"We hope for Do-young's quick recovery."

Kia Tigers have maintained the pride of the defending champions. On the 22nd, they achieved a comeback victory of 9-2 against NC Dinos in the opening game of the 2025 professional baseball season.

Ace James Naill showcased his dominance by keeping a scoreless game until the fifth inning. Although Kwak Do-kyu and Jo Sang-woo allowed 2 runs, Choi Ji-min displayed his strength with 5 outs, while Jeon Sang-hyun and Hwang Dong-ha also kept a scoreless inning each.

The batting lineup was hot. Kim Tae-kyun's timely hit put them ahead 1-0, but they failed to score again due to Logan Allen's clever pitching.

However, during the bottom of the eighth inning, Noh Sang-bum's game-tying hit and Choi Hyung-woo's 2-RBI go-ahead double were struck. Following that, Kim Sun-bin also produced another 2-RBI hit and Han Jun-soo hit a three-run homer. They displayed their incredible offensive power by scoring a total of 8 runs.

In the bottom of the third, Kim Do-young, who reached base with a hit, suffered a significant setback with a left hamstring muscle strain diagnosis. The rehabilitation period will be determined after a re-examination. Although they secured a victory in the opening game, it was a concerning injury.

Manager Lee Bum-ho noted, "It must have been a big burden on the players since it was the opening game, but they handled it well. It was a game where the veterans’ strength was felt. Kim Tae-kyun's first run batted in, followed by Noh Sang-bum's game-tying hit in the eighth inning when they were trailing, and then the hero Choi Hyung-woo hit the go-ahead run, and Kim Sun-bin added the insurance run, allowing us to secure the victory." He applauded the veterans.

He continued, "Naill did well in his role as the starting pitcher, and Choi Ji-min's ability to handle a crisis with the bases loaded and no outs without letting up any runs laid the foundation for the comeback. All the players did a great job, and I thank the fans who responded with a full stadium."

However, they couldn't smile brightly due to Kim Do-young's injury. The manager lastly expressed his willingness, saying, "We hope for Do-young's quick recovery."

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