One of LG coach Lee Jong-beom’s (53) 먹튀검증 patents during his heyday was the first inning lead batter’s home run. Out of 194 career home runs, 44 home runs by a lead batter in the first inning were the highest ever in the KBO League. With 20 at the beginning of the first inning and 24 at the end of the first inning, the game opened with a home run.
On the 13th, from the first day of the exhibition game against Hanwha in Daejeon, Kim Do-young (20, KIA) hit a home run as the lead batter in the first inning, just like Lee Jong-beom. Kim Do-young, who entered the plate in the first inning as KIA’s number one hitter, announced the start of his demonstration game with a lightning-fast home run. He foreshadowed an explosion of potential in the second year season after he was labeled a ‘super rookie’.
It is more noteworthy that he perfectly targeted the ball that is difficult to hit a home run. Hanwha starting pitcher Felix Pena’s 150km two-seam fast went well low to the body, but Kim Do-young hit it at the right timing with a lightning-like swing. The ball went over the left wall with a line drive. Distance 110m.
KIA coach Kim Jong-guk also commented on Kim Do-young’s home run ahead of the Hanwha match on the 14th, “It was not an easy ball to hit. He was a good hit even if he only hit, but his condition itself is good enough to lead to a home run. He’s confident and looks good overall.”
Kim Do-young, who joined the KIA in the first nomination last year and drew attention as a super rookie, fell short of expectations with a batting average of 2.37 (53 hits in 224 bats), 3 homers, 19 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 103 games. Using his batting average of 40% (.432) in the exhibition game as a stepping stone, he started as the first hitter in the opening game, but went silent with no hits in 18 consecutive at-bats in the first 20 at-bats.
Although he went through a harsh ceremony, he showed some degree of adaptation with a batting average of 2.8 3 in the second half (17 hits in 60 at-bats), and expectations are high this year, which is his second year. KIA coach Kim Jong-guk said, “His last year was not as good as he thought, so he had a tough season. However, he has been steadily preparing well since the Arizona spring camp this year. He will also show active running base play as a table setter.”