Jamsil Stadium on the 6th.
The batted ball made by KIA Tigers Kim Do-young was electrifying. In the top of the 4th inning, with the team ahead 3-0, with one out and runners on third base, he kicked a 146km fastball into the high outer course in a 1B1S match against Doosan Bears starting pitcher Kwak Bin. The batted ball, which drew a large parabola, crossed the left outfield fence of Jamsil Stadium and led to a two-run shot that hit the top of the stands. The distance listed in the analysis table submitted by the home team Doosan to a data analysis company is 125.4m. On this day, the broadcasting company’s data showed that the flying distance was 130m. The KIA cheering section on the third base side was filled with enthusiasm, and the Doosan cheering section on the first base side was also filled with surprised silence.안전놀이터
The legends who watched the game that day also heaped praise. Commentator Lee Sun-cheol said, “I think he came in aiming for it because he was hit by a ball of a similar course in his previous at-bat,” and added, “I hit a fast ball that came at chest height. It’s amazing to turn it into a home run.” Commentator Kim Tae-hyung also commented, “It was perfect weight movement and timing. The moment it hit, it went over.”
The praise continued for Lee, a legend who was a member of the Tigers and was also named Rookie of the Year. He praised Kim Do-young, saying, “A second-year high school graduate is showing both hitting power and technique,” and added, “Kim Do-young is said to be the player closest to the 5-tool, but now he will go up to the 7-tool.”
A 5-tool player, a common adjective for a versatile fielder. It refers to a player who has contact ability, slugging power, base running, defense, and throwing ability. Commissioner Lee added his pioneering plan and defensive range to this and gave him the modifier “7-tool player.”
Kim Do-young joined KIA as a first-round pick in the 2022 rookie draft. When he, who was evaluated as a ‘post-high school-level hitter’, joined KIA, various praises followed, including ‘genius hitter’, ‘the second coming of Lee Jong-beom’, and ‘5-tool player’. However, last year, which was his first season since his debut, Kim Do-young had a batting average of .203, 7 ERA (53 hits in 224 at-bats), 3 home runs, 19 RBI, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of only 0.674 in 103 regular season games. After joining the opening lineup, he had the honor of being the Tigers franchise’s first opening game leadoff appearance, but after experiencing extreme ups and downs to the extent that his batting average in the month of April was only in the .100 range, he spent the remainder of the season as a pinch hitter.
Doyoung Kim is in his second year. There was great concern about him being out for over two months due to a left metatarsal fracture after the opening two games. However, Kim Do-young has maintained a batting average of .300 since joining the first team. His hits (62), home runs (4), RBI (27), and stolen bases (15) have all already surpassed last year’s numbers.
Kim Do-young prepared for this year by focusing on strengthening his physical strength during the off-season. She also found psychological stability. She showed a difference since spring training. She started to use the bat without much effort, but her strength also increased significantly. The number of strikeouts, which reached 62 while allowing 22 walks last year, has been reduced by almost half this year (22 walks, 38 strikeouts), and the pitching plan has also improved significantly. Accompanying veteran Na Seong-beom, who was injured before the opening and went through a rehabilitation period with Kim Do-young, also helped Kim Do-young find psychological stability and confidence. The fact that he continued to accompany the first team while taking on a backup role last year is also serving as an element of added stability this season.
Kim Do-young was not discouraged by his poor debut season and achieved significant growth. Despite the variable of his injury, he continued his progress and produced results, and his confidence grew another step. The Tigers’ wish for another genius hitter after Lee Jong-beom appears to be gradually becoming a reality.