"Normally, my game improves in this kind of weather..." September batting average of .203: Doosan's autumn hero's frustration → First multi-hit signals October turnaround

*This content was translated by AI.

He was always strong in the fall. As the weather turned cool, he was referred to by the epithet "Jung Ga-young (Jung Soobin autumn hero)." To that extent, there was no doubt about Jung Soobin (36, Doosan Bears) in the fall. Jung Soobin, who had shown no signs of a turnaround, announced the arrival of autumn somewhat late. Now he looks toward the postseason.

Jung Soobin started as the ninth hitter and center fielder in the 14th matchup of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League season against the NC Dinos at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 29th, recording two hits in four at-bats, two RBIs, one run scored, and one stolen base.

In addition to a two-RBI tying hit in the second inning, he made a sliding catch that drew admiration on defense, and even scored the go-ahead run following a stolen base, leading his team to a 5-2 victory.

The second-inning hit was dramatic. After Kim Min-seok's walk and Kang Seung-ho's single, a sacrifice bunt placed runners on second and third bases. Jo Su-hang drew a walk to load the bases with one out, and Jung Soobin came to the plate. Lee Jae-hak faced Jung Soobin exclusively with changeups, but Jung Soobin did not miss a pitch coming in on the outside corner for ball four. The ball traveled toward right field, and both runners from second and third scored. Doosan immediately recovered the two runs given up in the first and second innings.

Jung Soobin then successfully stole second base, advanced to third on Park Chan-ho's grounder, and scored the go-ahead run on Ahn Jae-seok's single.

He also shone on defense. In the fourth inning with one out and a runner on first, he quickly dashed toward Shin Jae-in's short fly ball and made a sliding catch. As soon as he fielded the ball, pitcher Wes Benjamin signaled for Jung Soobin to come forward, and upon catching the throw, Jung Soobin nodded as if he had expected it.

In the sixth inning, he completed his multi-hit with a pulled single. It was his first multi-hit since entering September. His slump had been that long.

The victory on this day was very important. It was a win that moved them one step closer to the postseason. They widened the gap over sixth-place NC to seven games, and winning just one of the remaining two matchups against NC would secure their automatic qualification for the postseason. Alternatively, winning just two of the remaining eight games would also lead them to the postseason.

After the game, Jung Soobin said, "I heard that if we win two games against NC, fifth place is secured. So I was nervous about giving up two runs early on, but a bases-loaded opportunity came for me right from the start, and my record in bases-loaded situations this year has been decent." He added, "Before coming to bat, I tried to make contact no matter what to score at least one run, and it turned out well. So I hit the tying shot, but then Jae-seok immediately hit a go-ahead shot from there, so I think we got ahead in the game."

Jung Soobin stated, "Since there are not many games left in the season, I plan to give my all in the remaining games," adding, "Recently, things have just not been going well. I have played baseball for a long time, but it felt like it wasn't me. I thought, 'This isn't right,' but nothing seemed to work out. However, that is something unavoidable, and as I keep playing, I am trying to continue doing what I can."

He himself could not properly identify the reason for his slump. While saying, "When things aren't going well, no matter what I think or do, it doesn't work out," he conveyed, "Still, without giving up, I try to do my best in defense and other areas where I can contribute. Since there are still big games ahead, I think about doing even better in those."

His career batting average since September is .317, and he boasts a .295 average in the postseason. Has Jung Soobin's season arrived? Jung Soobin lowered his head. "Normally, my game naturally improves when the weather gets like this, but I am not good enough to overcome that," he said. However, he soon left room for expectation by saying, "Still, the weather is very nice. It seems perfect for playing baseball."

The cause of his slump lay in psychological factors. Jung Soobin revealed, "My physical condition is the same, but mentally, things have been particularly difficult this year," adding, "Things were good until around mid-season, up to June, but suddenly after that, I don't know what triggered it, but I couldn't get my mental game right. It seems like that lasted a while."

Doosan has advanced to the Korea Series for seven consecutive years since 2015 and won three championships, but they have continued to fluctuate since 2022. They fell to ninth place last year, but this season they are once again hoping for a fall run. Jung Soobin, who has experienced more falls than anyone else, said, "The existing players have a lot of experience, but the younger players have not had much experience in big games," expressing his wish that "for the future, I hope we can play in more big games."

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*This content was translated by AI.