"Kim Do-young can be held back" as the top-ranked team, trailing by just 0.5 games, shows no interest in the 'KBO youngest to reach 40 home runs' record [Gwangju on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

Even a historic milestone that will be etched into KBO League history was overlooked by the first-place team, which is locked in a tight battle for the top spot. Lee Kang-cheol (60), manager of KT Wiz, stated his intention to make the best possible choice regarding Kim Do-young's (23, KIA Tigers) challenge to become the youngest player in KBO history to hit 40 home runs.

Manager Lee Kang-cheol emphasized on the 4th ahead of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season matchup between KIA Tigers and the visiting team at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field: "We play to win games, so we will play accordingly. If it becomes easier for the next batter, there is no choice but to hold back. It is unavoidable if we must win."

The three-game series between KT and KIA is considered a crucial turning point in the second-half race for standings. As of the 4th game, KT leads with 69 wins, 3 draws, and 43 losses, sitting one spot ahead of second-place Samsung Lions by just 0.5 games. KIA, with 63 wins, 2 draws, and 52 losses, trails third-place LG Twins by 2.5 games and first-place KT by 7.5 games, positioning itself as the final hurdle in the chase for the top spot.

There is one additional point of interest: Kim Do-young's challenge to become the youngest player in KBO history to hit 40 home runs. Currently vying for his second MVP award of the year, Kim reached 39 home runs in quick succession with 11 in June, 8 in July, and 6 in August. If he hits just one more home run by the 6th game, he will shatter the record held by former manager Lee Seung-yeop (50), known as the "National Batter," who achieved 40 home runs at the age of 22 years, 11 months, and 5 days during the 1999 season.

Lee Seung-yeop not only hit 40 home runs that year but also went on to win the home run title with a total of 54. However, KT is more focused on the immediate standings battle. While Manager Lee Kang-cheol acknowledged that "records will eventually catch up as time passes," he stressed, "We only think about winning."

Kim Do-young is not merely a power hitter; his keen eye for pitches and strong contact ability, combined with his speed, could lead to difficult situations if he tries to avoid swinging at home run opportunities. In fact, after hitting his 39th home run in the match against Gwangju Lotte Giants on the 26th of last month, Kim collected five hits over the following three games. This demonstrates that even with a desire for home runs, he does not swing at just any pitch.

In response, KIA manager Lee Beom-ho remarked, "It seems instinctive. When I'm at the plate, there are pitches I want to hit but simply cannot make contact with. Pitches that are far off or don't align with my target won't come out of the bat even if I want them to."

He added, "There are many factors to consider, including batting average and on-base percentage. As a result, it seems he avoids pitches that don't fit his target, which means they won't become home runs anyway. Still, I expect him to play more aggressively during this three-game series."

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*This content was translated by AI.