A player who is irreplaceable has been sidelined since the opening game. Dark clouds have gathered over the KIA Tigers' two-game winning streak.
KIA Tigers' Kim Do-young started as the No. 2 third baseman in the professional baseball opening game against the NC Dinos on the 22nd at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field. However, the time Kim Do-young received the spotlight in the opening game was extremely brief.
Kim Do-young went out in his first at-bat in the first inning with a fly out to left field. It was a hit-worthy ball, but it was caught by NC left fielder Kwon Hee-dong's great play. However, an unpleasant situation occurred in the bottom of the third inning. After one out in the third inning, Kim Do-young hit a single to left field. As he stepped on first base and headed for second, he quickly retraced his steps, but then bad signs appeared. He held his left thigh. Hamstring pain set in, and Kim Do-young limped back to the dugout. Manager Lee Beom-ho's face stiffened, and a shadow fell over him. There were also gasps from the stands at Champions Field.
Kim Do-young was immediately taken to the club-designated hospital and underwent an MRI scan. Hoping for the best, he awaited the results, but they were enough to bring disappointment. KIA stated, "The detailed examination results showed signs of damage to the left hamstring," adding that a precise diagnosis would be made after further detailed examinations. A minimum absence of about a month is expected.
Kim Do-young is an irreplaceable player for KIA. Last year, he recorded an average of .347 in 141 games (544 at-bats with 189 hits), 38 home runs, 109 RBIs, 40 stolen bases, and an OPS of 1.067, achieving extraordinary results. He set a series of records, including the youngest player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the fewest games, the most runs scored in a single season, the first to hit 10 home runs and steal 10 bases in a month, and the quickest natural cycle hit in the fewest at-bats, captivating Gwangju. He also aimed for the remarkable 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases record but fell short.
In his first full-time season, he completely dominated the league and won the MVP award. Thanks to him, KIA achieved its first combined championship in eight years. Last year, the best hitter in the league was Kim Do-young, who also made a name for himself while wildly performing for the Premier12 national team.
Kim Do-young has also prepped for another great season this year, finishing the spring training with a batting average of .467 in five games (15 at-bats with 7 hits) and 3 RBIs, along with an OPS of 1.300.
Recently, MLB.com spotlighted Kim Do-young, noting that "Korea's youngest 30-30 player is aiming for perfection" and added, "Even after the season ended, Kim Do-young's batting did not stop. He joined the national team in the Premier12 held in November and showcased his skills. Although Korea was eliminated in the group stage, Kim Do-young's efforts were not lacking. The young third baseman recorded 7 hits in 17 at-bats (.412) in just five games."
KIA prepared to lift the trophy once again alongside Kim Do-young. However, Kim Do-young was sidelined after just one game, and a long absence is anticipated. While they can fill a spot one way or another, he is irreplaceable. Although alternatives like Kim Gyu-seong, Yun Do-hyun, and Park Min exist, it would be fortunate if they could at least partially fill Kim Do-young's shoes.
The players' faces could not help but harden. After hitting the game-winning hit in the eighth inning, Choi Hyung-woo, who led the team to 8 runs and a 9-2 victory, said, "I don’t know what to say. It's not like someone interfered with it. It’s just him..." and added, "He must feel bad too." Manager Lee Beom-ho also expressed his disappointment, saying, "I hope (Kim) Do-young has a speedy recovery after the game."
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