"It feels good to be the son of a gold medalist" — Father moved by 10th-round pick's miracle... Now returning to KIA alongside Kim Do-young and Park Jae-hyun

*This content was translated by AI.

"It feels good to be the son of a gold medalist."

Just two years ago, he was a 10th-round draft pick struggling to secure his place in the professional ranks. Now, Sung Young-tak (22, KIA Tigers) has become another source of pride for his father as the "son of a gold medalist."

Sung Young-tak returned home through Incheon International Airport on the 28th after completing the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Among the first people he shared his joy with after the gold medal was secured were his parents.

Sung Young-tak smiled and said, "As soon as it ended, I put the gold medal around my neck and made a video call." He added, "My father said, 'It feels good to be the son of a gold medalist,' and told me that I had worked really hard. That seemed to be the happiest moment for me."

The player himself also seemed as if he were still in a dream. Sung Young-tak stated, "I felt it most real when I came out to give an interview wearing the gold medal." He continued, "When I woke up, I thought, 'What if this is just a dream?' But I am truly happy to have come back with the gold medal around my neck."

For Sung Young-tak, selection for the Lee Beon (CEO) team and winning the gold medal were in themselves evidence of rapid growth. Drafted by KIA in the 10th round, 96th overall, in the 2024 KBO Rookie Draft, he debuted in the first division last year and made his presence felt in the bullpen.

This year, he took on an even more important role. During the season, he experienced the closer position and subsequently served as a key part of the go-to relievers, guarding KIA's back end. Looking back on his past, Sung Young-tak said, "Even at the start of last season, I was in the minor league. Looking back, I felt that my hard work is now being rewarded." He added, "I think I need to work even harder from here on out."

Even with limited opportunities in the national team, he fulfilled his mission by going scoreless for 2 games and 1⅓ innings. In the group stage against Hong Kong, he appeared as the final pitcher and shut down the inning scorelessly. He was the final piece in completing a team perfect game where the Korean pitching staff did not allow a single runner on base. In the Super Round against China, he took charge of an even more critical moment. Entering with two outs and a runner on second in the top of the 9th inning, he recorded the final out in just two pitches. It was the moment Korea's advancement to the finals was confirmed.

Sung Young-tak recalled, "I suppose pitching at the end of the perfect game is what I remember most. I almost gave up a hit to the first batter, and that seems to be why it stands out in my memory."

He was not alone. KIA teammates Kim Do-young (23) and Park Jae-hyun (20) were also with him on the Lee Beon (CEO) team. Sung Young-tak and Park Jae-hyun raised their voices louder than anyone else even in the dugout. Even when they were not directly participating in the game, they constantly cheered to lift the team's atmosphere. Sung Young-tak said, "I had to cheer really hard just to help raise the mood, so I cheered even louder." He added, "It felt good that Yeong-hyun hyung told me after the game that it was actually great because I cheered every time he threw a pitch."

In the final, a blast from fellow KIA teammate Kim Do-young was more welcome than anything else. Kim Do-young, whose batting had barely clicked throughout the tournament, hit a decisive run in the 8th inning of the final against Japan. Sung Young-tak said, "(Kim) Do-young hyung struggled until the very end and then hit the winning run, so as a teammate on the same team, I felt some of the discomfort inside me was relieved." He continued, "He is a player who can definitely perform well, but when things didn't go his way, we were anxious and frustrated right there beside him."

Now, the three men will set aside their national team badges and change back into KIA uniforms. KIA is aiming for both a spot in the postseason and a higher ranking at the end of the season. The return of Kim Do-young, Park Jae-hyun, and Sung Young-tak, who had been called up to the national team, can be a boost to both the position players and the bullpen. In particular, Sung Young-tak has experienced various roles this season, from closer to go-to reliever. He is a card that can compete strongly in short innings and be utilized even in high-pressure situations. At the Asian Games as well, he went scoreless through both the final inning of the team perfect game and the moment that determined advancement to the finals.

Sung Young-tak also has only one thought: to be a help to KIA again. He emphasized, "I became a member of the Lee Eot-da-ga (CEO) team as a KIA player, and now I have returned as a KIA player." He added, "I want to be a big help so that we can climb even higher in the postseason."

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*This content was translated by AI.