'Even though he distributed rice cakes,' the cruel 'no-hit → no-hit → no-hit' first visit to his former team, the manager said, "He seemed to be trying to do something..."

*This content was translated by AI.

It was a cruel first visit to his former team for '80 billion won free agent (FA)' Park Chan-ho (31).

Park Chan-ho started at shortstop and batted ninth in the away regular-season game against the KIA Tigers at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on the 14th as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

Park Chan-ho, who had always batted leadoff, was placed in the ninth spot in the lineup that day. There was a reason.

Doosan manager Kim Won-hyung, the team's commander, smiled before the game, saying, "He hasn't been performing well recently," and added, "It seems he's trying to do something." He then elaborated, "It takes a lot of effort."

It was understandable. That place, Gwangju, was like his hometown where he had played for 12 years. Although he had moved to a new team with good treatment, he could not help but feel the weight of the situation. His desire to show something must have been even stronger.

On the 12th, the first game of his visit to Gwangju after joining the new team, Park Chan-ho was retired with a center field fly ball in the first inning, a strikeout in the third inning, a grounder to first base in the sixth inning, and a grounder to the shortstop in the seventh inning. Four at-bats, no hits.

Silence continued on the 13th as well. Although he batted leadoff, he was retired with a foul fly to third base in the first inning, a fly ball to the shortstop in the third inning, and a grounder to the pitcher in the fifth inning. Eventually, he was replaced by pinch hitter Kim Ki-yeon in the seventh inning, ending his game early.

On the 14th, a hit still did not come. He was retired with a grounder to the shortstop in the third inning, a strikeout in the fifth inning, and a fly ball to the first baseman in the seventh inning. Then, in the ninth inning, with two outs and a runner on first base, he appeared as the team's final batter and, cruelly, was struck out on three pitches.

In fact, on his first day in Gwangju, he prepared a meaningful gift before the game. According to Doosan officials, he purchased 1,200 rice cakes, which have been gaining immense popularity in the Gwangju area recently, and gifted them to fans visiting the stadium, as well as to the KIA Tigers players and staff. The rice cake packaging bore a message from Park Chan-ho expressing his sincerity: "It was happy to be with you, and thank you."

Park Chan-ho said, "I received so much love from KIA Tigers fans for 12 years since my professional debut. Although it was a small gesture, I prepared this to return even a little of that love. I wanted to distribute it myself, but it was difficult due to circumstances, so I am grateful to the KIA organization for their cooperation in the delivery. Thank you all once again."

The KIA organization also welcomed Park Chan-ho warmly. KIA's official SNS posted photos of Park Chan-ho and the rice cakes, responding, "Park Chan-ho prepared 1,000 sets of rice cakes to express his gratitude to the fans. He also prepared 200 sets for the players and team staff, totaling 1,200 sets to gift. Park Chan-ho, thank you. We were also happy to be with you."

In the end, his sincerity was conveyed, but on the field, he was unable to achieve what he had hoped for. Will Park Chan-ho regain his composure and fully display his skills in the next game against KIA? About a month later, on June 12, Doosan and KIA will clash again in Gwangju.

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*This content was translated by AI.