Gwangju: Former South Korean baseball MVP Kim Do-yeong has undergone surgery to repair a broken nose, his club announced Thursday, as his status for the upcoming Asian Games hangs in the balance. The Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said Kim had his operation late Wednesday night, hours after suffering the injury on an ill-fated bunt attempt during a game against the NC Dinos at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the southwestern city of Gwangju.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the injury occurred when the ball ricocheted off Kim's bat and struck his face, causing immediate bleeding. A team trainer quickly attended to Kim by covering his face with a towel, and he was subsequently replaced by a pinch hitter. The Tigers announced that Kim would be released from the hospital on Friday and that they would continue to monitor his recovery before determining a timetable for his return. Despite the injury, a team official noted that it is not considered serious, and Kim will remain on the active roster for the time being.
Kim, 22, is experiencing a comeback season after playing in only 30 games in 2025 due to multiple hamstring injuries. This season, he has participated in all 122 games for the Tigers, although the surgery will end that streak on Thursday. The 2024 KBO MVP is a strong contender for another MVP award this year, leading the league with a career-high 40 home runs and 105 runs scored. He also ranks among the leaders in major offensive categories such as RBIs, walks, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage.
Kim's absence would be a significant setback for the Tigers as they compete for a postseason berth. However, it could be even more impactful for the national team competing at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Kim was anticipated to be a key player in the lineup for a team aiming for its fifth consecutive gold medal at the continental event. National team members, all of whom are KBO stars, are scheduled to begin training camp next Tuesday in Seoul and will depart for Nagoya on Sept. 18. South Korea's first game is against Chinese Taipei on Sept. 21.