Na Seong-beom (33, KIA Tigers), who overcame the most difficult period in his baseball life, returned with a stronger appearance.안전놀이터
In the first week of July, Na Seong-beom left the most outstanding results among the 10 club hitters. In the five games he played in, he had a batting average of 0.375 (9 hits in 24 at-bats) with 4 home runs, 8 RBIs and a slugging percentage of 0.958. He was first in home runs and slugging percentage for the week. KIA, who led the attack with Na Seong-beom showing a hot blow, won all 5 matches during this period.
Joa Pharma and this magazine selected Na Seong-beom as the MVP for the first week of July. Na Seong-beom said, “I haven’t been able to help the team as I have been absent due to injuries. He was very sorry, but it is fortunate that he contributed to the team’s winning streak. He even received an award, so it feels good.”
Na Seong-beom made his first appearance against KT Wiz in Gwangju on the 23rd of last month, when KIA played its 63rd game this season. He suffered a torn fascia between the muscles of his left calf, and he devoted himself to rehabilitation treatment.
In mid-March, when he was first examined, the hospital said he needed 6 to 8 weeks to recover. However, each time I was re-examined, the opinion came back saying, “I have to watch more because there is still blood in the fascia.
” On May 3, 2019, he underwent surgery after suffering a ruptured cruciate ligament in his right knee during a run against KIA, and was unable to play in the remainder of the 2019 season.
Although he has had a long rehabilitation period, Na Seong-beom said that the time when he was dealing with a calf injury was more difficult. He said, “In the case of a knee injury in 2019, it was diagnosed that it would take up to one six months to return. I put down my impatience and looked away. It was also good that he spent a lot of time with his family,” he said, looking back. The impatience of ‘I have to go back quickly’ also grew. It was not a major injury, but the gaze that the return was delayed, and the suspicion that the durability was less than before also made it difficult for me.”
Na Seong-beom tried not to lose his self-esteem. He said, “Last winter, I prepared a lot to show better skills. I believed in that performance,” he said. “This season, there were many games where the team (KIA) lost by one point. The results did not come out compared to the ability of his colleagues, but I endured the rehabilitation treatment period with the belief that I would be able to help if I returned.”
Na Seong-beom, who came out of such a long tunnel, showed solid skills by hitting 6 homers in 13 games after his return. “There are still big ups and downs in the game,” he said. There are also concerns about recurrence of the injury. The sense of hitting right now doesn’t mean much,” he said. I will be careful not to get hurt again, and I will think of team victory as the most important thing more than any other season and participate in the game.”
Personally, he expressed his determination to overcome the sluggishness of international competitions. Na Seong-beom was selected for the national team of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) held in March, but played only two games without showing his skills due to a calf injury. His performance was 0-for-5. He had to watch Korea’s first round elimination.
Na Seong-beom said, “It was a competition where all players were held under the same conditions. The batting cycle could go up and down, but it had to be raised according to the competition. I was sorry for the baseball fans who expected me because I couldn’t properly show my skills in each international competition.” Next, Na Seong-beom raised his voice, saying, “The WBC failure experience will motivate me. I may be selected for the national team again, but if the opportunity comes, I really want to do well. I will not leave any regrets.”
Na Seong-beom’s homework is clear. He regains the league representative ‘iron man’ aspect and leads KIA to take off again. And it shows his competitiveness in international competitions as well. Na Seong-beom, who has undergone ordeals and has become stronger, runs again.