Na Kyun-an has been reborn as the ace of the Lotte Giants. He silently digested the set training in the rain that canceled the game.
The match between Hanwha Eagles and Lotte Giants scheduled to be held at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 25th was canceled due to rain. In Busan, it has been raining continuously since this morning. At around 4:00 pm, the KBO judged that the game could not be played and canceled the game early.
Na Kyun-an played catch with coach Kang Young-shik and training assistant. On the desolate ground where only the sound of rain could be heard, the sound of the muzzle made by Na Kyun-ahn’s heavy pitch resonated coolly.
Na Kyun-an, 메이저놀이터who joined as a catcher in 2017, turned to pitcher in 2021. In his first year as a pitcher, he appeared in 23 games and showed his potential by recording 1 win, 2 losses, 1 save and 1 hold with an earned run average of 6.41.
Last year, he showed a more developed figure. He appeared in 39 games in the 2022 season and lowered his ERA to 3.98 with 3 wins, 8 losses and 2 holds.
And this season, while foreign one-two punch Barnes and Strayley, and glasses ace Park Se-woong are sluggish, Kyun-an Na is playing the role of an actual ace.
In his first appearance, on April 2, against Doosan in Jamsil, Na Kyun-an won his first win with 6 2/3 innings scoreless pitching, and on the 9th against Busan KT, he won 2 wins with 7 scoreless innings. On the 15th, against Samsung in Daegu, he played 5 innings and allowed 3 runs, but with the help of the other line, he won his 3rd season. On the 21st, against Changwon NC, Na Kyun-an blocked 7 innings with 2 earned runs, laying the foundation for the team’s come-from-behind victory in the 10th overtime.
It is impossible to imagine a Lotte mound without Na Kyun-an. Coach Kang Byeong-sik warmly stroked the back of Na Kyun-an, who played catch ball in silence despite being hit by rain, and was conveyed as ‘heart and soul’.