Jamsil Stadium on the 6th.
With his team leading 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning, Kim Do-young of the KIA Tigers lifted a 146-kilometer fastball on a high, outside pitch in a 1B1S matchup against Doosan Bears starter Kwak Bin. The pitch curved in a big parabola and went over the left field fence at Jamsil Stadium for a two-run shot into the top of the bleachers. The distance was 125.4 meters according to the analysis table that Doosan, the home team, commissioned from a data analysis company, while the broadcasting company’s data showed a distance of 130 meters. The KIA bleachers on the third base side were in a frenzy, and the Doosan bleachers on the first base side were silent in amazement.
The legends who watched the game were also full of praise. Commentator Lee Soon-cheol said, “He was hit by a similar pitch in his previous at-bat, so I think he was aiming for it,” and added, “He hit a fastball that was chest-high. It’s great that he made it into a home run.” Commentator Kim Tae-hyung also said, “It was a perfect weight shift and timing. It went over the fence the moment it hit.”
Legend Lee, a former Tigers player who also won the Rookie of the Year, continued his praise. He praised Kim Do-young, saying, “The second-year high school player is showing all the power and technique of hitting,” and added, “I call her the closest player to five tools, and now I will go to seven tools.”
A five-tool player is a common descriptor for a well-rounded beast: a player who can make contact, hit for power, run the bases, play defense, and throw. Lee is a 7-tool player, which is the term used to describe a player who can hit for contact, hit for power, and play defense.
Kim joined the KIA with the first overall pick in the 2022 rookie draft, and his arrival was met with praise, including “genius hitter,” “second coming of Lee Jong-beom,” and “five-tool player.” However, in his rookie season last year, Kim batted just 2-for-33 (53-for-224) with three home runs, 19 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.674 in 103 regular-season games. He had the honor of becoming the first Tigers player in franchise history to lead off on Opening Day after joining the Opening Day roster, but he struggled so badly that he batted in the single digits in the month of April and spent the rest of the season as a pinch hitter.
Kim Do-young in his second year. After being sidelined for more than two months with a fractured left metatarsal in the opening two games, there was a lot of concern, but Kim has maintained a triple-digit batting average since joining the first team. His hits (62), home runs (4), RBIs (27), and stolen bases (15) have already surpassed last year’s numbers.메이저사이트
Kim prepared for this year by focusing on her fitness during the off-season. She also found psychological stability. From spring training, he showed a different side. His bat started to become more concise and his power increased. His strikeout numbers, which reached 62 last year while drawing 22 walks, were nearly halved this year (22 walks, 38 strikeouts), showing a significant improvement. The presence of veteran Na Sung-bum, who spent the rehabilitation period with Kim after suffering an injury before the opening day, also helped Kim find some psychological stability and confidence. The fact that he continued to accompany the first team while playing a backup role last year is also a factor that adds to his stability this season.
Kim has made great strides without being discouraged by his debut season. His confidence grew as he continued to improve and produce results despite injuries. The Tigers’ desire for another genius hitter after Lee Jong-beom seems to be becoming a reality.
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