Immediately after winning the championship, the main catcher's bitter criticism "KIA players should change their consciousness"

Oct 29, 2024

A game between the KIA Tigers and the Samsung Lions in Game 5 of the Korean Series at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 28th. KIA Kim Tae-gun is cheering after making a turnaround with an infield hit in the bottom of the sixth inning with one out and runners on the first and third bases. Gwangju = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.10.28/

"I think we need to change our players' consciousness."

Immediately after winning the Korean Series, it was a tight time to enjoy the joy, but the main catcher said heartfelt bitter words. The KIA Tigers won Game 5 of the Korean Series against the Samsung Lions 7-5 at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 29th. KIA, which had 4 wins and 1 loss in the series, won the Korean Series following the regular season and succeeded in winning the overall championship.

It was the 12th Korean Series championship in the club's history. Above all, Kia has continued to win 12 out of 12 games when it advances to the Korean Series. After the parent company was replaced from Haitai Tigers to KIA Tigers, it won in 2009, 2017 and again in 2024.

KIA's main catcher Kim Tae-gun will also proudly wear the title 'Winning Catcher'. Kim Tae-gun, the main character of the come-from-behind final RBI, said "I feel burdened when I don't perform well. Even before the season started, I think we are in a position that the opposing teams consider us the favorite. I was able to have a good season because I tried to have fun playing baseball"I looked back.

A match between the KIA Tigers and the Samsung Lions in Game 5 of the Korean Series at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 28th. KIA Tigers players who won the Korean Series are cheering. Gwangju = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.10.28/

Personally, it is a great victory. Kim Tae-gun has already tasted the unified championship in 2020 when he was in the NC Dinos, but he was a backup catcher then. It was difficult to properly capture the opportunity to play due to the large catcher Yang Eui-ji, and he couldn't go out of a game in the Korean Series. Kim Tae-gun "At that time, he was in a cold state when he served in the military. Baseball was really not fun then. It was also a COVID-19 season and the whole situation itself was not fun. I only remember it as a boring season because I spent it with the idea of not only harming the team."

Kim Tae-gun, who transferred from Samsung to KIA again through a trade last year, signed a non-FA multi-year contract for up to 2.5 billion won for three years last off-season. I was proud to wash away my sadness as a backup catcher and lead the team to victory with a confident main catcher. Kim Tae-gun signed a big contract and shared responsibility and burden. I believe that now that I have won the championship title at the end after such a good season, my perception of myself will change with confidence."

But Kim had something to say. I didn't forget to ask my fellow players and juniors. When asked by reporters what conditions do you think are needed for KIA to open a dynasty era, Kim Tae-gun smiled shyly, saying, `I've been at KIA for a year and a half,' but `Don't be complacent about winning, and change the players' consciousness. Nothing is just easy to get. The players themselves need to know how to prepare and how to work out."

Asked if he meant he could see some disappointing things in the team, Kim said, "(The disappointing things) are not just my eyes, but I'll see it if I can." Kim Sun-bin, who was present with him, also nodded.

It is a bitter sound with affection for juniors. They won the championship together, but it was a request to not be complacent here and to show themselves more responsible and self-prepared as professional players.

youll@sportschosun.com

Immediately after winning the championship, the main catcher's bitter criticism "KIA players should change their consciousness"

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