*This content was translated by AI.
Although he is a second-tier player, Kiwoom Heroes infielder Seo Geon-chang (37) looked comfortable when he met at Goyang Baseball Stadium. Three months have passed since he left the KIA Tigers unbeatable, and he finally came back with the advice of "close senior" Park Byung-ho (40, current coach of Kiwoom's Remaining Army) to wait while preparing. There were various speculations, including rumors of support for Ulsan Wales, but Seo Geon-chang's eyes turned to only one place, the Heroes, his former team.
Seo Geon-chang said in a meeting with reporters at Goyang National Training Center, the Heroes' second-tier stadium, on the 26th, "I feel like I'm back home. That's exactly how it feels. In a way, I think I got my last chance. Thanks to the club's favorable reception, I came here like this. In that regard, I have no choice but to think about doing very well," he said.
On the 16th, the baseball community was surprised to hear that Seo Geon-chang went to Kiwoom Heroes in a surprise move. Kiwoom announced, "We signed a player contract with Seo Geon-chang on the condition of an annual salary of 120 million won." It was a romantic scene in which Kiwoom reached out to Seo Geon-chang, who was released from the KIA Tigers after the end of the 2025 season.
Seo Geon-chang was once the top second baseman in the KBO league. In the 2014 season, he hit 201 hits in 128 games for the Heroes, setting a new record for the first 200 hits in the KBO league. He won the second baseman's Golden Glove three times (2012, 2014 and 2016), and even won the MVP of the regular league in the 2014 season.
There was also talk that Seo Geon-chang may apply to Ulsan Wales. In the end, Seo Geon-chang did not apply, and he headed to Kiwoom. Seo Geon-chang also looked perplexed when asked about his intention to support the Ulsan team and said, "I would have applied if I had actually had an intention to apply. However, I think I wanted to go to Heroes more strongly. So I didn't think (Ulsan)."
In fact, for Seo Geon-chang, it has been a series of waits since November last year. "In fact, all I could do (after being released) was wait while exercising," he said. Rather than being decisive in coming to Kiwoom, the story came out in the process of naturally communicating with each other. In the end, the club gave me a chance. I think it was the starting point to jokingly talk about how the club is working out hard," he said, explaining the contract process with Kiwoom.
He confessed honestly that he was left with regret to choose to retire after the 2025 season. Seo Geon-chang said, "My body talked to me. My body told me that I can still do it. Of course, it's a situation where I have to prove it sexually, but I think I'm still healthy enough to compete, and I'm not retired yet. The previous season was also a very disappointing season for me personally. There was no excuse and it was because it was insufficient," he reflected.
Seo Geon-chang also showed enthusiasm for new challenges and roles in the 2026 season. Seo Geon-chang, 53, the head coach of the Kiwoom Heroes' first division, said, "If you're a player, it's natural to prepare in the position the team needs. It may be difficult because it's my first position, but I have to practice that much. At first, I'm not good enough, but I'll try to overcome it well," he said, strengthening his will.
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*This content was translated by AI.
