"Even three steps left me breathless." The "top high school center fielder" returns after heart surgery, recording his first career multi-hit in 1,249 days

*This content was translated by AI.

"When I was in the hospital, I couldn't breathe even after walking just three steps. At that moment, I truly thought, 'I might not be able to play baseball anymore.'"

For Kim Jung-min (22, SSG Landers), who was once considered one of the top outfield prospects in the country, baseball was a given. However, after undergoing heart surgery, even walking became something he could not control at will. Yet Kim finally hit two singles in a single game for the first time since his professional debut.

Kim started the home game against the LG Twins on the 29th at Incheon SSG Landers Field in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season, recording a multi-hit to contribute to SSG's 7-1 victory.

He was aggressive from the start. In his first at-bat in the bottom of the second inning, he swung at Anders Tolhurst's first-pitch fastball. The ball did not clear the infield, but he reached base on an error by LG first baseman Austin Dean. He made a difference in the fourth inning. With runners on first and second and no outs, he held off a curveball on the inside corner before driving a fourth-pitch fastball into a line drive down the right-field line for a single past Austin. Kim advanced to second base and scored on Park Sung-han's two-run RBI double to right field.

He did not back down from fastballs in the sixth inning either. A 151 km/h fastball from Kim Young-wo came in low, but he swung boldly, and the ball tore through the gap between right and center fields. It was his first career multi-hit, achieved in his 37th game, 1,249 days after stepping onto the first division stage for the first time on April 29, 2023.

There is a particular reason why that single game carried such significant weight. During his time at Gyeongnam High School, Kim was a center fielder who caught the eye of professional scouts. He was evaluated as possessing top-tier high school outfield defense, thanks to his quick feet, wide defensive range, and ability to judge batted balls. He contributed to Gyeongnam High School's victory in the 2022 Golden Peony Cup and was also named to the national youth team.

SSG selected Kim with the 25th overall pick in the third round of the 2023 KBO Rookie Draft. It seemed like a smooth path ahead in the pros as well, as he gained first division experience from his rookie year. However, an unexpected event occurred during his military service. A heart problem was discovered, requiring surgery, and he was eventually discharged for medical reasons. Returning to daily life took precedence over baseball.

Speaking with reporters after the game, Kim recalled that period: "After the surgery, while I was in the hospital, I couldn't breathe even after walking just three steps. That's when I really thought I might not be able to play baseball anymore. It felt like I had been hit squarely on the head."

Outfielders, in particular, require a high volume of activity. When a ball is hit, they must sprint at full speed instantly and often throw their bodies into sliding catches. Once on base, they must run between bases again. For a player who has undergone heart surgery, each of these once-routine movements became a new wall to overcome. His body did not move as he wished.

"My physical condition didn't even reach half of what I thought it could be. It was incredibly difficult because I couldn't control my body as I wanted," Kim revealed. "I think coming back after surgery was the hardest part. As my body became sluggish, my confidence dropped significantly."

The traces of the surgery remain. He must undergo regular check-ups and take medication every day for the rest of his life. However, there are now no issues with baseball movements, including head-first slides. Since last year, he has gradually returned to live games, and this year, for the first time since joining the pros, he built his body fully from winter to prepare for the season.

"Honestly, I can't believe I'm doing this again," Kim said. "I am in my fourth year, but this seems to be the first time I have prepared properly. The coaches helped me a lot, and because I had the will, things started working out. At first, I wondered if I could even do a head-first slide. But once I went into games, my body reacted on its own. Now, there is no problem at all."

He has now recovered enough to look back on that time calmly. To get there, he received unwavering support from SSG Landers staff and those around him. From senior teammates like Hong Dae-in, Jo Hyeong-woo, and Im Geon-woo, to first division hitting assistant coach Oh Jun-hyung and his attending physician, everyone cheered for and welcomed the return of "baseball player Kim Jung-min." Kim conveyed his sincerity: "People around me took great care of me. I could feel their genuine support, which gave me a lot of strength. I really wanted to say thank you."

His first multi-hit in 1,249 days may not be a grand record to others. However, for Kim, who took a long detour to stand again as a baseball player, those two hits announced the proper start of his professional career.

"When I was a rookie or younger, I was afraid to step into the batter's box," Kim reflected. "I naturally assumed I wouldn't hit and went in already behind. In the pros, you have to battle pitchers, but since I went in already losing, it was inherently difficult. Now, I have confidence."

He added, "This year, rather than setting numerical goals, I wanted to find my direction at the plate, and I think that has been achieved, making it a success. That is why this winter seems even more important. I need to establish my direction and prepare during the winter, so as soon as the season ends, I will start preparing immediately to do well."

Carrying the memory of this year, which gave him the confidence that he could stand on the field again, he aims to change the image of being a player who only excels in defense next year. "In high school, I often heard that I hit the bat well too," Kim said emphatically. "Changing the image of being a player who is good only at defense is my biggest goal."

He continued, "First, for the remainder of this season, when given the opportunity, I want to go out and perform well. It is not enough to just be good in defense; naturally, I must hit well. I want to show that I am not a player who easily backs down at the plate."

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*This content was translated by AI.