Kia’s Kim Do-young’s first hit in his professional debut, called “Lee Jong-beom’s successor,” came to SSG starter Kim Kwang-hyun. 스포츠토토
Kim Do-young said on “KBO Media Day” ahead of the season, “I want to compete with Kim Kwang-hyun,” when asked, “Who is the pitcher you want to meet the most. He then said, “I’ve been to the Major League and I’m curious about how it is because I’m a pitcher representing Korea.”
Kim Kwang-hyun, who returned from the Major League, started at 9.22 million won in a match between Kia and SSG in the 2022 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at SSG Landerspiel in Incheon on the afternoon of the 9th. Kim Kwang-hyun’s last appearance took the mound in the semi-playoff against Kiwoom on October 14, 2019.
At the top of the third inning, Kim Do-young faced Kim Kwang-hyun, who he hoped for as a media day. Kim Do-young unfortunately threw his first chance with a fly ball to center field. However, Kim Kwang-hyun hit his team’s first hit and his first hit in his professional debut in the top of the sixth inning with one out and runners on first base. Kim Do-young, who has been struggling, smiled broadly after getting on base to first base and let go of the stress.
Kim Kwang-hyun, who had been on a no-hit march, even though he had a hit to Kim Do-young, there was also a warm scene in which he handed over his first hit commemorative ball directly to Kia’s dugout.
Kim Do-young’s concentration was great. When his first hit in his professional debut came out, he had a series of hits. In the top of the eighth inning, he hit a left-center hit to Kim Sang-soo at first base with no outs. Kim Do-young was applauded by head coach Kim Jong-kook as he scored an additional point during the follow-up hitter Socrates’ right-center triple.
Kim Do-young ranked first in the overall batting average in the exhibition game, raising expectations as the No. 0 candidate for the Rookie of the Year award. He even won the title of the opening game leadoff for the first time in the history of the Tigers franchise and the second high school graduate in the KBO League.
However, his confidence fell due to no hits at 20 at-bats and defensive errors. In the meantime, he turned the mood around with his first hit and multi-hit against Kim Kwang-hyun.
Kim Do-young will also play as the starting third baseman and the ninth batter in the match against SSG on the 10th. I’m looking forward to Kim Do-young’s performance with turning points against Kim Kwang-hyun.