Na Sung-bum of the KIA Tigers completed his rehabilitation from injury and registered in the first division entry prior to the 2024 professional baseball game against the LG Twins on last Friday. Coach Lee Bum-ho mentioned his return on April 30 or May 1 as recently as the previous day. He immediately called Na Sung-bum, who had played one game (one hit in three times at bat) in the second division, to Seoul. He called him for Game 3 of the weekend series.
The team won all three consecutive games during the week against the Kiwoom Heroes, but lost Game 1 and Game 2 of the weekend series. All of them were upset losses, but the process was not smooth. Pitchers suffered losses due to LG’s foot baseball. As the sweepstakes were cast, it can be said that Lee threw a kind of winning move with Na Sung-bum’s card.
He called Na even though he was not 100 percent active. Na’s registration as the first entry for this season was meaningful. With the return of the captain, the coach laid the groundwork for the team to change the atmosphere. He encouraged his players to have the will to win the third game without fail. Jamsil Stadium was packed with spectators for three consecutive games, but if the first place winner failed to win a single game, it was also humiliating for him.
He put them on the bench to serve as a pinch hitter at an important moment. With runners at first base with no outs in the top of the seventh inning when his team was losing 5-7, he replaced Lee Chang-jin as a pinch hitter. He ate two strikes first, but he displayed his outstanding initiative to walk. It led to an opportunity to hit a surprise bunt with no outs and an error by the opponent team, and Kim Do-young succeeded in turning the game around 8-7.
In the end, it resulted in the best result, leading to a 10-7 comeback victory. It is not an exaggeration to say that the team won the game with Na Sung-bum as its lead. Jamsil Stadium got heated up when Na Sung-bum stepped in as a pinch hitter. In other words, the manager’s change of atmosphere was successful. For now, Kia plans to use the returning Na Sung-bum as a designated hitter or pinch hitter. Choi Hyung-woo will play in the left field when he plays as a designated hitter.
With Na Sung-bum’s return, KIA’s batting line becomes the whole body. It can operate the center line leading to Kim Do-young, Na Sung-bum, Choi Hyung-woo and Socrates. Recently, Socrates entered recovery mode with multiple hits in four consecutive games. Choi Hyung-woo is also slowing down, but he is producing a decisive RBI. Kim Do-young can hit long balls and even have mobility.
A dynamical batting line-up was established. With and without Na Sung-bum in the batting line-up is a difference between heaven and earth. Choi Won-joon and Lee Woo-sung, who were pillars of the batting line-up with a batting average of .300, also continue to pace. Kim Sun-bin and Park Chan-ho, who had been somewhat slow, are also expected to cheer up with Na Sung-bum’s return. Offensive catcher Han Jun-su also has no place for the batters to rest if they expand their chances to play.
What’s more, Na lost 5 kilograms and returned to the team. He judged that his lower body was strained due to his weight, which led to three injuries from last year. Some pointed out that while he is getting older, he runs with the muscles and weight he has gained through bulk-ups, which causes problems. This is interpreted as an appropriate measure. Attention is focusing on whether Na, who contributed to the victory with just one at-bat, will now lead the team with a hot bat.
BY: 토토사이트
