'Why stress over a good record?' Kim Do-young, who missed the youngest-ever 40-home run mark, opens up: "The weight of the crown was still too much for me to bear" [Gwangju on-site interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

By clearing his mind, his strengths returned as they were. KIA Tigers' Kim Do-young (23) missed the KBO record for the youngest player to hit 40 home runs and shared his feelings about the journey leading up to that moment.

On the 6th, at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in a home game against KT Wiz of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League, Kim Do-young started as the third batter and third baseman, recording four hits in four at-bats, one walk, and three runs scored. The fourth-place KIA defeated KT 8-3, sweeping all three games of the series to improve their record to 66 wins, two draws, and 52 losses, narrowing the gap with third-place LG Twins—who also lost on the same day—to just half a game.

The biggest focus of the day was whether Kim Do-young would achieve the KBO record for the youngest player to hit 40 home runs in a single season. The existing record was set by former manager Lee Seung-yeop at 22 years, 11 months, and five days in 1999; Kim needed to hit a home run on this day to break it.

It didn't happen easily. After hitting his 38th home run of the season against Gwangju Lotte Giants on the 26th, Kim failed to hit another home run for ten days. Three games were canceled due to rain, and in the five games that did take place, he managed only two hits in fourteen at-bats, suffering from severe slumps. He appeared tense, often hitting ground balls.

This day was different. In his first at-bat of the first inning, Kim lightly swung at a high pitch inside and lined a single to left field, setting the stage for an early run. In the third inning, he connected on Daniel Davis's first pitch, which was located in the middle, with another left-field single, scoring Harold Castro on a two-run double.

In the fourth inning, Kim Do-young's batting form shone brightly. Even when Daniel Davis's changeup drifted outside, Kim pulled it for a hit to center field. As Kim focused on making solid contact, KT opted to intentionally walk him in the bottom of the sixth inning while trailing 2-3, choosing instead to face Castro. Castro then hit a two-run double down the right-field line, rendering KT's decision ineffective—but also highlighting how threatening Kim's batting stance had become that day.

In the eighth inning, Kim Do-young again drove a hard-hit ball for an infield single, completing a cycle of reaching base in every at-bat. After the game, speaking with reporters, Kim said, "Lately, I think I've been unconsciously worrying about the record, which made me feel like I wasn't even myself at the plate." He continued, "After yesterday's (the 5th) game, I thought a lot and asked myself, 'It's a good record—why am I stressing over it?' That's why I came to the ballpark today with the mindset of just playing the baseball I love. Except for my last at-bat, I didn't think about the record at all."

While the youngest-ever record was important, Kim also expressed his desire to reach 40 home runs. He admitted, "I think I was concerned about both. I wanted to hit 40 home runs as soon as possible, and I also had a strong wish to reach that milestone before the Asian Games."

He added with a wry smile, "It was very burdensome. With the stress and poor performance, there were rumors circulating around me. Still, I kept reminding myself of the saying, 'Those who seek to wear the crown must endure its weight,' and accepted it as it came."

It wasn't that he lacked powerful hits. On the 2nd, during a game against Changwon NC, a massive hit was caught just before the center-field wall. On the 4th, in a game against KT in Gwangju, he hit a bullet at 174.47 km/h that struck the upper section of the left-field wall at Champions Field.

When reporters asked if those missed opportunities were regrettable, Kim replied, "Looking back, I could see them that way, but honestly, I just didn't hit them. This time, I realized clearly that I still don't have the strength to bear the weight of the crown. I feel there's still a long road ahead."

There was some regret over missing the youngest-ever 40-home run opportunity. Two years ago, he also attempted to achieve 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season but fell short by two home runs. Kim said, "It's disappointing because it's a once-in-a-lifetime record. Two years ago, I knew I wouldn't make it. This time, the schedule was more relaxed, so I thought I could do it, which makes the disappointment stronger." However, he added, "I believe there will be many records to build in the future. I'll let go of today's regret and start fresh from tomorrow."

After the game on the 14th, Kim will join the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games national team. He still harbors a desire to reach 40 home runs before departing. Yet, he no longer focuses solely on hitting one more home run. Kim stated firmly, "If I continue to play today's role until then, I believe home runs will come naturally. From now on, I'll focus only on winning games like today."

He further expressed, "Lately, since the team has been winning, my mental state hasn't wavered, and I've been able to hold up well. I think being able to play so well today was because the team kept putting us in good situations. I want to express my deep gratitude to my teammates."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.