A 200-hit hitter who has experienced both the best and worst moments is entering the 2024 season with a new mindset. Infielder Seo Geon-chang, who transferred to the KIA Tigers this winter, is looking for a rebound.

Seo Geon-chang joined the LG Twins in 2008 as a training player, but was released without showing any significant performance. After completing his military service, he went through a recruitment test and joined hands with Nexen (now Kiwoom) Heroes. He started playing in 2012, the first season after signing the contract, and quickly established himself within the team. In 2014, he recorded 201 hits in 543 at-bats in 128 games, a batting average of 0.370, 7 home runs, 67 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.985, becoming the first in KBO League history to reach 200 points in a single season. I reached the plateau of no hits.

In particular, Seo Geon-chang persistently harassed pitchers based on his sophisticated contact ability and outstanding pitching plan, and achieved a record that no other batter had been able to achieve. He was able to become the protagonist of the record because of his consistency and sincerity.

Seo Geon-chang, who continued to rise after the mid-2010s, showed sluggishness over time. On July 27, 2021, in a 1:1 trade with LG, the team was exchanged with pitcher Jeong Chan-heon, a 'Gwangju Jeil High School classmate'. Kiwoom needed to reinforce its starting lineup right away, and LG wanted second base resources. At the same time, the interests of both sides coincided.

Seo Geon-chang, who was aiming for a rebound after the transfer, suffered from severe slumps in 2022 and 2023, respectively, with 49 hits in 219 at-bats in 77 games, a batting average of 0.224, 2 home runs, 18 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.605, and in 44 games, 22 hits in 110 at-bats, a batting average of 0.200, 12 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.542. In the end, he requested to be released from LG after the end of last season and joined hands with his hometown team, KIA.

Seo Geon-chang, who is participating in the first spring camp at Narrabunda Ball Park in Canberra, Australia, said, "Preparing in the winter is always the same. It's not that I did more this year, but I prepared as usual. My condition is good. I think I exercised well in the winter. "I'm doing it with a relaxed mind, and I think that kind of thing can come out on the baseball field," he said.

This is my first time playing at KIA. Seo Geon-chang, who chose adaptation as the first task, said, "Still, I think it's important to blend in well with the team. Also, if there are things the coaching staff wants and there are things I haven't done, I have to implement those things. It's still early in the camp, so there are no details. “The biggest goal is to learn it quickly and help the team in what it needs.”

He said, "I always thought KIA was a good team from the outside, but when I came in, it seemed like there were a lot of better players and an environment and atmosphere conducive to playing baseball. The relationships between the players and the relationships between the players and the coaching staff were great." “I think everything is good. I have no problem adapting at all,” he said, expressing satisfaction.

Seo Geon-chang, who had to naturally give up his starting position to other players as his performance declined, believes that playing in as many games is the most important. He said, "I think that when you play a lot of games, getting on base and things like that come naturally. I'm trying to make use of what I thought were my strengths in the past. Things I can do well, like getting on base a lot and harassing my opponent, and things I was good at." “I can still do well,” he said, raising his voice.

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