2nd year of ML, which was nothing to see → 2nd year of KBO, which became a star...Baseball Who Don't Know Tomorrow Why Nails Always Do Their Best

2nd year of ML, which was nothing to see → 2nd year of KBO, which became a star...Baseball Who Don't Know Tomorrow Why Nails Always Do Their Best

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James Nail (32) of the Kia Tigers, who made his KBO League debut last year, has decided not to do this one thing in Korea. It was a comparison with the U.S., where he was born and raised, and started playing baseball and grew up as a player.스포츠토토

"I was ready to accept new experiences because I came to Korea with an open mind," said Nail, who met at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 13th to mark the 20th anniversary of the sports trend. "I tried to fully adapt to this place without comparing it to the United States. This attitude made my experience in Korea one of the special moments of my life."

Those who understood the sincerity of his nails naturally opened their hearts. In his second year in the KBO League, Nail has established himself as Kia's ace player who is well-loved by his teammates and fans.

Nail achieved huge success from her debut season. She pitched in 26 games (149.1 innings) last year, posting 12 wins and 5 losses with an ERA of 2.53. She also led Kia to its 12th win in two games (10.2 innings) with one win and an ERA of 2.53.

Nails, however, see baseball as a "failure sport" with many failures. Nails' life in baseball was also a series of challenges. Born in Missouri, the U.S., Nail naturally started playing baseball when she was in elementary school, influenced by her family, who was a longtime fan of her pro baseball team, St. Louis. She improved her skills as a pitcher at college and was drafted by Oakland in the 2015 MLB Draft.

However, the road to the big league was tough. After seven years in the minor league, Nail joined the big league in 2022 by wearing the St. Louis Cardinals uniform. "I lost confidence that I could succeed as my minor league career got longer. Still, I tried not to give up and trust myself," Nail recalled. "It was even more special because I was able to make the big league debut that everyone longed for from a young age."
The dreamlike moment did not last long. Nail only played in seven games in 2022 and 10 games in 2023. During his two seasons with the MLB, he recorded an ERA of 7.40 with 17 games and one hold. As his future at St. Louis became uncertain, Nail decided to go to Korea without much hesitation. "Many Korean and Japanese players want to try in Asia. "It's because you can make money and most of all, you can extend your career in a very good way," he said. "I thought it was the perfect opportunity to start my career again."

In 2024, Nail's determination to advance through new challenges and Kia's desire to win the championship met to create a great synergy effect. KIA won both the regular league and the Korean Series with overwhelming performance. "I have never won such an important championship in my entire career. It's very special to be a part of KIA and share an honorable moment with them," Nail said. "I am truly grateful that I understand the meaning. It was a truly precious experience for me."

Nail feels grateful that she is playing in the KBO League wearing the Kia Tigers' uniform. "After my contract with Kia was finalized, many people told me, 'KIA fans are so passionate. I will love you if I play hard and become a good person. I really tried to do that," she said. "The support and support I received here were amazing beyond words. They are a really big part of this journey."

In particular, the support of fans and colleagues was the driving force behind Nail's return to the mound after being injured. Nail, who fractured her jaw joint after being hit in the face against NC on August 24 last year, promised to return in time for the Korean Series. Fans cheered, and colleagues hung Nail's uniform, which was left due to an unexpected injury, in the dugout and wished for a quick recovery. Nail, who encountered the scene as an article about the sports trend, said, "I was almost moved to the point where I cried when I first saw the picture of the uniform hanging."
Nail has been the starting pitcher leading the KIA mound again this year. She started nine games (53.2 innings) as of this season, and has had two wins and one loss with an earned run average of 2.18. However, Kia has been pushed out of the top five due to a string of key players' injury in the early days of the season.

"I don't have a personal goal. I try to focus on every game while keeping the routine that I have set," Nail said. "It is important to create an environment where our team can win as much as possible. If that continues, we can advance to the Korean Series again." "I know that I am not a perfect player, either. In the previous game, he gave up seven points, he said. "Still, I want to be a leader that the team can trust and entrust and a player that young players can imitate."

Nail's childhood dream was to become an MLB player. When he was a fielder, he said that he imagined becoming a shortstop in St. Louis with family and friends. If all his wishes had been fulfilled, he would not have seen Nail on the mound in the KBO League wearing a KIA uniform. The path of baseball's life has changed many times, but Nail's mindset is the same.

"Baseball is a really difficult sport, so it's hard to decide something. I just do my best every day because I might get hurt tomorrow," he said. "I'm learning something every day as a player and as a person. Even if it doesn't go the way I want, there are things I have to learn from it."

Nail sometimes thinks about the end of the challenge. "These days, I ask questions like, 'What will it look like when everything is over?' and 'Will I be really satisfied?'" he said. "I'm not sure, but I want to play baseball as long as possible. There are still areas where I can enjoy competing here and improve myself."

"Baseball is a sport with so many failures, but I think that's why it's more beautiful." So is the baseball life of nails that have blossomed again in Korea.