Kim Do-young (21) has grown into an icon of Korean baseball beyond his team, the KIA Tigers, this year.
He has emerged as the most popular star and sign in the KBO League with a batting average of 0.347, 38 homers and 40 steals in the regular season.
Kim Do-young also received the most attention ahead of the 2024 Korean Series (KS, 4 wins out of 7 games) in which the Samsung Lions came up.
He attended the media day on behalf of the team and was surrounded by many reporters in pre-match training.
However, Kim Do-young failed to display her skills in KS, which she played for the first time in her career.
He started as the third batter and third baseman in the first KS home game against Samsung at Gwangju Kia Champions Field on the 21st and retired with an infield grounder in his first at-bat.
He got a walk in his second at-bat in the fourth inning, but failed to make a remarkable base run.
The game was suspended due to rain during the defense in the sixth inning, and it became a suspended game.
KIA manager Lee Bum-ho said, “The hitters showed some nervousness or excitement.”
Kim Do-young was in director Lee Bum-ho’s evaluation category.
In fact, Kim Do-young did not enjoy her first KS stage.
He couldn’t sleep well on Tuesday night, the day before the first round. He spent three hours lying in bed with open eyes.
“It’s my first experience in my life,” he said.
This experience became a growing pain and a good vaccination for Kim Do-young.
The first round of KS resumed on the 23rd after a rain delay on the 22nd, and Kim Do-young regained her composure in two days.
Kim Do-young performed very well in the first round of the KS, which started again at Gwangju Kia Champions Field on the 23rd.
In the bottom of the seventh inning with a 3-1 lead, he hit a timely hit to the left with two outs and a runner on the second base, and succeeded in stealing, turning the stadium into a frenzy.
Kim Do-young, who led KS’s first game to victory with one hit, one walk and one RBI from three times at bat, also flew well in the second round of KS that was held soon after.
In the bottom of the first inning with 0-0, he hit a ground ball to second base with no outs and runners on the second and third bases to make an RBI, and in the second inning with a 5-0 lead, he hit a home run in KS for the first time in his life.
With two outs, the opponent’s second pitcher Lee Seung-min’s fifth fastball was pushed over the right fence.
He also scored his first KS goal with this home run.
Kim Do-young finished the second game of the KS with one hit (one home run) and two RBIs and one run in four times at bat, and the team won 8-3.
Kim Do-young, who attended the official press conference after the game, said, “I felt nervous without realizing it in the game on the 21st,” adding, “I took a two-day break and felt a lot of resentment, and I played with a sincere heart today.”
“Last night, I tried not to make changes, such as sleeping on time as usual,” he said, adding, “I feel good to have a meaningful performance, including my first home run in KS.”
Regarding the scene in which he scored the first RBI by hitting a ground ball to the second base with runners on the second and third bases with no outs in the bottom of the first inning of Game 2, he said, “I remembered what I’ve been training so far, and I consciously tried to hit a ground ball to the second base,” adding, “I’m satisfied with the good result.” 메이저사이트
