"The best has come out."

Kia Tigers star hitter Na Sung-bum (36) delivered a dramatic game-winning hit, effectively washing away his recent slump. On the 17th, at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, in a game against KT Wiz during the 2025 Korean Professional Baseball season, he hit a two-run double that went past the right fielder with one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, leading to a 5-4 victory.

Until the previous day, he had been silent with no hits in the series against KT. Even in scoring opportunities, there were no solid hits. The team won on the 15th with a score of 1-0 but lost on the 16th with a score of 0-3. That was a one-hit shutout loss. As the captain and third hitter, he felt sorry for the team and his teammates. He entered the third game with a heavy burden.

However, in the top of the first inning with one out on first base, he hit into a double play. In the third inning, he struck out with two outs and runners on first and third bases. He drew a walk in the fifth inning but in the seventh inning, when the score was tied at 3-3 with one out and two runners on, he popped up to the shortstop. The long silence continued with 10 at-bats yielding no hits over 12 plate appearances until he came up to bat in the seventh inning. Down 3-4, the final opportunity arrived in the bottom of the ninth.

As the league's save leader Park Young-hyun took the mound, pinch hitter Lee Woo-sung created a chance with a single to center field. After one out, Park Chan-ho backed him up with a fluky hit, and Hong Jong-pyo drew a walk. After battling Park Young-hyun to a full count, a changeup came in and using his wrist in an instant, he sent a ball that went past the right fielder. Two runners crossed home plate, making him the hero of a thrilling comeback.

"I was nervous waiting in the on-deck circle. After one out on first and third base, Jong-pyo hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game and asked me to be comfortable. I was getting nervous as many balls came out. I wished and wished, and as soon as I drew a walk, I thought that even if I struck out, I should approach the plate confidently since Hyung-woo was behind me. I was concerned as I had hit into a few double plays recently. I thought about hitting a fly ball to the outfield, or getting a hit, but the best has come out," he said with a smile.

He continued, "I swung and missed at the first pitch, but I thought I just had to focus on the ball, and if a white one came, I would hit it hard. I didn’t expect a changeup as the last pitch. It came in and I was trying to make solid contact with it until the end. I thought it was a fastball and swung, but the changeup came. I was lucky, and the location was good, so it became a hit and ended the game."

It’s hard not to feel the burden as the captain with the team's poor performance. Still, he noted, "I felt a lot of pressure. If I had gotten a hit and resolved the situation, a sweep would have been possible. I felt sorry for the team. Every time, the coach instills confidence and tells me to relax. There are still many games left. I think positively that we can win later and am trying to pass that message to the players. I’m determined to maintain this momentum and play well against Doosan this weekend."

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