It's hard to describe. Heavy atmosphere is something you have to accept."

He led the NC Dinos to escape three consecutive losses by swinging a hard hit, but Son Ah-seop's expression after the game was dark.메이저놀이터

NC, led by head coach Lee Ho-joon, beat Kiwoom Heroes by Hong Won-ki 7-5 in an away game of the 2025 professional baseball KBO League held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul on the 5th. NC, which suffered a 1-5 loss to Kiwoom on the previous day (4th), recorded four wins and five losses.

Son Ah-seop's performance as the third batter and right fielder was a brilliant game. He showed off his good batting sense and led NC to victory.

After striking out at the top of the first inning, Son showed his presence in the top of the third inning with no runners on one out and one out when NC was being dragged 2-3. He hit a 122 km curveball off right-hander Kim Yoon-ha, hitting a triple that separates the right-center field. He also scored on Park Kun-woo's timely double to left field with an RBI.

Even in the top of the fourth inning, when the score of 3-3 continued, Son Ah-seop's bat turned fiercely. With two outs and runners on the second and third bases, Kiwoom right-hander bullpen resource Kim Sun-ki hit a 134-km fastball on the eighth pitch to snap a two-run timely hit to the right.

Son struck out at the top of the sixth inning and grounded out at the top of the eighth inning to end the game. His final result was two hits and two RBIs in five times at bat.

After the game, head coach Lee Ho-joon said, "When I had a chance to score in the batting line, I showed my concentration and produced good results," adding, "I am especially grateful that senior players (including Son Ah-seop) lead the game well even in difficult situations."

However, Son Ah-seop's face was not bright. This was the reason why the Changwon NC Park structure crashed in the Changwon NC-LG Twins match on March 29, injuring three spectators and killing one of them. As a result, NC players gathered on the mound immediately after the victory and paid silent tribute to the fans who left for heaven.

Son Ah-seop said, "I feel heavy. Players from other teams must be heavy, but our NC players are heavier. It's hard to describe," adding, "Even so, I have to play. "I think we need to concentrate as much as possible and play one more game. We still have a lot of games to play."

"The team was losing consecutive games. Actually, the atmosphere of the team is heavy right now. I couldn't concentrate well on yesterday's game as well. I was in that situation, but today I had to end the losing streak anyway. I also tried to focus more on myself, so I controlled myself. I think I'm glad that I ended the losing streak," he added.

Son continued, "Heavy atmosphere is something we have to accept. But we have to play again. Many fans came to watch our game yesterday and today. I thought I had to win the game anyway. However, I tried to accept that atmosphere. It's a little dark, but I tried to concentrate more when I had to because I had to play."

In the top of the sixth inning, he attempted a sacrifice bunt with no outs and runners on the first and second bases, but unfortunately, he struck out. Fortunately, NC was able to score the winning run and the winning run by Matt Davidson and Park Gun-woo, respectively, shooting a timely RBI single to the right and a sacrifice fly to center field.

Looking back at this moment, Son Ah-seop said, "I was losing consecutive games. The team's priority is to win. The batting order, the operation is the coach's own authority, so if the operation comes out, you have to carry out it as a player. I'm confident in bunt, but I'm sorry for the mistake today. The more a team loses in a row, the more the veteran should have shown it to his juniors through such team play, but I reflect on myself in that regard."

"Even if I have a good batting sense, baseball means that I can hit well even if I hit it three times if I go out 10 times. It is a sport with only a 30% chance. Since I had two hits before that, there was a high probability that I could not hit it. Of course, I thought it was a situation where I had to bunt. Just in time, another autograph was issued. If I had succeeded, it could have been a neat situation, but I have to reflect on that. I am grateful to Davison and (Park) Gun-woo for posting RBI afterwards," he said.

Son, who has been wearing the NC Dinos uniform since the 2022 season since 2007 when he was named the 29th overall in the second round by the Lotte Giants, is a professional hitter who represents Korean baseball. He has a batting average of 0.321 (2,526 hits in 7,867 times at bat), 181 homers, 1,042 RBIs, and 232 steals (OPS) of 0.848 in 2,067 games. He is ranking No. 1 in the number of hits overall in his career.

He is off to a better start this season. He has played in nine games and posted a batting average of 0.441 (15 hits in 34 times at bat) with six RBIs and an OPS of 1.074.

When this reporter said his performance was good from the beginning, Son said, "Firstly, I think I'm getting lucky. Second, I finished this season faster last year due to my injury. I took my practice routine the fastest since I was in my mid-20s. I even started running in October. Usually, I took rest in October without doing anything. Batting training usually starts in December, but last year, I started running in October and started batting in November. I started rehabilitation quickly in foreign countries as well, and I started the season perfectly prepared. I think it helps me a lot."

Finally, he said, "Even in the training part, he has helped me a lot without taking a day off since October last year. After doing it, I feel that it will not be bad to prepare faster in the future. I think it definitely helps to start in 100% physical condition."