"Attack power is definitely coming alive."
KIA Tigers manager Lee Beom-ho expressed delight over the effect of Kim Do-young batting second. He noted that the leadoff hitters are definitely getting on base more and the scoring success rate is increasing. The batting order that places the cleanup trio of Na Sung-bum, Wizdom, and Choi Hyung-woo after Kim Do-young at second has emerged as one of the options.
On the 15th, the manager used Kim Do-young as the second hitter against Samsung in Gwangju. In his first at-bat of the first inning, he hit a double, and in his second at-bat in the third inning with no outs and a runner on first, he delivered a decisive triple to right-center, showcasing his explosive batting. He also stepped on home plate, utilizing his speed on a ground ball by Wizdom. The effectiveness of the active leadoff hitters has been evident.
The manager is testing the effectiveness of using Kim Do-young in the second and third batting positions during spring training. The reason for utilizing him as the second hitter is the lack of a solid second hitter. Kim Sun-bin and Choi Won-jun were considered as candidates for the second position. Kim Sun-bin possesses precise batting but is not very fast. Choi Won-jun's early on-base percentage is crucial. Therefore, since the camp, the manager has been planning to use Kim Do-young in the second position.
Before the game against Samsung on the 16th, the manager explained, "Whether to use Do-young at the second or third spot is my main concern. Putting him in second seems to boost the attack power upfront. I feel like the (scoring route) is opening up. When Do-young is in the second spot, it definitely shows aggressive play towards Chan-ho."
He continued, "If the leadoff hitters are getting on base, it’s better to position Do-young as the center. If Choi Won-jun or Kim Sun-bin posts an on-base percentage of around .360 to .380, it would be advantageous to use Do-young in the third spot. If the on-base rates of second hitters are not high, Do-young can be utilized in the second slot. With Do-young leading, we can expect runs from Sung-bum, Wizdom, and Hyung-woo. I will continue to explore these two batting lineups."
Lastly, he explained, "The second or third position is extremely important for the team. In one game, a player gets to bat about 4 to 5 times, and depending on where the chances arise, the scoring points can vary." The theory of using Kim Do-young, who possesses the league's best power, precision batting, tactical execution, and base-stealing ability, in the second spot is gaining more support.
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