"I will laugh at the end."
KIA Tigers' championship captain Na Seong-beom joined the first team on the first day of training for the second half of the 2025 professional baseball season, held on the 14th at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field. It was the first time he trained normally with his first-team teammates since suffering a calf muscle injury on April 27. He is expected to start as the main right fielder from the first game of the second half against the NC Dinos on the 17th.
He has already shown hope by hitting a home run and multiple hits in two second-team games at the end of the first half. His face looked somewhat thinner than before the injury. He laughed, saying, "Actually, there hasn't been much change in weight," but showed a light movement. He not only underwent perfect rehabilitation training but also put in a lot of effort by controlling his diet.
Na Seong-beom said, "I couldn't run due to a leg injury. At first, it was hard to walk, so I tried not to go out much. I gain weight easily if I eat whatever. I started to control my eating. I lost about 1 to 2 kg. (After trying it out in practice) I felt good compared to when I injured my calf in 2023. Back then, I was anxious due to severe tightness. This time, I felt good even after running a lot," with a bright expression.
Coach Lee Beom-ho also mentioned Kim Sun-bin, who returned with him, and did not hide his expectations. "The young players did a great job while the two players were absent. Now that they are back, the two veterans must perform well. The team's batting lineup will become stronger with improved scoring ability and cohesion," showing confidence in boosting offensive power.
Fortunately, the players O Seon-woo, Kim Ho-ryeong, Lee Chang-jin, and Kim Seok-hwan, who were called up from the second team, have shown impressive performances. O Seon-woo quickly secured a spot as a starter. Kim Ho-ryeong has improved significantly in hitting and has stepped up as an irreplaceable starting center fielder. Go Jong-wook, a .300 hitter who stayed in the second team, also made fiery hits playing as a left fielder. Choi Won-jun has also gradually found his hitting rhythm, filling the gaps.
Now, Na Seong-beom, who has returned, must repay as the starting right fielder and a key hitter. Perhaps because of this, he said, "I watched on TV and I'm grateful that the young players hung in there well. Now I will compete with my juniors. I feel like I need to focus more. The coach is also reassuring and has high expectations. I told Sun-bin that we should do well without getting injured now," and he expressed his commitment.
He especially expressed his regret and honesty about his three-year injury. "This year, my goal was to stay healthy from start to finish, regardless of performance. Since the year before last, I’ve missed seasons due to injuries and I sincerely apologize to the coach, teammates, and fans. People around me ask why I keep getting injured. Honestly, I didn't want to get injured, and I hope you understand that. I have worked hard on good habits to take care of my body," he said.
Lastly, he vowed, "I will contribute to a winning streak from the second half. I will ensure that I can laugh more at the end. I believe our team has enough potential." At the same time, when asked by reporters about his return from injury two years ago, where he hit 18 home runs in 58 games, he smiled and added, "I will try to do exactly the same as back then."
Na Seong-beom returned at the end of June after being diagnosed with calf fascia damage in 2023 and showcased an incredible performance. He displayed destructive power with a batting average of .365, 18 home runs, and 57 RBIs over 58 games, with a slugging percentage of .671 and an on-base percentage of .427, achieving an OPS of 1.098. The mention of him feeling lighter while running hints at his newfound confidence.
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