Kadena: Coming off an injury-plagued season that saw him play less than a quarter of his team's games, Kia Tigers infielder Kim Do-yeong is eager to prove his worth for the national team this spring. With the World Baseball Classic (WBC) starting next week in Tokyo for South Korea, the 2024 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) MVP is happy with where his game is headed.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim went 3-for-5 with a home run in South Korea's 16-6 rout of the Samsung Lions at Kadena Baseball Stadium in Kadena, Japan, on Thursday. Kim had three hits combined in his four previous scrimmages before breaking out in Thursday's win. Kim had two hits in South Korea's 10-run fifth inning-leading off with a single through the hole on the left and then following Ahn Hyun-min's grand slam with a solo blast.
Kim expressed his determination to improve, stating, "I had plans to get on track a little earlier than this, and when things weren't going well, I started rushing things a little." He mentioned that he started training at night and received assistance from many people. Kim took the KBO by storm in 2024, when he was the runaway winner of the regular-season MVP award by putting up 38 homers, 40 steals, and a .347/.420/.647 line. However, in 2025, recurring hamstring injuries limited Kim to only 30 of the season's 144 games.
Now healthy, Kim is keen to showcase his talent at an international event. He even spent the national team's off day on Wednesday visiting with his Tigers' coaching staff to go over his mechanics. "I went there to listen to what my coaches had to say," Kim said. He emphasized the importance of recognizing issues in his mechanics and working to fix them.
Kim noted that his earlier single gave him a better indication of his progress. "I feel I am swinging the bat well if I am getting hits through the hole between the third baseman and the shortstop," he said. Kim is also feeling more comfortable playing third base with each passing game.
As the national team prepares for its first WBC game against the Czech Republic next Thursday, Kim is focused on maintaining his current form. "I was worried about my hitting early on but thankfully, I am getting into my groove now," he said. "My biggest goal is to maintain this feel I have at the plate."