How long has it been.
Kia Tigers captain Na Sung-beom (37) put on an RBI display that shook off his slump. He played in the game against the Samsung Lions held at Gwangju Kia Champions Field on Aug. 8, 2026, and for the first time in a while showed the performance expected of a middle-of-the-order hitter. His line was 5 plate appearances, 4 at-bats, 3 hits, 1 home run, 5 RBIs and 2 runs scored. He was the main contributor to the 15-5 victory.
That day he batted sixth and played right field. In the bottom of the second with two outs and runners on first and second, Castro hit a game-tying RBI single and Na immediately answered with an RBI single to center to take a 2-1 lead. It was his first RBI in seven games since the second game of the season opener against the SSG Landers. In the second inning, with two outs and the bases loaded, Castro ripped a two-run double that cleared the bases and Na brought in his second RBI with a single to right field.
His third-inning at-bat was spectacular. With two outs and a runner on first, Kim Do-young launched a two-run homer to left. After Castro drew a walk, Na leaned into Lee Seung-hyun's curve from Samsung and displayed power by sending the ball over the left-center field wall. It was his second homer of the season and his fourth RBI of the day. His knack for producing RBIs continued. In the fourth inning with one out and the bases loaded, he hit a sacrifice fly to right field to collect his fifth RBI.
In the previous six games he had notably failed to find timing with runners in scoring position, but that day he connected precisely. That he drove a homer by pulling the ball was itself proof that his timing was right. His average had fallen into the .100s during his slump, and as the team's scoring ability dropped to the point where even three runs were difficult, his performance plunged sharply. With the added responsibility of being captain, the burden could only grow heavier.
After the game Na Sung-beom said with an awkward smile, "How long has it been." "I hope both the team and I can keep the good energy going beyond just one game. We won with good momentum, so I hope we can win many games. The ball still looks good right now. I'll prepare well so I can hit good balls tomorrow, too. There wasn't any particular reason for the slump. Baseball has cycles, so it seems I was just a bit off for a while," he said.
About his hitting that day he said, "I wasn't feeling good at the plate. I tried to hit good balls somehow. Hits kept coming and a home run came, too. As that happened my confidence grew. I hit a home run, and whether I pulled it or pushed it, a good ball came out so I'm satisfied," showing his satisfaction. He added, "Yesterday I didn't see that kind of pitch while playing. I didn't think it would be a strike; it was a bit extreme. The strike zone is a little different at every ballpark. They say it's the same, but batters face difficulties because of what they've been through," he said, expressing regret about the ABS zone.
His life this year as a designated hitter has not been easy. "Designated hitter is still a little tough. In the dugout I don't know when or how I should prepare. At home, if I have time I run indoors and practice batting, but on the road there isn't space, so it's hard. I have to adapt quickly. On Sunday I prepared but couldn't play. I kept going in and out, looking for equipment and swinging again. It can happen again over the course of a season," he said, showing firm determination to adapt.
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