The 2 third basemen for the contestants on this 12 months’s Korean Collection, Kim Do-yeong of the Kia Tigers and Kim Younger-woong of the Samsung Lions, are two of the brightest younger stars within the Korea Baseball Group (KBO) at this time, former highschool phenoms who lastly lived as much as their hype of their third season in 2024.
Beginning Monday, the 2 21-year-olds will strive to ensure their regular-season success will translate to championship glory.
Kim Do-yeong had one of many best offensive seasons in KBO historical past. He had 38 homers and 40 steals, falling solely two house runs shy of solely the second 40-40 marketing campaign ever. He set a single-season report with 143 runs scored, whereas batting a strong .347/.420/.647.
He’s extensively thought-about the entrance runner for the regular-season MVP, and he might change into simply the second participant, after his present Tigers teammate Yang Hyeon-jong in 2017, to win each the regular-season and Korean Collection MVP honors in the identical 12 months.
Nonetheless, Kim stated he’ll put apart all private ambitions for the higher good of the workforce as soon as the Korean Collection begins.
“I’m not actually loopy about profitable each MVP awards. I simply wish to assist the workforce win,” Kim stated Sunday through the Korean Collection media day in Gwangju, house of the Tigers situated some 270 kilometers south of Seoul. “It is an honor to be taking part in within the Korean Collection and I’ll lean on my youthful power right here. I’m going to profit from my velocity.”
Kim Younger-woong additionally set profession highs in all offensive classes, together with 28 house runs, 79 RBIs and a .252/.321/.485 line. His numbers aren’t as spectacular as these of Kim Do-yeong’s, however Younger-woong charges as a much better defender and in addition a flexible one — he can play each third base and shortstop.
Kim Younger-woong additionally made his postseason debut a couple of days earlier than his rival did, taking part in within the best-of-five second spherical in opposition to the LG Twins final week. He homered in every of the primary two video games and had a .308 batting common within the Lions’ four-game victory.
“Actually, I felt fairly nervous earlier than taking part in my first postseason sport, however after getting 4 video games beneath my belt now, I am totally acclimated,” Kim Younger-woong stated. “I’m feeling extra assured going into the Korean Collection.”
Requested about variations between the common season and the postseason, Kim stated, “Followers are a lot louder this time of 12 months, and it helps me focus higher. And that has allowed me to swing the bat effectively.”
Kim Do-yeong stated he knew how gifted Younger-woong was in highschool, and he was happy to see his buddy achieve this effectively.
“Greater than something, I believe he tends to get large hits in large video games,” Do-yeong added. “It is one thing I wish to study from him.”
Younger-woong expressed admiration for Do-yeong however stated, “At the least within the Korean Collection, I wish to play higher.”
Accompanying the children to the media day have been grizzled veterans, the Tigers pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong and the Lions catcher Kang Min-ho.
Yang, 36, is pursuing his third title after profitable all of it with the Tigers in 2009 and 2017, whereas Kang will play in his first Korean Collection at age 39.
“I’ve all the time dreamed of reaching the Korean Collection, and I’m so grateful that I’ve such nice teammates that helped me come this far,” Kang stated, beaming. “And I’ve nothing to lose right here. I’ll go on the market and go away all the pieces on the sphere.”
Kang stated he was conscious of the Tigers’ excellent 11-for-11 report within the Korean Collection and added, “A report like that’s meant to be damaged.”
Yang stated he texted Kang on Saturday after the Lions clinched a ticket to the Korean Collection, because of Kang’s solo homer in a 1-0 win over the Twins of their clinching sport of the earlier sequence.
“I might see he was actually glad. I instructed him I used to be wanting ahead to seeing him right here and this needs to be a enjoyable sequence,” stated Yang, the 2017 Korean Collection MVP. “However he’s additionally the one participant that we have now to regulate probably the most. I actually hope he will probably be a nervous wreck taking part in in his first Korean Collection.” (Yonhap)
