Seo Geon-chang, who chose KIA instead of Kiwoom, still cheered for each other
KIA announced on the 15th, "We signed a contract with Seo Geon-chang for a total of 120 million won, including 50 million won in annual salary and 70 million won in options."
Veteran infielder Seo Kun-chang recorded a batting average of 297 (3,655 hits in 4,597 times at bat) with 39 homers, 491 RBIs, 813 runs scored, and 229 stolen bases with an OPS of .781. Seo, who started his professional career after graduating from Gwangju Jeil High School, will return to his hometown.
Seo, who joined LG in 2008, did not show impressive performance at the time. He played in only one major league game. After all, Seo was released after his injury and was in danger of ending his baseball career as he joined the military. However, he joined Nexen (currently Kiwoom) in September 2011 after going through test-firing, and was registered as an official player in 2012, displaying extraordinary skills, allowing him to have another chance.
Having taken the opportunity with Kiwoom, Seo finally began to soar. In 2012, he recorded a batting average of 266 (or 115 hits in 433 times at bat) in 127 games with one homer, 40 RBIs, 70 runs, and 39 stolen bases with an OPS of .709, demonstrating his potential to play as a key player. Seo, who has since settled down as Kiwoom's main player, had his best season in 2014. Seo, who recorded a batting average of 370 (201 hits in 543 times at bat) with seven homers, 67 RBIs, 135 runs scored, and 48 stolen bases with an OPS of .985 in 128 games, led Kiwoom to advance to the Korean Series for the first time since its foundation, and lifted the league MVP.
Seo's heyday ended sooner than expected. He missed most of the season due to an injury in 2018 and began to decline from then on. Seo, whose performance gradually began to decline, eventually returned to his former team LG through a trade in 2021.
Even in LG, Seo had a hard time getting out of his slump. In the first year of his transfer to LG, he had a batting average of 247 (58 hits in 235 times at bat) with two homers, 24 RBIs, 33 runs scored and six stolen bases with an OPS of .655 in 68 games, and he became an FA after the end of the season but did not apply. Last year, he couldn't get out of his slump and played in 77 games, and challenged to become a FA for the second time without exercising his FA qualification. Last year, Yeom Kyung-yeop, who had been in his prime with Kiwoom, was expected to rebound after taking the helm of LG, but he had a sluggish performance with an OPS of .542, 12 RBIs, 14 runs scored and three steals in 44 games (22 hits in 110 times at bat). After the end of the season, Seo did not even apply for his third FA. However, as LG released Seo, he eventually came to the market.
Kiwoom was the first to reach out to Seo Geon-chang on the market. "As soon as I heard that Seo Geon-chang was released, I contacted him first and asked him to do it together. I want to be with him for the last time," Kiwoom general manager Ko Hyung-wook said in December last year.
However, Seo could not easily decide whether to move to Kiwoom. Kim Hye-sung, a solid second baseman, is already playing for Kiwoom, and Choi Joo-hwan will move to Kiwoom in the second draft. Kim Hye-sung won the Golden Glove Award for second baseman for two consecutive years, and Choi Joo-hwan hit 20 home runs last year. Seo is in an environment where he is not likely to win in the competition for position.
KIA also renewed its three-year contract with Kim Sun-bin, its flagship second baseman who became a free agent after the end of last season. However, Kim Sun-bin, a veteran of the same age as Seo, is now in need of physical fitness management. Chances are high that Seo will receive an opportunity as a backup resource.
"Still, Seo Kun-chang contacted me first before the contract was announced. I am going to KIA, but he thanked me for taking care of me. I also hope I can do well in good health," said Ko.
"We made the proposal because we wanted to spend the last time together, but it's a decision of our own life for Seo. And we don't know what kind of relationship we'll have. I hope he doesn't get hurt and be healthy this time," Koh said, cheering him on.