Na Won-taek, a catcher-turned-pitcher looking for success, hangs up his jersey.
A graduate of Seoul National University, Na Won-tak was selected by the Samsung Lions with the 19th overall pick in the second round of the 2017 Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) draft. As you can see from his selection, Na was a highly touted catcher in the amateur ranks.
He made the first team in his rookie season and showed promise with a .217 batting average in 12 games, but was released after just one year. He joined the Lotte Giants as compensation for Kang Min-ho, who was transferred to Samsung as a free agent prior to the 2018 season.
In his first year with the team, Na Won-tak wore a catcher’s mask in 20 games and gradually increased his playing time. However, his position was not solid, and he tried to make changes to survive in the first team, including switching between first base and the outfield, but without much success. As a result, Na Won-tak chose to become a pitcher instead of a hitter.
He began taking the mound for the second team in the 2021 season and has pitched in 57 games in the Futures League so far this year, compiling a 토토사이트 4-2 record with five saves and a 2.44 ERA. In the first team, however, he struggled mightily, posting a 12.46 ERA in 10 games over three seasons, and eventually decided to hang up his jersey.
“After a meeting with the club, I decided to terminate my contract on May 23 with an arbitrary termination status,” Na said on his SNS, “I have been changing positions to become the player the club needs as an outfielder, first baseman, and pitcher, but I have felt the pain of not getting results and the regret of being a catcher in my heart. I chose to retire from the game before I felt more disappointment,” he said.
Although his speech was short, he also expressed his gratitude to the fans. “I will not forget the fans who have been supporting me,” he said, adding, “I am grateful.”