Another number that explains the value of Na Seong-beom, the KIA’s leading hitter, is 144 and 320. Na Seong-beom played 320 consecutive games from LG on September 24, 2020 to the last game of the pennant race in the 2022 season (October 8 against KT). He played all games for two consecutive years, until 2021, when he was in NC, and his first season at KIA.
If you get to know him, Na Seong-beom is a man who always goes to all games. In 2015, three years after his first-team debut, he played all 144 games for the first time. He succeeded for two years in a row until 2016, and after taking a breather, he returned to all games in 2018. The KIA match on May 3, 2019 was such a nightmare. He ruptured cruciate ligaments in his knee during a run and had to miss the season after 23 appearances.
It was a pretty fatal injury to his playing career, especially severely affecting his durability. However, Na Seong-beom returned like Na Seong-beom. He appeared in 130 games in 2020, and then 144 games for the second year in a row. In the 10 seasons since his debut, he has played all five matches.
Although, he could not achieve his dream of going to the major leagues through the posting system after the 2020 season. A fatal injury in 2019 was a great misfortune for Na Seong-beom. It was true that his value in America was diminished in the aftermath. However, Na Seong-beom did not give up and worked hard, and he returned as one of the best left-handed hitters in the league. He proudly regained his durability.
It is all the more encouraging because he recorded top-level results in the league even while playing in all games. Last year, he had a batting average of 0.320, 21 homers, 97 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.910. Looking at the main secondary stats, Lee Jung-hoo (Kiwoom) and Jose Pirella (Samsung) were the best.
The reason KIA invested 15 billion won for 6 years in Na Seong-beom in the 2021-2022 FA market is because both performance and durability were outstanding. This year, Na Seong-beom challenges to play in all games for the first time since his debut for three consecutive years. Among active players, Bae Jeong-dae (KT) played all games for three consecutive years from 2020 to this season. Of course, productivity is incomparable.
Na Seong-beom is 34 years old. not that old If he finishes the season healthy, he deserves to challenge for higher records. Hwang Jae-gyun (KT) 스포츠토토 holds the record for the most consecutive matches in active play with 618 matches. Among the players currently in progress, the most consecutive players have been allocated 439 games (from Lotte on September 20, 2019).
Going up a little higher, there are several players who are quite far from Na Seong-beom, even if we leave the all-time No. 1 Choi Tae-won (1009 games) out of the discussion. There are Kim Hyung-seok in 622 games, Lee Beom-ho in 615 games, and Kim In-shik in 606 games. Park Hae-min (LG), who has played 448 games, is in danger of allowing the designated team to overtake.
Will Na Seong-beom surpass Lee Beom-ho’s record in front of hitting coach Lee Beom-ho? still need a lot of time If he continues to play during the remaining 5-year contract period with KIA and coach Lee Bum-ho continues his leadership life at KIA, Na Seong-beom can gradually draw a picture of narrowing the gap with this coach. The leader who leads the strike of the KIA 1st team and the best hitter of the KIA prepare for the 2023 season with the common denominator of playing in consecutive games.