Choi Jeong completes hip surgery: what SSG must watch before his return
SSG Landers’ veteran slugger Choi Jeong has completed hip surgery at a specialist medical facility in Colorado. According to the club announcement and major reports, Choi is expected to spend about two weeks in the United States for early rehabilitation before returning to Korea. His 2026 season is effectively over, but the main issue is not simply his absence; it is how a 39-year-old core hitter’s body is managed through next year.
Key summary
- Choi underwent hip surgery in the United States on local time August 11, and SSG said the operation was completed safely.
- He leaves the season after 71 games with a .306 batting average, 20 home runs, 57 RBIs, and a 1.013 OPS.
- The club has sent staff and a conditioning coach to support his rehabilitation and return process.
- SSG must cover the remaining-season power gap while avoiding any rush to bring him back next year.
Confirmed facts
| Item | Confirmed detail | Reading point |
|---|---|---|
| Surgery timing | Hip surgery in Colorado on local time August 11 | The key is not only a successful operation, but pain control and rehab pace afterward. |
| Early rehab | About two weeks of initial rehabilitation in the United States | The next test is whether training intensity can be raised step by step after he returns. |
| Season record | 71 games, .306 average, 20 home runs, 57 RBIs, 1.013 OPS | Even in limited time, he remained productive as a middle-order hitter. |
| Team impact | A late-season loss of power and veteran leadership | Short-term standings and long-term return planning should be viewed separately. |
Why it matters
Choi is one of the KBO’s signature power hitters and a symbolic presence in SSG’s lineup. That makes the injury more than the absence of one player. A hip problem for a veteran position player affects swing rotation, defensive movement, and baserunning load at the same time. The priority is not whether he can add more records right away, but whether he can train repeatedly without pain and rebuild a body that can last through a full season.
What to watch next
- Watch whether pain returns and how his body responds to strengthening work in the early rehab stage.
- SSG’s remaining-season lineup combinations will show how the club covers the middle-order gap.
- His ability to handle defensive and baserunning drills before spring camp may decide the speed of his return.
- For a veteran, return decisions should weigh long-term performance and team management, not only personal records.
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