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Lions outfielder Park Seung-kyu sacrifices chance to achieve hit for cycle, puts team first

Published: 14 Apr. 2026, 16:14 Updated: 14 Apr. 2026, 18:53

Samsung Lions outfielder Park Seung-kyu, left, plays against the NC Dinos at the Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on April 10. [SAMSUNG LIONS]

"Hitting for the cycle” is one of baseball’s rarest feats — achieved just 32 times in KBO history. Samsung Lions outfielder Park Seung-kyu chose not to join that list on Friday, sacrificing the milestone to put his team first.

He recorded a triple, a single and a home run in consecutive at-bats during a home game against the NC Dinos at the Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu. To hit for the cycle, he needed just a double. Park then grounded out to third base in his fourth at-bat in the seventh inning, but with the score tied at five to five, he came up for his fifth at-bat with two outs. The bases were loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Here, Park hit a fastball from NC Dinos pitcher Kim Jin-ho. The ball sailed over center fielder Cheon Jae-hwan’s head, struck the wall and rolled away. All three runners scored. Park, meanwhile, rounded second but did not stop and continued to third. Third base coach Lee Jong-wook signaled for him to stop, but Park did not slow down and dove into third base.

It was a decisive triple that made the score eight to five. His teammates in the dugout celebrated while also jumping in surprise, as Park had given up the chance to achieve a hit for the cycle.

“I never even thought about stopping. I believed winning came first, and I judged that going to third base would be more beneficial. It would have been an honorable record, but I don’t think there is any player greater than the team,” Park said in a phone interview with the JoongAng Ilbo.

Samsung Lions outfielder Park Seung-kyu, right, plays against the NC Dinos at the Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on April 10. [SAMSUNG LIONS]

In hindsight, Park's decision to go to third did not ultimately change the outcome. Ryu Ji-hyuk hit a double to left-center field, so even if Park had stayed at second, he would have scored easily. But Park had no regrets.

“Achieving a hit for the cycle was not my goal. I am even happier because the fans like it,” he said.

The KBO’s official social media praised him, posting, “Hit for the team,” after Friday’s game.

Veteran Kang Min-ho also complimented Park. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been impressed by a man,” he said. He also reportedly wrote, “No player is greater than the team,” on the whiteboard in the dugout.

Park said he was grateful. “[The whiteboard] is a place where all our players can see it. It is an honor.”

Samsung Lions outfielder Park Seung-kyu, center, poses with fans at the Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on April 10. [SAMSUNG LIONS]

Park joined the Samsung Lions in 2019 as the 82nd overall pick in the ninth round of the second draft, meaning he was not initially seen as a top prospect. Consequently, expectations for him from the club were not high.

He had been a pitcher until his second year of high school before switching to a hitter relatively late. “My shoulder hurt, so I kept stopping and starting again. It got to the point that I thought I might have to quit baseball, and I cried a lot,” Park said.

In the team, he was not placed on the main roster and instead became a developmental player, a status for players who are still being trained and are not allowed to play in top-level games. But he did not give up.

Park excelled in the second team, the club’s developmental squad, and was promoted to the main roster in August 2019, making his debut in a top-level league game.

Samsung Lions outfielder Park Seung-kyu plays against the NC Dinos at the Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on April 10. [SAMSUNG LIONS]

He improved his outfield defense and established himself as a backup outfielder, following in the footsteps of his role model Park Hae-min. He was not a full-time first-team player but appeared in 226 games over four years.

Setbacks continued. While playing for the military team Sangmu Phoenix, his herniated disc worsened. Even after being discharged in July 2024, he was unable to return to the first team.

“At first, it was really difficult. I read a lot of books to strengthen my mental state. I read books needed for that kind of mindset,” Park Seung-kyu said.

Still, he bounced back.

Last season, he recorded a career-high batting average of .287, along with personal bests in home runs and stolen bases. However, injury struck again. In August last year, he fractured his thumb after being hit by a pitch.

Friday’s game marked his return to the first team after 223 days.

“I could not play in the postseason, but I supported my teammates. I think those difficult times helped me grow further,” Park said. “This is just the beginning. Difficulties and hardships will come, but I will show the wisdom to overcome them.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM HYO-KYOUNG. [[email protected]]