[Official] 'South Korea on high alert': Kim Do-young suffers fracture; what happens to his participation in the Asian Games if he undergoes surgery? Will he play wearing a protective mask like Son?

*This content was translated by AI.

KIA Tigers' star hitter Kim Do-young (23) attempted a surprise bunt, but was struck in the face by a deflected ball, causing him to bleed and be substituted. Subsequent medical examination at a hospital unfortunately resulted in a diagnosis of fracture.

A major blow has fallen not only on his team KIA Tigers, which is engaged in a fierce battle for playoff positioning near the end of the regular season, but also on the South Korean national baseball team (coached by Ryu Ji-hyun) preparing to compete at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

A KIA Tigers official stated on the 9th: "The club-designated hospital, Central Hospital, conducted X-ray and computed tomography (CT) scans." He added, "The examination results indicated a fracture of the fibula."

He further noted, "Treatment for the injured area will be determined after confirming the doctor's assessment and the patient's condition."

On the 9th, Kim Do-young started as the third hitter and third baseman in the regular-season home game against NC Dinos at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League, but suffered an unexpected facial injury.

Kim Do-young's injury occurred during the bottom of the fourth inning while KIA was on offense. With no outs and a runner on first base, and the team trailing 0-3, Kim Do-young stepped up to bat for the second time.

As NC Dinos' starting pitcher Song Myeong-gi threw his first pitch—a fastball clocked at 148 km/h—Kim Do-young suddenly attempted a bunt.

However, the ball did not make solid contact with the bat; instead, it struck the upper part of the bat and deflected directly into Kim Do-young's face as he had shifted his weight toward first base.

After being hit by the ball, Kim Do-young took a few steps toward first base due to the severe impact before stopping abruptly in place. At that moment, significant bleeding occurred from his nose due to the force of the impact.

KIA Tigers' trainer immediately rushed onto the field and attempted to stop the bleeding using an ice pack and a towel. Shortly afterward, Kim Do-young rose from his seat with a pained expression, covered his face, and headed toward the dugout.

During this incident, Kim Do-young could not hide his disappointment over the sudden injury and expressed intense emotions. As he entered the dugout, he kicked the floor with his foot and shouted, revealing deep frustration and sorrow simultaneously.

Kim Do-young was unable to continue at bat and was immediately substituted out. Park Min-i replaced him as a pinch hitter. Kim Do-young was promptly transported to a nearby hospital. At the time, a KIA Tigers official stated: "The bleeding from Kim Do-young has currently stopped," and added, "He is being moved to Central Hospital for detailed examinations including X-ray and CT scans." Shortly thereafter, examination results confirmed the unfortunate diagnosis of a broken bone.

Kim Do-young's absence will inevitably deal a critical blow to both his team and the national squad. On the previous day (the 8th), during the match against Daegu Samsung Lions, Kim Do-young maintained strong offensive performance and hit his 40th home run of the season, solidifying his role as a cornerstone of the lineup. With this 40th home run, Kim Do-young became only the second player in Tigers franchise history to hit 40 home runs in a single season since Tracy Sanders (40 home runs) in 1999, and the first native Korean player to achieve this feat in the club's history.

Especially with the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games baseball national team scheduled to assemble mid-month, head coach Ryu Ji-hyun has identified Kim Do-young as a key component of the cleanup trio and a core infield defender, making this situation akin to a state of emergency.

The primary concern remains whether Kim Do-young can participate in the Asian Games. In cases of fibula fracture, if the bone is only slightly displaced or bent, major surgery involving incision may not be necessary. In such scenarios, after focusing on recovery, there is a possibility he could return to play wearing a facial protective mask similar to Son Heung-min (34, LA FC) during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. However, if the injury is severe, the recovery period may extend beyond initial expectations.

Meanwhile, prior to this game, Kim Do-young had dominated the league with outstanding statistics across 121 games this season: a batting average of .307 (446 at-bats, 137 hits), 40 home runs, 99 RBIs, 105 runs scored, an on-base percentage of .412, a slugging percentage of .637, an OPS of 1.049, and a batting average with runners in scoring position of .359.

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*This content was translated by AI.