"I'm sorry."
Kiwoom Heroes infielder Song Seong-moon established a new record for the most consecutive stolen bases in the KBO League with 30 steals and expressed his apologies for the team's poor performance. On the 28th, he played as the leadoff hitter in a game against the Kia Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, where he got on base with a hit in his first at-bat and successfully stole a base.
He hit a ball on the first pitch of the game from Kia starting pitcher Yang Hyun-jong, resulting in a hit that rolled toward center field. He then broke for second base on the first pitch strike. Although Kia catcher Han Jun-soo threw to second, he was ruled safe. He also touched home plate after a timely hit. This stolen base set the stage for the team's first two runs in the game.
Following 29 consecutive stolen bases in a game against Samsung on the 22nd, he added another steal six days later, achieving 30 consecutive steals. Starting from the game against LG at Jamsil on Aug. 13, 2023, he set a new KBO record for the most consecutive stolen bases in two years. The previous record was held by Hae Tae’s Lee Jong-beom, who had 29 consecutive steals from May 18, 1997, to June 27, 1997.
After recording three hits the previous day, he added two hits in this game, raising his batting average. His batting average in the last 10 games reached .400. After the game, Song Seong-moon said, "This is personally a meaningful record, and I think it will remain in my baseball life for a long time. I believe this record is thanks to the support of the fans," expressing his gratitude to the fans.
Additionally, he mentioned, "I'm not a player who steals bases with speed; rather, I am the type who analyzes the pitcher’s habits and timing before attempting a steal. Without the help of many people, including base coach Park Jeong-eum and first base coach Kim Jun-wan, this record would have been impossible. I want to express my gratitude to both coaches."
He further explained his strategy by saying, "I try to catch the opposing battery off guard in unexpected situations. If I attempt a steal recklessly and disrupt the flow, it would negatively affect the team, so I try to attempt steals in situations that do not impact our offensive flow."
Up to that day, Kiwoom had suffered nine consecutive losses. With a record of 3 wins and 21 losses in May, they remained at the bottom by a large margin. "I would like to apologize on behalf of the team for showing poor performance recently. We will all work hard to present a better appearance in the remaining period," he promised improvement along with his apology.
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