No one can stop healthy Kim Do-young (KIA Tigers). He hit home runs in two consecutive games, heralding her performance at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The South Korean national baseball team, led by head coach Ryu Ji-hyun, is playing an exhibition match against the Orix Buffaloes of the Japanese Professional Baseball (NPB) at Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan on the 3rd.
This match is an official warm-up match organized by the WBC Secretariat. Ryu Ji-hyun, who drew 3-3 with the Hanshin Tigers in the warm-up match the previous day (2nd), will start the tournament schedule after playing the final mock test against Orix on the same day.
사진 확대 The World Baseball Classic warm-up match between the Korean national team and the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese professional baseball team was held at Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan on the 2nd. South Korean Kim Do-young is delighted after hitting a solo home run with one out in the top of the fifth inning. Photo = Yonhap News 
사진 확대 The World Baseball Classic warm-up match between the Korean national team and the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese professional baseball team was held at Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan on the 2nd. Korean Kim Do-young hits a solo home run with one out in the top of the fifth inning. Photo = Yonhap News
Kim Do-young, who was listed in the starting lineup as the first designated hitter on the day, unfortunately failed to get on base in the top of the first inning.
It didn’t take long to clear this regret. In the top of the second inning with South Korea leading 2-0, he scored a three-run shot over the left-center wall against right-hander Raiku Katayama. It was the second consecutive home run after the solo shot against Hanshin.
Kim Do-young, who was called by KIA for the first nomination in 2022, is a right-handed utta infield resource that can represent the league if he is “healthy.” His career performance is a testament. In 358 games, he recorded a batting average of 0.311 (379 hits in 1218 at-bats), 55 homers, 202 RBIs, 81 steals, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage).
In particular, he played well in the 2024 season. In 141 games, he played a batting average of 0.347 (189 hits in 544 at-bats), 38 homers, 40 steals, 109 RBIs, 143 runs, and OPS of 1.067, leading KIA to V12. In recognition of this contribution, he swept various trophies such as KBO MVP and third baseman Golden Glove after the season.
However, last year, he was hampered by an injury evil spirit. He suffered a hamstring injury three times and appeared only in 30 games.
Kim Do-young, who is desperate, sweated hard during the winter and is showing off her peak hitting sense recently. He fired a solo shot in a practice game against the Samsung Lions at the second camp in Okinawa, the national team. Since then, he has operated cannons on the same day following the Hanshin War, raising expectations for his performance in WBC.
Meanwhile, South Korea, led by Kim Do-young’s home run, is leading 6-0 as of the beginning of the third inning.
사진 확대 The World Baseball Classic warm-up match between the Korean national team and the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese professional baseball team was held at Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan on the 2nd. Korean Kim Do-young is sharing joy with Lee Jung-hoo after hitting a solo home run with one out in the top of the fifth inning. Photo = Yonhap News
[Lee Hanjoo, MK Sports Reporter]