"Just do the opposite of what you think," Coach's advice paid off as Yoon Do-hyun hits his first home run and multi-hit explosion of the season, heading to the Army team.

*This content was translated by AI.

Even amid defeat, a glimmer of hope emerged. Yoon Do-hyun (23, KIA Tigers) turned the tide by following his manager's advice to exploit opposing pitchers.

In the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game against Hanwha Eagles at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 22nd, Yoon Do-hyun started as the ninth hitter and second baseman, recording two hits in three at-bats with one RBI, one run scored, and one strikeout, including a solo home run.

Although named in the season-opening roster, Yoon Do-hyun was sent down to the minor league four times due to various injuries and poor performance. He was called up again on the 21st ahead of the Gwangju home series in the second half of the season.

Yoon Do-hyun watched the game from the bench on the first day but earned a starting opportunity this time. Kim Sun-bin showed discomfort in his leg and was given rest, with Yoon replacing him.

It was not an easy decision. Before the game, Manager Lee Beom-ho said, "We want to check Do-hyun's condition. If Sun-bin is not doing well, it would be good for Do-hyun to step in." He added, "Considering his overall defensive and offensive capabilities, this is a time when he needs to perform better, so we decided to start him." This decision clearly reflected high expectations.

Selected by KIA in the second round of the 2022 rookie draft, Yoon Do-hyun attracted attention for his outstanding potential but struggled to become a regular starter. In the Futures League this season, he hit .293 with three home runs, nine RBIs, and 19 runs scored in 20 games, posting an on-base percentage of 0.365, slugging percentage of 0.467, and OPS of 0.832. However, in the first division, he managed only a .159 batting average (7 hits in 44 at-bats) across 20 games.

It is time for him to awaken himself and take another step forward. The day before, Manager Lee said, "I think he knows best. Whether starting or coming off the bench, I hope he prepares well. Even if he doesn't get many at-bats, he must prepare accordingly." He also expressed his wish: "He needs to create situations where he can stay in the game longer. With infielders rotating tightly, his contribution would be a great help."

The manager also addressed the reasons for Yoon's struggles. Lee stated, "Yoon Do-hyun should consider how other teams view him, but he only thinks about himself. Focusing solely on pitches he wants to hit led to repeated mistakes." He continued, "Opponents will give you pitches they know you can't hit well. If you endure those, you'll get chances to hit the ones you can drive. If he handles this well, his inherent abilities are more than sufficient. Understanding how opponents perceive him and creating favorable counts will bring opportunities when hittable pitches come. If he simply does the opposite of what he thinks, he can fully showcase his talent."

The manager's advice proved spot-on in this game. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Yoon Do-hyun swung and missed at White's signature sweeper for a strikeout. White threw three consecutive sweepers, targeting the outside corner. Having no prior experience facing White, Yoon fouled off the first pitch, swung and missed at the second, and ultimately struck out on the third, which curved outside the zone.

He did not fall for it twice. Recognizing that the sweeper was Yoon's weakness, he aggressively targeted it. In the bottom of the 5th inning with one out and a runner on first, Yoon faced White. After watching two inside fastball pitches, he found himself in an 0-2 count but fought back tenaciously. On the seventh pitch, White threw a low sweeper, but this time Yoon drove it into left field for a hit.

Appearing as the leadoff hitter in the 8th inning, Yoon also had success against Jo Dong-wook, who replaced White. With a 1-1 count, a forkball flew toward the top of the zone, and Yoon swung boldly. The ball soared far behind left field, resulting in a massive 120-meter home run—his first of the season.

He also recorded his first multi-hit game of the season. Although the team lost 3-7, Yoon's performance in response to the manager's expectations while Kim Sun-bin sat on the bench carried significant meaning.

Yoon Do-hyun has completed the Army Corps physical fitness test and is awaiting the final results. With no firm position secured in the first division, he chose this path to resolve his military service obligations. Regardless of the outcome, his performance for the remainder of the season is crucial. If accepted, it could serve as a confidence-building opportunity before enlistment; if he remains with the team, it may contribute to the playoff push and ignite competition for a starting role next season.

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*This content was translated by AI.