Na Ji-wan

1.1. Childhood and Education

Born on May 19, 1985, Na Jiwan started his academic and athletic pursuits at Seoul Suyu Elementary School. He continued his education at Shinil Junior High School and Shinil High School, both located in Seoul. After completing his high school education, he enrolled in Dankook University to further his baseball career.

2.1. Transition from Pitcher to Hitter

During his time at Shinil Junior High School in Seoul, Na Jiwan initially distinguished himself as a formidable power pitcher, capable of throwing fastballs at speeds of 88 mph. His talent led to his selection for the South Korean national youth baseball team (under-16) in 2000. In this capacity, he played a crucial role in the team's gold medal victory at the inaugural Asian Youth Baseball Championship, earning the Most Valuable Player award for the competition, where he appeared in all games as a pitcher. However, upon entering Shinil High School in 2001, he transitioned from a pitcher to a position player due to recurring elbow injuries.

2.2. College Career

After graduating from Shinil High School, Na Jiwan was not selected in the 2004 KBO Draft. He chose to continue his baseball development at Dankook University. During his collegiate career, he established himself as one of the premier sluggers in the South Korean collegiate baseball league, notably winning home run titles in both 2006 and 2007.

2.3. International Amateur Career

Na Jiwan's amateur career included several significant international appearances. In 2000, as a pitcher, he was part of the South Korean national youth baseball team (under-16) that secured a gold medal at the inaugural Asian Youth Baseball Championship, where he was also named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. As a senior at Dankook University in October 2007, he was selected for the South Korea national baseball team to participate in the 2007 Baseball World Cup. He was the sole amateur outfielder on the South Korean roster for the tournament. In the competition, Na batted 0.385 with 3 RBI as a starting left fielder, contributing to the team's 5th-place finish.

He later represented South Korea at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. Although he struggled offensively in the tournament, batting 0.000 (0-for-4) with no RBI or runs, the South Korean team won the gold medal, which earned Na Jiwan a military exemption benefit. It was later reported that he had hidden an injury during this tournament.

3.1. Draft and Debut

Na Jiwan entered professional baseball when he was selected by the Kia Tigers as the 5th pick in the 2nd round of the 2008 KBO Draft. He made his professional debut on March 29, 2008, in the Tigers' opening game against the Samsung Lions. In a historic move for the Tigers, he became the first rookie player in the team's history to bat cleanup in an opening game. His first professional at-bat resulted in a strikeout against Bae Young-Soo, and he finished his debut game 0-for-3 with 1 RBI.

3.2. Rookie Season and Early Career

Following his debut, Na Jiwan experienced an initial slump, particularly showing weakness against breaking balls. This led to his demotion to the Tigers' second (reserve) team at the end of April 2008. By June, he rejoined the 26-man first team roster, primarily serving as a platoon or backup outfielder. He concluded his rookie season having played in 73 games, achieving a batting average of 0.295, hitting 6 home runs, and recording 30 RBI.

In 2009, Na Jiwan solidified his position as the starting left fielder for the Tigers, stepping up after starting outfielder Lee Yong-Kyu was sidelined due to an ankle injury early in the season. Although his batting average slightly dipped to 0.263, he accumulated 482 plate appearances, qualifying him for the batting title (ranking 39th in the league). He showcased his power by hitting 23 home runs (11th in the league) and demonstrated strong plate discipline, ranking 18th in walks (66), 19th in RBI (73), and 23rd in slugging percentage (0.474). He was frequently assigned the 5th or 7th spot in the batting order, leveraging his powerful hitting and keen eye.

3.3. Breakthrough and 2009 Korean Series

Na Jiwan's most iconic moment came during the 2009 Korean Series against the two-time defending champion SK Wyverns. On October 24, 2009, in a dramatic Game 7, he hit a game and series-winning walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning off pitcher Chae Byung-Ryong. This solo home run secured a 6-5 victory for the Kia Tigers, leading them to their 10th championship title, and their first in 12 years since the Haitai Tigers' last victory in 1997. This was only the third walk-off home run in Korean Series history, and the first ever to decide Game 7. Earlier in the same game, with Kia trailing 5-1 in the sixth inning, Na had already hit a crucial two-run home run off Wyverns' reliever Lee Seung-Ho. His exceptional performance in Game 7, including 2 hits in 4 at-bats and 3 RBI, earned him the Korean Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. While some argued that Tigers' starting pitcher Aquilino López also deserved the award for his strong performances in Games 1 and 5, and his relief appearance in Game 7, Na's decisive hitting was undeniable.

3.4. Mid-Career Performance and Milestones

Following his breakthrough 2009 season, Na Jiwan faced challenges, including injuries in 2010 and 2011, which led to a reduction in his games played and home run totals. Despite this, in the latter half of the 2011 season, he stepped into the cleanup hitter role, replacing the injured Lee Beom-ho, and performed well. In 2012, amidst a series of injuries to key batters, Na played over 100 games for the first time in two years. By 2013, he recorded a team-high 96 RBI, a significant contribution to the Tigers' offense, which was struggling with numerous player absences. He wore uniform number 29 throughout his professional career from 2008 to 2022.

His performance saw a dip in 2015, with his home run total falling to single digits for the first time in seven years. However, he rebounded strongly from 2016 to 2018, hitting 25 or more home runs for three consecutive seasons. In 2016, Na Jiwan qualified as a free agent (FA) and re-signed with the Kia Tigers on a four-year contract worth a total of 4.00 B KRW, including a 1.60 B KRW down payment and an annual salary of 600.00 M KRW. On May 28, 2020, in a game against the KT Wiz, he hit his 208th career home run off So Hyeong-jun. This milestone surpassed the record held by Kim Sung-han for the most home runs by a franchise player in Tigers history, solidifying his place as a club legend. In 2021, he was appointed as the team captain.

3.5. Later Career and Retirement

Na Jiwan's later career saw a decline in his performance. In 2021, despite being named team captain, he recorded a career-worst season, failing to hit a single home run. He announced his retirement from professional baseball on September 1, 2022. His final professional game took place on October 7, 2022, against the KT Wiz. In his last at-bat, he entered as a pinch hitter for Hwang Dae-in and hit a foul fly to third base.

5.1. Family

Na Jiwan is married to Yang Mi-hee. Their marriage took place in 2017.

5.2. Nicknames

Throughout his career, Na Jiwan acquired several nicknames, often reflecting aspects of his playing style or physical appearance:

• Nabi (나비^Korean): This nickname, meaning "butterfly" in Korean, originated from his popular cheer song, which was based on the song "I Am a Butterfly" (나는 나비) by the South Korean rock band YB.
• Na Jibang (나지방^Korean): This nickname is a playful portmanteau of his surname "Na" and the Korean word "jibang" (지방), meaning "fat" or "body fat," referencing his larger physique.

6.1. Broadcasting Career

Following his retirement from professional baseball, Na Jiwan embarked on a career in sports broadcasting. In 2023, he began working as a baseball commentator for KBS N Sports. In April 2024, he transitioned to SBS Sports, continuing his role as a baseball commentator.