Is a 20-year-old prodigy a game-changer?
The Kia Tigers took control of a tightly contested game against the KT Wiz at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on April 7, winning 6-2 and extending their winning streak to three games. The momentum from their two-game sweep of the second-place SSG Landers continued against KT, which has the highest winning percentage since June.
The game was unfavorable because it was bullpen day. It was further complicated when starter Kim Gun-gook was ejected after the first inning for a head shot at Park Byung-ho. However, Kim Jae-yeol saved the game with two runs (one earned) in the bottom of the fifth inning. The bullpen of Yoon Jung-hyun, Lim Ki-young, and Choi Ji-min kept the game tied at 2-2.
Second-year Kim Do-young made a decisive play with a single. In the top of the eighth inning, he laid down an exquisite bunt and sprinted for a hit against Son Dong-hyun. The throw from the opposing third baseman, Hwang Jae-gyun, was slightly deflected by his hand and he turned to avoid the tag. He then stole second, despite the intense defense, and scored the winning run on Choi Hyung-woo’s single to left field.
This wasn’t the same KIA that has been unusually weak in one-run games this year, often giving up late-game leads. Kim Do-young, returning from injury, brought the tide with his one-point baseball. It was the same scoring equation that Lee Jong-bum, a former baseball prodigy, demonstrated. Like Lee, Kim showed that good things happen when you get on base.스포츠토토
He’s also been at his best at the plate. He has a hit in all 10 games since his return. He’s batting 3-for-7 with six RBIs, nine runs scored, and five stolen bases. He is also 3-for-3 with runners in scoring position. In the ninth inning, with runners on second and third, he smashed a two-run double off the wall to win the game.
Since his return, he’s hit two home runs and four doubles. In 12 games, including the opening two, he is 5-for-7 with a home run and a 4-for-4 slugging percentage. With her precision hitting and long bat, the lower order and leadoff spots can create chances for her. He also has the ability to get himself into scoring position and put food on the table in center field.
KIA has created a structure that allows them to score with just one hitter in the center field, including Na Sung-beom, Choi Hyung-woo, and Socrates. With Kim Do-young’s scoring routes, the offense has been able to make things easier. The team is on the upswing, changing the constitution of KIA Baseball. If Choi Won-jun regains his batting touch, they will be a deadly table-setter.
If Kim Do-young hadn’t suffered an injury (a fractured metatarsal in his left foot) in the second game of the opening round, KIA would be in a much better position. KIA is definitely looking to make a big comeback with a different offense. A 20-year-old player with a blazing baseball bat and a long bat is showing signs of changing the game. Just like the baseball geniuses did in their prime.