“He splits the ball”.
The returning KIA Tigers infielder Kim Do-young, 20, has caught the eye after just two games. He has rekindled the image of Lee Jong-bum, a baseball genius who dominates the game by creating and resolving chances. The crowd at the Gwangju-Kia Champions Field for two days was dazzled and applauded. He even received praise from the opposing team’s manager.
After rehabbing from a fractured left metatarsal, Lee returned to the field for the Gwangju game against KT on March 23. He had already shown promise, hitting two home runs, a triple, and a double in three games for the Futures. Upon his return, he started at third base and hit a single to left field, stole a base, and hit a double to center field in his next at-bat. The multi-hit game marked his return. No other batters came through and we lost.토토사이트
The next day, he dominated the game. He grounded out to third base in his first at-bat and struck out in his second. He was hit by a changeup from KT starter Uhm Sang-baek. He didn’t get hit three times. In the fifth inning, with the score 1-1, he doubled to right-center field. He aimed for a changeup and scored the winning run. His last at-bat in the eighth inning was also spectacular. He led off with a double to left-center field. He followed with a sacrifice bunt and came home on a wild pitch.
He scored the winning run on a wild pitch. It was a dominant performance at a crucial time for a team that had lost three straight games and needed it badly. He had already gone 8-for-4 in the opening two games against the SSG Landers, a far cry from his rookie season last year. If he hadn’t been injured, he would have been a game-changer. He’s back to his old self.
After the game, Kim said, “I didn’t expect it to be the game-winning hit. I went into the game with mind control, trying to hit when it was important and in scoring position, and it worked out well. From my first at-bat, I kept seeing changeups. It wasn’t working. In the third, I thought I wasn’t going to get hit, so I stepped up to the plate. It was fun to get a good pitch like that,” he laughed.
His mentality has also changed; last year, he felt intimidated and unconfident at the plate. “The difference from last year is that now I don’t get down after one or two strikes. I think it’s in the past and I’m going to do it again, and that’s why I had good results in my third and fourth at-bats today. I’m mentally stronger. I can definitely tell that I’ve come back differently,” he said.
The batting itself was different from the other players. He is producing powerful balls that look like they are being hit by Na Sung-bum. KT manager Lee Kang-cheol was also impressed, saying, “His batting was so fast, he just split the ball. It’s a different level.” He was impressed. There was a reason. “I did a lot of off-season weight training. My lower body was good, but my upper body wasn’t. I made up for it by continuing to weigh as much as Sung-beom,” he explained.
He was also determined to make up for his injury. “I didn’t perform very well last year. This year, I was also injured from the beginning, so I didn’t trust myself. This year, I will definitely instill faith in them and show them that I will continue to be strong until next year and the year after. The seniors are tired, and I think I have a big role to play,” he promised his fans.