'OPS of .947 despite 62-day injury absence': Why did the 23rd-year-old Rookie of the Year, who performed so well, ultimately fail to stop crying?

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

An Hyeon-min (23), the next-generation star outfielder for the KT Wiz, could not hide his tears after completing his first Korea Series (KS) in his career. Having won the Rookie of the Year award last year and been expected to make a bigger leap this season, the runner-up finish in the Korea Series was a moment when he felt acutely aware of his own shortcomings.

On the 8th, KT suffered a heavy 1-12 defeat against the Samsung Lions in Game 5 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Korea Series (best-of-seven) held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. After winning Game 1, KT lost four consecutive games, ending their bid for a unified championship for the first time in five years since 2021.

An was left off the starting lineup that day and did not appear as a pinch hitter either. The decision was made considering his defensive error and poor batting performance the previous day. With KT trailing 1-11 after allowing eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning alone, it would have been difficult for An to turn the game around on his own.

However, tears streamed ceaselessly from An's eyes after the game. It had been a year with high expectations. Last year, An played brilliantly in 112 games, posting a .334 batting average (132 hits in 395 at-bats), 22 home runs, 80 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.018, winning both the Rookie of the Year award and the Golden Glove for outfielders. He rose to become a young powerhouse representing the KBO League by ranking first in on-base percentage and second in batting average.

In March last year, he was selected as a national team representative for the World Baseball Classic (WBC), further raising expectations. This season, he started with a .365 batting average, 3 home runs, 11 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.161 in his first 14 games after the opening. However, on April 15, he injured his right hamstring while running the bases against the NC Dinos. After nearly two months of rehabilitation, he returned to the first division on June 16, 62 days later.

His final season stats were a .298 batting average (97 hits in 326 at-bats), 14 home runs, 63 RBIs, and 56 runs scored in 94 games. Although he did not play a full season, he shared KT's 90 regular-season wins and the club's first-ever milestone of 90 victories. His start in the Korea Series was also good. In the bottom of the third inning of Game 1, he hit a two-run home run to left field off Samsung starter Choi Won-tae. He decorated his first hit in his first postseason game with a home run, contributing to KT's 8-7 victory.

However, he went silent with one hit in 13 at-bats over the next three games. In Game 3, he even suffered an ankle pain while playing outfield defense. His final Korea Series stats were a .133 batting average (2 hits in 15 at-bats), 1 home run, and 2 RBIs in four games.

The most painful memory was Game 4. In the bottom of the first inning with two outs and bases loaded, he failed to handle Kim Do-hwan's hit toward right field properly. Although the official record showed a three-RBI double, it was a critical defensive error for An, who judged that he could have easily made the play. An said, "It was a game with a large score difference, but if I had caught those three runs early on, the momentum might have definitely changed," adding, "I am truly sorry to Logan, and I am personally very upset."

He did not make excuses even when asked about the influence of sunlight or wind. An drew a clear line, saying, "There was no sunlight. I just missed it. They say there was wind, but it was a ball that could have been caught easily."

Those around him comforted him, saying he had worked hard enough and was in the process of growing. However, An himself did not easily forgive himself. He said, "All my seniors and family members say I've worked hard. They say this is also a stage of growth," but added, "From my perspective, even if that kind of growth happens, all mistakes should have occurred during the regular season. I believe they definitely should not have appeared during the period when we were playing fall baseball. I was very disappointed in myself. I did not get good results at the plate either, so I was disappointed in many ways."

He also felt regret about not playing in the final game. However, it was not dissatisfaction with being left off the starting lineup itself. An said, "The team needed to win. (Jang) Jin-hyuk's and (Kim) Min-hyuk's conditions were good, and my physical condition was not that great either, so I fully understood," adding, "However, it was a big regret that I could not be on the field as the game headed toward its end."

Even when reporters asked, "Can't this disappointment become nourishment for your future growth?" An struggled to continue his sentence. He was a 23-year-old Rookie of the Year in his second full season, repeatedly blaming himself over the regret that he could not be helpful to the team.

An said, "It should be. It has to be, but honestly, I don't know what will happen in the future..." He paused for a while before continuing, "After the game ended, I felt a strong sense of self-deprecation more than I expected. I think I need to shake off that part well now. But honestly, as we enter the offseason, I don't know how far I can get away from those feelings. I am also a bit worried about that part," revealing his honest state of mind.

Of course, since it was immediately after the game ended, An would have found it difficult to look back coldly on his year. However, he left a mark with a .298 batting average, 14 home runs, and 63 RBIs in 94 regular-season games despite resting for 62 days due to a hamstring injury in April last month. It was a year that proved the performance of last year's Rookie of the Year was by no means a fleeting success.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original