"He changes his uniform three times." Even in his third year, Matt Davidson faces the unforgiving Korean summer. How did he revive his hot hitting despite the scorching heat?

*This content was translated by AI.

"The Korean summer is no joke."

For KBO League veteran Matt Davidson (35), the Korean summer remains challenging even in his third year.

Ahead of the the 28th match against LG Twins at Jamsil, Davidson told StarNews, "I've been living in Korea for three years now, but the summer heat is still no easy feat. I sweat so much during games that I sometimes change my uniform two or three times, and I must constantly replenish fluids."

Davidson made his KBO League debut with NC Dinos in 2024. Recently, he was acquired by Kiwoom Heroes via a waiver claim. While with NC this season, he posted a solid .290 batting average (64 hits in 221 at-bats), 8 home runs, 40 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.826 across 63 games.

However, NC opted to replace Davidson with foreign player Blaine Cream (29) after hoping for more power hitting. Kiwoom, which needed Davidson's extra-base hit capability, quickly acquired him — and so far, it has been a huge success.

With Kiwoom, Davidson has delivered hot hitting even in the sweltering heat: a .311 batting average (19 hits in 61 at-bats), 3 home runs, 12 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.883 over 15 games. Despite playing at Gocheok Sky Dome — a stadium where home runs are notoriously difficult to hit — his slugging percentage actually rose from 0.457 during his NC days to 0.525 with Kiwoom.

The cool atmosphere of Gocheok Dome also contributed to his strong performance. Davidson said, "The Korean summer is truly hot, so playing in indoor stadiums definitely helps. Of course, dome stadiums require adjustment because the sense of judging ball distance and depth differs. There are pros and cons to both." He added with a smile.

He continued, "Honestly, there's no special secret. I'm just working hard to regain my original swing. As an overseas hitter, you have to produce home runs, extra-base hits, and RBIs regardless of which team you play for. I expect myself to deliver that kind of performance. Rather than worrying too much about external pressure, I focus on what I can control and aim for good results."

While the Korean heat remains difficult to adapt to, Davidson has quickly adjusted in other areas. During his time with NC in Changwon, he used to ride an electric kick scooter home after games. Now, he's a fully integrated Seoul resident who even charges his transit card for commuting.

Davidson explained, "Changwon is relatively small, while Seoul is large and has heavy traffic — the difference is clear. Still, both my family and I have grown accustomed to life and transportation in Seoul. My family also enjoys many of Seoul's advantages and is happily adapting."

He added, "Fundamentally, spending time comfortably with family hasn't changed much. However, since Seoul offers more things to do, we're exploring new restaurants, cafes, and shopping malls together as a family."

Davidson has also quickly adapted to Kiwoom, which has an even younger average age than NC. "Since we play in the same league, face the same opponents, and use similar stadiums and accommodations, baseball itself isn't very different," he said. "The only real difference is that Kiwoom has many young players. It's enjoyable living and playing alongside them." He smiled.

He added, "All my teammates on Kiwoom warmly welcomed me from the start, which helped me adapt smoothly to the new team. I'm grateful to every teammate who helped me establish a comfortable routine and focus on games."

In the second half of the season, Kiwoom has become a team that rarely loses easily. Despite facing top-tier tough opponents like Hanwha Eagles, Samsung Lions, KIA Tigers, and LG Twins, they recorded an impressive 6 wins, 1 draw, and 4 losses.

Even when they lose, they no longer suffer blowout defeats by five runs or more. On the 19th against Daejeon Hanwha, they scored six runs in the eighth inning alone to force a 9-9 tie. In their three-game home series against first-place Samsung, every match was decided by just two runs. Some observers believe Davidson is at the heart of this turnaround.

In response, Davidson said, "I try not to pay much attention to what others say. I'm simply doing what a player should do. Not just me, but all players are focusing on their daily routines and striving to improve every single day."

He continued, "I don't think our recent good results are due to me alone. We have many talented players on this team. I believe the entire team's efforts are showing up on the field." He praised his teammates.

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*This content was translated by AI.