Four years after shedding tears, Chungam High School captain Kim Dong-heon visited Mokdong personally to congratulate the champions. "The players I've watched since my freshman year... I'm so proud." [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Former Chungam High School captain Kim Dong-heon (22, Kiwoom Heroes) personally visited his juniors to congratulate them after they secured the Golden Saja Cup championship for the first time in 15 years.

Chungam High School defeated Daejeon High School 10-4 in the finals of the 80th Golden Saja Cup National High School Baseball Tournament held at Seoul Mokdong Baseball Stadium on the 16th, claiming the championship. This was their first national tournament victory in five years, following their triumphs in the Cheongryonggi Cup and the President's Cup in 2021. It also marked their first Golden Saja Cup title in 15 years, since 1990, 2009, and 2011.

In a corner of the dugout, there was a familiar figure watching his juniors celebrate their victory with a contented smile. It was former Chungam High School captain Kim Dong-heon, who had led the team to a national championship just before this tournament. Kim Dong-heon was a key figure in launching Chungam High School's golden era in the 2020s, alongside Lee Ju-hyung (24, SSG Landers) and Yoon Young-cheol (22, KIA Tigers). As a sophomore, he primarily played as an outfielder, leading the school to its first Cheongryonggi Cup victory and its first President's Cup title in 31 years.

Meeting with StarNews on-site, Kim Dong-heon shared his recent status: "I've been training with a reserve team recently, but there were no games, so I had time to come watch alone. I'm not injured; I'm just struggling with my batting, so I'm in training."

Mokdong Baseball Stadium was also a place of pain for him. As a senior, Kim Dong-heon returned to his primary position as catcher and took on the role of captain to lead the team. However, after reaching the semifinals of the Shinsegae E-Mart Cup and finishing as runners-up in the Cheongryonggi Cup, he was unable to secure a championship during his senior year.

Especially during the Cheongryonggi Cup final against Yushin High School four years ago, his battle through injury moved many viewers. Despite a hamstring strain in the late stages of the game, he refused to be substituted. After being hit by a pitch and reaching first base, Kim Dong-heon roared, igniting the atmosphere until the very end of the game. Although they ultimately did not win the championship, Kim Dong-heon was seen crying in the arms of his friend Yoon Young-cheol after the match.

When asked about it, Kim Dong-heon shyly replied, "It's been a long time..." He added, "The game was at night back then, so it was a bit more exciting, and it brought back many memories. The current seniors were the ones I taught during volunteer activities when they were freshmen. I had high expectations for them back then, too, so it's amazing that they won the championship immediately after becoming seniors."

After graduating from Chungam High School, Kim Dong-heon was selected by Kiwoom in the second round, 12th overall, in the 2023 KBO Rookie Draft. As a rare high school graduate catcher, he made 102 appearances in his debut year, drawing high expectations. That same year, he earned a spot on the national team and contributed to South Korea's gold medal victory at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games (held in 2023).

Hearing that the juniors he had mentored, thanks to the military service benefits he received, had reached the finals, he rushed to Mokdong Baseball Stadium. As the captain who had carefully looked after his juniors even after graduation, he enjoyed immense popularity, with numerous requests pouring in during the interview, such as, "Hyung, please take a photo with me too."

Kim Dong-heon, who responded to each photo request, calmly shared his thoughts when asked if he had any words for his juniors: "My juniors are truly a source of pride. When I was in school, there were opportunities for professional drafts and university enrollment, so I had a strong desire to do well. But what I've realized since entering the pros is that perhaps high school students should focus on whether they have grown compared to themselves a few months or a year ago, rather than just chasing immediate results."

He continued, "High school feels both longer and shorter than expected. The time you can spend with friends isn't very long. So, rather than stressing over results, I hope they play baseball with joy and set their goal on their own growth. Our school has sent many players to the pros, hasn't it? If they enjoy the game, everything will work out well." He smiled.

The good memories brought by his juniors also served as a great stimulus for Kim Dong-heon himself. Now entering his fourth year in the pros, Kim Dong-heon has struggled early this season with 10 at-bats and no hits in six games. His visit to Mokdong Baseball Stadium was only possible because he had recently been sent down to the minor league. However, he showed no signs of disappointment. The case of Heo In-seo (23, Hanwha Eagles), who has been heating up the KBO League this year, also became a source of hope. Heo In-seo, too, despite receiving excellent evaluations during high school, did not neglect his training and is now performing well in his fifth year in the pros, establishing himself as a reliable veteran.

Kim Dong-heon cheered, "(Heo) In-seo hyung was originally an excellent catcher. I thought he hadn't played many games until now, but it seems his potential finally exploded as he's been playing a lot this year."

He added, "It's the same for me. I won't be disappointed or upset about being sent down to the minor league; I'll quietly focus on doing my part. Many seniors say that one must prepare well so that when the opportunity comes, they can seize it. Of course, even with good preparation, there are times when you can't grab the opportunity. The result is up to heaven. Still, I will continue to practice consistently for that opportunity. I received good energy from my juniors, and I hope our team (Kiwoom) also wins the championship."

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*This content was translated by AI.