'Three consecutive errors' self-blaming 'just' 24-year-old infielder, finally let go of mental anguish with his first-ever back-to-back home runs! An Jae-seok finally smiles

*This content was translated by AI.

Doosan Bears infielder An Jae-seok (24) cleared his deep mental anguish over three consecutive errors with a powerful back-to-back home run in the batting order.

On the 29th, Doosan defeated Kiwoom Heroes 7-2 at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul Songpa-gu. An Jae-seok, who started as the second hitter and third baseman, went 3-for-4 with two home runs and one double, driving in four runs. He was supported by starting pitcher Kwak Bin, who pitched six innings allowing only two earned runs. It was a valuable victory that snapped their two-game losing streak and reached the milestone of 60 wins for the season.

At the center of today's victory were starting pitcher Kwak Bin and An Jae-seok. In the bottom of the first inning, An Jae-seok started off on a high note with an RBI double against the opposing ace An Woo-jin. Then in the bottom of the fifth, with two outs and a runner on first base while Doosan trailed 1-2, he crushed An Woo-jin's 146 km/h slider for a go-ahead two-run home run. In the bottom of the seventh, he hit Kiwoom relief pitcher Jo Young-geon's fastball for a solo home run, experiencing the thrill of his first career back-to-back home runs in consecutive at-bats.

For the young infielder who had been tormented by heavy self-blame due to three consecutive errors in recent games, this was an invaluable comeback. What lifted him up again was the warm trust from his team and teammates. After the game, An Jae-seok met with reporters and said, "I feel really good because I think I helped a little bit in breaking the team's losing streak," smiling brightly.

In fact, this season, Doosan's infield consists mainly of young players with limited full-time experience, including An Jae-seok who returned after completing his military service, excluding Park Chan-ho. Amidst fierce competition for standings, it was the coaching staff's warm trust and their thick drops of sweat that lifted An Jae-seok, who had been suffering from heavy self-blame due to three consecutive errors in games from the 26th to the 28th.

Doosan manager Kim Won-hyeong also said, "Errors and walks can never be completely eliminated in baseball. No one feels it more than the player himself." He added, "As a professional, you must hide your regrets inside and become shameless on the field. If you make a mistake, just don't do it again," boosting the players' morale. Defensive coach Son Ji-hwan also encouraged An Jae-seok, saying, "Even this burden will be a valuable experience for growth."

An Jae-seok, who learned about the article praising the manager's encouragement, said, "The manager always makes the players feel very comfortable. He even calls us in individually to talk comfortably." He added, "Thanks to the manager speaking so comfortably, I was able to quickly shed the burden of my errors and focus more on the next game," expressing his gratitude.

He continued, "Actually, there were many regrets in the previous games, but taking a break due to rain cancellation on the 28th helped me sort out my mental state." He said, "The coaches and senior players around me gave me so much good advice that I was able to organize my thoughts and clear my mind," expressing his thanks.

Special training that closely resembled actual games from early morning before the matches on the 28th and 29th also became a turning point in regaining confidence. An Jae-seok said, "(Park) Chan-ho led all infielders to wear uniforms during pre-game training as if it were an actual game. Coach Son Ji-hwan also sent balls harder than usual, so I moved my body more during practice. Thanks to that, I think I handled hits well today that would have been difficult under normal circumstances," he smiled.

An Jae-seok, who hit his 8th and 9th home runs of the season, bringing him on the verge of double-digit home runs for the first time in his debut, vowed, "I will do my best at every moment to repay the support from fans and help the team reach a higher standing to make it to the autumn playoffs."

After the game, Doosan manager Kim Won-hyeong also said, "An Jae-seok truly put on a one-man show. From the first-inning RBI to the go-ahead home run and the insurance home run, he delivered his best performance." He added, "He also showed an unparalleled performance in defense," sending out generous praise.

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*This content was translated by AI.