NC Dinos catcher Park Se-hyeok (33) experienced a dizzying situation during a recent game. On April 14, against SSG Landers in Incheon, he was hit in the head by Guillermo Heredia’s bat and collapsed. It was an accident of injustice that occurred because Heredia’s backswing was large.
Fortunately, he had 2 to 3 cm of the left side of his head sewn up, and after resting, he returned in 10 days. In addition, after his return, he only had 1 hit in 22 at-bats (batting average of 0.045) in 7 games, and he had great difficulty regaining his 스포츠토토 sense of hitting. His batting average for the season when he was 0.263 dropped to 10%. Park Se-hyeok must have been upset.
Still, it provided an opportunity for a reversal. After taking a break for 5 days due to cancellation of rain, he was finally able to laugh when he scored 3 hits, 1 home run and 2 RBIs in 5 at-bats against Suwon KT Wiz on the 9th, his first game. He regained the senses he had lost for a while, though with difficulty, and his heart felt much lighter. “It’s true that I was worried because I hurt my head,” he smiled, saying, “Fortunately, it didn’t take a long time, and thanks to your concern, I got a lot better.”
Catchers are always at risk of injury. The batter’s bat and batted ball, the pitcher’s pitch, and the runner’s bold rush are all murder weapons. Even heavy protective equipment does not guarantee 100% safety, so caution is always needed. If you are injured in an unexpected situation, such as a hitter’s backswing, while you are trying hard not to lose a run, the shock is doubled.
Standing in front of the reporters after the game on the 9th, Park Se-hyuk said, “Catcher is a very difficult position.” It is a 3D industry that is always drenched in sweat and hits the ball more than anyone else. You will be treated that way, but it is not an easy position.”
When teammates demonstrate ‘companionship’, the risk of accidental injury to catchers is also reduced. One example is Park Dong-won (LG Twins), who used to terrify opponent catchers with his big backswing, moved his batting position to the front of the plate. After controversies arose, such as Jang Seong-woo (KT) and others getting injured after being hit in the head by his backswing, the batting position was adjusted after consideration. Park Dong-won has since been free from this problem, and this year is showing the best home run pace since his professional debut.
What Park Se-hyeok emphasized the most was the spirit of partnership. “Everyone has a place,” he said. Aren’t they all the same players?” “No matter how much the catchers avoid it, we have to keep our seats when we go into the game. If you pay some attention, I hope you adjust the batting position like Park Dong-won,” he appealed. “It’s not about telling other people what to do. If batters hit in the same spot, I have to go further back,” he said. “Catcher is a really difficult position. I wanted to take this opportunity to talk,” he added.