Kim Do-young’s first KBO monthly record of 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases is my record. I will surpass it.

“Happy April…I’m the type of person who enjoys attention”

“It’s so hot it’s burning,” was exactly what the enemy commander said.

‘3rd year infielder’ Kim Do-young (20, KIA Tigers), who is on the field in good health, is heating up the ground in April of the 2024 Korean Professional Baseball KBO League.

Kim Do-young appeared as the lead hitter in the top of the 5th inning with the team leading 3-0 in a visiting professional baseball game against the Kiwoom Heroes held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul on the 25th. He targeted Kim Seon-gi’s first pitch, a 143 km/h fastball, and hit a solo arch that went over the center fence. I drew it.

It was Kim Do-young’s 10th home run hit in April of this year.

Kim Do-young, who has already succeeded in stealing 11 bases this month, achieved the record of ‘10 home runs and 10 stolen bases per month’ for the first time in the KBO League.

It is a record that neither Lee Jong-beom, synonymous with the hot hitter, nor Eric Thames (then NC Dinos) in 2015, who hit 40 home runs and 40 RBIs, could achieve.

The player who came close to this record before Kim Do-young was Son A-seop (currently NC), who played in the Lotte Giants uniform in August 2017. At that time, Son A-seop recorded 9 home runs and 10 stolen bases.

Kim Do-young, whom we met after the game, said, “At first, I thought, ‘Is this a really meaningful record?’ But my seniors said, ‘It won’t be broken for several years,’ so I was conscious of achieving the record.”

Kim Do-young, who started the game with only one home run left to achieve the record, only hit a fly ball to the outfield in the first and third innings due to his ‘excessively large batting stance’.

Kim Do-young confessed, “After hitting my 9th home run, I became more conscious of the record. I wanted to set the record quickly, so I was greedy today.”

The solution was unique.

Many seniors have said that in similar situations, “I gave up my greed from the third at-bat, and that’s why I hit a home run.”

However, Kim Do-young grinned, saying, “Actually, I was greedy in my third at-bat, but then I missed a pitch and hit a home run.” He added, “It was a lucky day.”

Kim Do-young is called the ‘second Lee Jong-beom’ in 2022 and was first nominated to KIA.

Since his high school days, he has been praised as a player who possesses all the skills of attack, defense, and defense.

However, due to injuries, he was unable to produce satisfactory results in 2022 (103 games, 0.237 batting average, 3 home runs, 13 stolen bases) and 2023 (84 games, 0.333 batting average, 7 home runs, 25 stolen bases).

This year, in March, when he was not in good shape, he only had 4 hits in 26 at-bats (batting average of 0.154) in 6 games.

He failed to record a home run or stolen base in March.

Entering April, Kim Do-young showed off his talents on the field.

Kiwoom coach Hong Won-ki even warned, “Kim Do-young’s momentum is so hot that he’s on the verge of burning.”

Kim Do-young had a batting average of 0.388 (33 hits in 85 at-bats), 10 home runs, and 11 stolen bases in 21 games in April.

As of the 25th, he is the sole leader in monthly home runs and stolen bases in April.

Even if you expand your horizons to the entire season, Kim Do-young ranks tied for second in home runs and fourth in stolen bases.

Kim Do-young said, “I am having a really happy April. I had a hard time in March, but now I feel happy every day.”

Kim Do-young, who has established himself as KIA’s starting third baseman, is also called ‘the best successor.’

Kang Seong-gu, a ‘KIA fan’ who caught SSG third baseman Choi Jeong’s 468th home run, a new KBO League personal record, at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 24th, said, “I hope Kim Do-young grows up like Choi Jeong.”

Kim Do-young praised Choi Jeong, saying, “It is an honor just to be mentioned with the name of a legendary senior,” but added, “Senior Choi Jeong is a long hitter, and I am a mid-to-long distance hitter.

“I may not be able to hit home runs like senior Choi Jeong, but I will surpass him in stolen bases (Choi Jeong’s personal total of 176),” he said with a smile.

Kim Do-young, who is still young, knows well that it will be difficult to continue his performance like he did in April of this year.

However, there is no need to give up your greed.

Kim Do-young said, “I will try to achieve good results every month.

“I want to break the record of ‘10 home runs and 10 stolen bases’ for the first month in the KBO League,” he said firmly.

He introduced himself as “the type of person who enjoys attention.”

In April of this year, Kim Do-young showed off his talent and star potential.

Now, when Kim Do-young goes to bat, you can hear his name being chanted very loudly in the stands.

/yunhap news