'Born-and-bred Tiger fan' Park Hyun-kyung transforms into a ceremonial first pitch star: "Nail and practice sessions are happy memories"

*This content was translated by AI.

KLPGA Tour popular star Park Hyun-kyung (26, Medihill) appeared not at a golf course but at a baseball stadium. She finally got to serve as the ceremonial first pitcher for her long-awaited team, the KIA Tigers.

Park Hyun-kyung served as the ceremonial first pitcher ahead of the game between KIA Tigers and Hanwha Eagles held at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 21st.

Hailing from Iksan, Park Hyun-kyung naturally became immersed in the Tigers due to her family's influence from a young age. It is no exaggeration to call her a "born-and-bred Tiger fan." Her father, Park Se-su, took on the role of ceremonial first batter and came to the stadium with her, making it an even more meaningful occasion as she visited the stadium with her family who love KIA.

After the ceremonial first pitch, Park Hyun-kyung met with StarNews and said, "My hometown is also in the Honam region, and my whole family lives here, so I have always supported KIA. I have been cheering for them on TV a lot, and I was waiting for the day I could throw the first pitch at Champions Field, so I was happy to be invited."

Visiting the stadium with her family brought a different kind of family pride than when she visits golf courses. Park Hyun-kyung said, "Last year, we were also invited and my family was very happy, but it rained. This time, I prayed that it wouldn't rain," adding, "My family who came along today were also very happy."

This time, she visited Champions Field again during the rainy season, but there were no rain clouds. From the mound, she threw a pitch with a large drop and changeup, sending the ball into catcher Han Jun-soo's mitt. Applause poured down from the stands.

There was a hidden helper for a successful ceremonial first pitch. James Nail stepped forward to help Park Hyun-kyung. Park Hyun-kyung said, "I was honored that Player Nail let me practice the first pitch. He mentioned that he has recently become more interested in golf," and added, "He helped me find my position on the mound for practice. Although the pitch itself was a bit lacking, I think what I learned from Player Nail will remain as a truly happy memory."

During the season, it is not easy to visit the stadium. Nevertheless, Park Hyun-kyung revealed that she consistently checks game results and highlights, and that she cheers for KIA diligently as a team rather than focusing on specific players.

Yoo Hyun-jo (21), who is active on the KLPGA Tour, is also a famous "true fan" of KIA. After winning a silver medal in the team event at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, she expressed her affection for KIA and even expressed hope to throw the ceremonial first pitch. Ultimately, she took the mound at Champions Field in October 2023, before Park Hyun-kyung did.

Park Hyun-kyung said, "Golf is a sport where you walk so much. While playing with Hyun-jo, we also talked about KIA."

Finally, Park Hyun-kyung, who said she wants to become a "victory fairy" by winning, added, "However, while victory is important, I hope the players can play without getting injured." On this day, KIA won 7-3 and went on a four-game winning streak, and Park Hyun-kyung became a victory fairy for KIA fans as she wished.

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*This content was translated by AI.