He’s leading the team in home runs with just 58… 2023 is a nightmare for Na Sung-bum.
The Kia Tigers have been dealt a major blow in their quest to reach the postseason (PS). Their leadoff hitter, Na Sung-beom (33), is effectively out for the season.
On the 20th, the KIA team announced, “Na Sung-bum underwent a medical examination at another hospital this morning and afternoon and was diagnosed with a damaged right hamstring. The rehabilitation period is expected to take 10 weeks to a maximum of 12 weeks.”
Na Sung-bum started at third base and right field in a home game against the LG Twins on April 19 at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju. In the bottom of the eighth inning, with Kia trailing 1-4, he hit a two-run single off LG pitcher Choi Dong-hwan with the bases loaded and two outs.
After taking advantage of a wild pitch by LG pitcher Ko Woo-seok to steal second base, Na rushed to third base after the second-base retouch when pinch-hitter Kim Sun-bin’s throw was caught by the right fielder, and then attempted a bent-leg slide to touch third base before Song did.
Gwangju’s Kia Champions Field was suddenly quiet. Na suddenly complained of pain and was replaced by pinch-hitter Lee Woo-seong after a brief conversation with the team trainer and head coach Jin Gap-yong.
Na went to the dugout unassisted. At the time, it didn’t appear to be a major injury, but a medical examination revealed that he would need to undergo rehabilitation for up to 12 weeks. It is unlikely that Na will be able to return to play for the remainder of the regular season or even if KIA advances to the PS.
For Na, 2023 is a nightmare. He suffered a torn left calf muscle fascia in March while playing for the national team in the World Baseball Classic (WBC). The doctors said he could recover in six to eight weeks, but the muscle didn’t improve with each reexamination, and he didn’t pick up a bat until May.
Na also suffered a major injury in the 2019 season with the NC Dinos, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while running the bases in the 23rd game. It was one of the biggest trials of his professional career, but at this point, he was clearly out for the season, so he took it in stride, spent time with his family, and did well in his rehabilitation. However, his calf injury earlier this year was even more frustrating than his knee injury because there was no timetable for his return.
After recovering, Na played his first game for the first team this season on June 23 against the KT Wiz. He showed a good batting performance without any injury aftereffects and helped KIA compete in the standings. From August 24 against KT to June 6 against the Doosan Bears, he batted .395 with four home runs and 14 RBIs, leading KAI to a nine-game winning streak.
In the second half, Na led all 10 clubs in batting average (.380), home runs (12) and RBIs (44). Narrowing it down to the second half, it was an MVP-caliber performance. He also hit the most home runs (18) in the KIA lineup despite playing only 58 games this season. 바카라사이트
Kia has lost six straight games, beginning with a series against the Samsung Lions in Daegu on Dec. 12, and has dropped from fourth to sixth place in the league. The offense has been hampered by the loss of starting shortstop Park Chan-ho to a left fourth finger ligament injury and starting catcher Kim Tae-kun to a left ankle sprain. The pitching staff has also been shaky, with a six-run (6.80) ERA in the last 11 games.
Park Chan-ho and Kim Tae-gun could return to the starting rotation after coming off the bench against LG on the 19th. KIA also seemed poised to rebound. They lost Na Seong-beom, who had been a pillar of their batting order.