[Official Announcement] 'Broken Nose' Kim Do-young Undergoes Surgery; Discharge Scheduled for the 11th "Return Date to Be Determined After Recovery"

*This content was translated by AI.

KIA Tigers star hitter Kim Do-young (23) has ultimately undergone surgery due to a fibula fracture. As KIA battles for playoff positioning in the final stretch of the regular season, and with the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games approaching, the national baseball team will also be closely monitoring his recovery progress.

On the 10th, the KIA organization officially announced that "Kim Do-young underwent fibula fracture reduction surgery at Central Hospital, the club-designated medical facility, on the night of the 9th."

The day before, on the 9th, Kim Do-young started as the third hitter and third baseman in a regular-season home game against NC Dinos at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, where he suffered an unexpected injury.

In the bottom of the fourth inning with KIA trailing 0-3 and no outs with a runner on first base, Kim Do-young entered his second at-bat and attempted a bunt against the first pitch from NC starter Song Myeong-gi, which clocked in at 148 km/h. However, the ball struck the upper part of his bat and rebounded directly into his face. Bleeding occurred around the nose area, and after receiving emergency treatment from the trainer, he was immediately substituted out.

Kim Do-young was then transported to the club-designated hospital for an X-ray and computed tomography (CT) scan, which confirmed a fibula fracture. The organization stated it would determine the treatment plan after consulting with medical staff and assessing his condition, proceeding with fracture reduction surgery later that same night.

For KIA, currently engaged in a tight race for playoff positioning, this is a major setback late in the season. As of the pre-game status on the 10th, KIA held 66 wins, 2 draws, and 54 losses, sitting in fourth place, just 0.5 games behind third-place LG Twins.

Before his injury, Kim Do-young had been a cornerstone of the lineup this season, recording a .307 batting average (137 hits in 446 at-bats), 40 home runs, 99 RBIs, and 105 runs scored across 121 games. He also posted an on-base percentage of .412, a slugging percentage of .637, and an OPS of 1.049.

Notably, just one day before his injury, on the 8th against the Daegu Samsung Lions, he hit his 40th home run of the season—the first time a native Tiger player has achieved 40 home runs in a single season.

Even more critical is the situation for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games national team. Kim Do-young has been identified by head coach Ryu Ji-hyun as a key resource expected to anchor both the lineup and infield for the Lee Kkeu-neun (CEO) team. With the national team roster set to be announced following games on the 14th, his return timeline has become a top priority.

KIA has not yet confirmed a specific return date. The organization explained, "Kim Do-young is scheduled to be discharged from the hospital on the 11th after inpatient treatment. His return will be determined based on his recovery progress."

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*This content was translated by AI.