittersweet farewells to their 'Gerari' and 'Gael-ju' King. They celebrate his incredible journey from walk-on to FA, admitting that despite the occasional 'Jotun' performances, his dedication and memorable moments (like his unique swing and hilarious crying) made him essential. Tun Again!"
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