*This content was translated by AI.
Veteran infielder Seo Geon-chang (36) of the Kiwoom Heroes, who dominated the KBO League in 2014 by hitting a staggering 201 hits and earning the nickname 'Professor Seo,' has fully revived while wearing his original team's uniform once again.
On the 12th, Seo Geon-chang started as the leadoff hitter and second baseman in the home game against LG Twins held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul, delivering a spectacular performance with four hits in four at-bats and one run scored, leading his team to a 4-3 comeback victory. He single-handedly accounted for nearly half of Kiwoom's nine total hits that day, perfectly fulfilling the role of the team's leadoff hitter.
Seo Geon-chang's bat has been on fire recently. Over the last 10 games, he has posted an impressive batting average of 0.415 (41 at-bats, 17 hits), with four RBIs and five walks. His season batting average stands at 0.313 across 70 games (275 at-bats, 86 hits), one home run, and 22 RBIs. Notably, his batting average in scoring position is a solid 0.375.
In fact, Seo Geon-chang's baseball career has been full of twists and turns. He joined as an LG developmental player but was released after just one game before moving to Nexen Heroes (now Kiwoom), where he became a top star by achieving the first-ever 200-hit season in KBO history during the 2014 season and winning the regular-season MVP. At that time, the league operated under a 128-game schedule rather than the current 144-game format.
However, after returning to LG via a trade in 2021, he fell into a slump and was released again. He moved to KIA Tigers for the 2024 season and contributed to the team's championship title, but during the 2025 season, his batting average in just 10 first-division games dropped to 0.136, leading to another release notice. As he stood at a crossroads of retirement, it was his original team, Kiwoom, that reached out to him once more. Having returned home, Seo Geon-chang announced the complete revival of 'Professor Seo.'
After the game, when asked by reporters on-site about the secret behind his recent hot hitting, Seo Geon-chang shared, "It's not so much that my batting feel was good, but rather that I was in great physical condition. From the moment I woke up in the morning, I felt little fatigue, and that positively affected my performance in the game."
Regarding the aftermath of a collision with outfielder Park Chan-hyeok during defensive play the previous day (the 1st), he smiled and said, "I was somewhat worried when I woke up this morning, but fortunately, my condition improved, so I was able to come out to the baseball field in good spirits." As for his strong performance against his original team LG this season (opponent batting average of 0.364), he added, "I don't pay special attention to it. There are many good pitchers on the opposing side, so I just focus intensely at each plate appearance. The analysis team provides great advice, and as we implement it well, it seems to create a good synergy."
Above all, the force that brought Seo Geon-chang back to play was the sense of comfort provided by the 'Heroes' environment. Seo Geon-chang said, "The biggest thing I feel returning to my original team is the sense of ease. My seniors and juniors are working together with one heart, and we're really enjoying playing baseball." He continued, "We exchange positive energy with each other. There are many days when my original team's uniform gets dirty, which means we've made a lot of hustle plays. I always hope our uniforms get dirtier."
He also did not forget his responsibility as a veteran within the team. Regarding the arrival of foreign hitter Matt Davidson and the team's upward momentum in the second half, he stated, "With him carrying weight in the middle of the lineup, team morale has definitely risen. My role is to get on base as much as possible from the top of the order." He emphasized, "Rather than feeling burdened by being the leadoff hitter, I feel more accustomed to it and take greater responsibility."
Finally, Seo Geon-chang pledged, "Even if we lose a game, I am most wary of falling into a hopeless atmosphere without fighting. We players are trying hard to lift the mood through frequent conversations among ourselves. I want to build a team that never gives up until the end."
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*This content was translated by AI.
