The player KIA Tigers manager Lee Beom-ho said he would trust for “one more year” is Na Sung-beom. In front of reporters, Lee said he intended to have Na Sung-beom serve as captain in 2027 as well.
The key point is not that a captaincy extension has been officially confirmed. What has been confirmed so far is that the manager values Na Sung-beom’s leadership and publicly revealed his plan to continue having him serve as captain.
The Role Lee Beom-ho Sees Na Sung-beom Playing
Lee credited Na Sung-beom with making a significant contribution to the growth of younger players and to building the team atmosphere. He also said that the team identity Na Sung-beom helped create, along with his leadership role, aligns with the direction the KIA Tigers should pursue going forward.
Na Sung-beom has served as KIA’s captain since 2024. If Lee’s comments become reality, continuing in the captaincy in 2027 is part of the manager’s plan.
Lee Beom-ho emphasized more than simple trust in a player: he judged that Na Sung-beom’s leadership matches the team’s future direction.
Na Sung-beom’s 2026 Statistics
According to Xportsnews, as of August 27, 2026, Na Sung-beom had appeared in 110 games, posting a .296 batting average, 24 home runs, 77 RBIs, and a .910 OPS.
Na Sung-beom played in all 144 games in his first season after joining KIA in 2022, but missed 190 games due to injuries over the following three years. As a result, this issue focuses not only on his season statistics but also on the leadership role of a veteran who has endured time away from the game because of injuries.
The Captaincy Plan and the Contract Are Separate Issues
One point to keep in mind is that the 2027 captaincy and the player’s contract should not be interpreted as the same thing. Na Sung-beom’s continued captaincy in 2027 was reported as Lee Beom-ho’s publicly stated intention, and has not been confirmed through a separate official appointment announcement from the club.
The manager’s comments also do not mean that Na Sung-beom’s contract has been extended. Separately, according to the KBO, KIA renewed its contract with manager Lee Beom-ho in 2024 for three years and a total value of 2.6 billion won, with the new contract running through 2027.
The issue can be summarized as follows:
- Lee Beom-ho stated that he intends to have Na Sung-beom continue serving as captain in 2027.
- The manager highly valued Na Sung-beom’s contribution to developing younger players and his ability to build the team atmosphere.
- The club’s official captaincy appointment and any contract extension for Na Sung-beom must be confirmed separately.
Sources: [Sports Chosun report](https://www.sportschosun.com/baseball/2026-08-30/202608300100182310011837), checked August 31, 2026; [Xportsnews report](https://www.xportsnews.com/article/2189069), checked August 31, 2026; [official KBO news](https://www.koreabaseball.com/MediaNews/News/Preview/View.aspx?bdSe=58251), checked August 31, 2026.