'100 Hits in 5 Years → Enters Top 9 in Batting Average' Retired 'Professor Seo' Makes a Comeback! "I Only Thought of Being a Backup..." Manager Also Praises

*This content was translated by AI.

'Professor Seo' Seo Geon-chang (37) has once again written a massive turnaround on the field. Swinging a fierce bat this season, he reached triple-digit hits for the first time in five years since the 2021 season and climbed to ninth place in batting average with a .323 mark, fully reviving himself as the core of his team's lineup.

In fact, Seo Geon-chang's baseball career has always been a continuous series of twists and turns. He joined LG as a developmental player in 2008 but was released after just one game appearance. He then wrote a legend by joining Nexen (now Kiwoom). In particular, during the 128th-game schedule of 2014, he broke through 200 hits for the first time in KBO League history and set a major record with 201 hits in a single season, capturing the Regular Season MVP.

However, the path afterward was not smooth. He returned to his original team LG via trade in 2021 but suffered the pain of release after a slump. In 2024, he moved to KIA and contributed to the team's championship win, but during the 2025 season, he remained at a .136 batting average in just 10 first-division games, receiving another release notice and standing at a crossroads of retirement. The team that reached out to the veteran pushed to the brink was his original club, Kiwoom, with whom he shared glory days.

At the start of the season, his position within the team was close to that of a backup player. Due to a late contract, he also joined spring training late. However, Seo Geon-chang treated this season as his 'last uniform' and dug in his heels. He showed sharp hitting ability from the exhibition games, but even amidst the sudden setback of a finger fracture, he quickly got into shape through rigorous self-management and returned on May 9 against KT Wiz.

Seo Geon-chang, who played the opening game somewhat late, has now appeared in 83 games, entering the official at-bat count with a .323 batting average (105 hits in 325 at-bats) and joining the race for the highest batting average. His batting average over the last 10 games is an impressive .400, and his monthly batting average in August also reached .391 across 18 games. He is essentially displaying a never-cooling hot bat.

The manager also offered unstinting praise for Seo Geon-chang's unexpected outstanding performance. On the 28th, at Jamsil Stadium, Manager Seol Jong-jin expressed surprise upon reaching 100 hits with Seo, saying, "I didn't expect to reach 100 hits either," and shook his head in amazement.

Manager Seol added, "In fact, I joined camp late and was thinking of him more as a backup than a starter. But he prepared really well." He continued, "He played a great role during the exhibition games, and although his pace could have dropped due to injury, he got into shape well and has performed excellently so far. He is showcasing his talent well and serving as a great example for younger players. Along with my gratitude, I just want to offer praise."

Seo Geon-chang, who overcame repeated releases and the threat of retirement with unyielding determination, is once again swinging fiercely while wearing the burgundy uniform that marked his glorious beginning. His bat is heating up the field.

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*This content was translated by AI.